HVAC industry acronyms represent industry-specific items, processes, actions and organizations. Here is a list of some common HVAC acronyms and their meanings (and by the way, HVAC stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning).
- ACCA: Air Conditioning Contractors of America. A leading industry trade organization for air conditioning contractors and professionals.
- AHRI: Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute. A nonprofit organization of manufacturers of heating, air conditioning and refrigeration equipment, AHRI produces and publishes testing and rating standards for air conditioners and heat pumps.
- BTU: British thermal unit. The standard measurement of heating and air conditioning capacity.
- CFC: Chlorofluorocarbons. Controlled substances such as HVAC refrigerants. CFCs are linked to numerous health issues and damage to the atmospheric ozone layer.
- COP: Coefficient of performance. A ratio of efficiency comparing the amount of heat delivered to the amount of energy used to produce that heat.
- ERV: Energy recovery ventilator. A home ventilation system that recovers some of the energy in stale air that is vented from the home. This energy is used to start the heating or cooling of fresh air drawn into the home.
- HCFC: Hydrochlorofluorocarbons. Like CFCs, hazardous substances linked to ozone depletion.
- HSPF: Heating seasonal performance factor. A numerical rating of heating equipment efficiency.
- IAQ: Indoor air quality. The cleanliness, freshness, and quality of the air inside your home.
- NATE: North American Technician Excellence. A leading education, testing and certification organization for professional HVAC technicians.
- R-22: Since R-22 is linked to ozone layer depletion, it was no longer manufactured after 2010 and will be phased out completely by 2020.
- R-410A: A newer and more environmentally friendly refrigerant that will replace R-22, though it still has adverse effects related to climate change.
- SEER: Seasonal energy efficiency ratio. A numerical rating of the cooling efficiency of central air conditioning and forced-air heat pump systems. Higher SEER numbers represent higher efficiency.
Ace Hardware Home Services Inc. has been involved in the HVAC industry for more than 30 years in Dayton and the surrounding areas. Contact us today for more information on the terms and acronyms that are important to your HVAC system.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about HVAC terminology and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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