When scheduling annual service on your heating system, or calling in an HVAC technician for a repair or installation, you’ll probably notice a lot of terms being thrown around that you’re not familiar with. Learn some of the following furnace terms in order to better understand what your contractor is talking about and how your heating system works.
- AFUE – Annualized fuel utilization efficiency is a rating given to furnaces in order to measure how efficiently they convert fuel into heat. A furnace with a high AFUE rating converts a larger percentage of its fuel to heat than a furnace with a low AFUE. High-efficiency furnaces feature AFUE percentages of 90 and above, but also tend to be more expensive than standard efficiency furnaces.
- CAE – The combined annual efficiency is a rating that measures how much heat is produced for every dollar of fuel that is consumed for heating both your home and your water.
- Carbon monoxide – An odorless, tasteless and colorless gas that’s produced in small, harmless quantities by fuel-burning appliances such as your furnace. If the carbon in your furnace burns with insufficient air, it can result in a higher, potentially more lethal level of carbon monoxide.
- Ductwork – The network of pipes that deliver warm air from the furnace to your home.
- Energy Star – The label that’s awarded to HVAC products that exceed federal government efficiency minimums. Products with the Energy Star are highly efficient without sacrificing performance.
- Heat exchanger – A key furnace component that converts fuel into heat before it’s pumped throughout your home. It’s located inside the furnace.
- Air filter – This inexpensive but essential furnace component removes dirt and debris from the air before it’s conditioned and circulated in your home. This helps furnace efficiency while cleaning your indoor air.
Learn these furnace terms to simplify working with your HVAC contractor. To schedule an inspection of your system, please contact us at Paschal Heating, Air & Geothermal.We serve homeowners in northwest Arkansas.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Northwest Arkansas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about furnaces and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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