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The hourly ventilation rate divided by the volume of a space.
An appliance, system, or mechanism designed to dehumidify and extract heat from an area.
An industry trade association that develops standards for measuring and certifying product performance.
The indoor part of an air conditioner or heat pump that moves cooled or heated air throughout the ductwork.
A measure of furnace heating efficiency. The higher the AFUE, the more efficient the furnace.
A suspension of airborne particles that contain living organisms or were released from living organisms.
An appliance intended to supply hot liquid or vapour for space-heating, processing, or power purposes.
A measurement of heat energy equal to the heat needed to raise one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit.
The number of British thermal units of heating or cooling delivered per hour.
An electrical component that stores and releases energy to help start and run the motors in your AC or furnace.
An odourless, colourless, tasteless, poisonous and flammable gas produced when carbon burns with insufficient air.
A system in which air is cooled at a central location and distributed to and from rooms by fans and a series of ducts.
The ratio of heating or cooling delivered to the energy consumed, commonly used to rate heat pumps.
A measure of the heat produced for every dollar of fuel consumed for both home and water heating.
A component that shows the system status and environmental benefits in real time.
The part of an outdoor air conditioner or heat pump that compresses and pumps refrigerant.
A small pump that removes water produced by an AC or high-efficiency furnace when gravity drainage is not possible.
The outdoor portion of an air conditioner or heat pump that either releases or collects heat.
An electrically controlled switch that supplies power to the compressor and condenser fan.
A measurement of how many cubic feet of air pass a stationary point in one minute.
A movable plate in the ductwork that regulates airflow and directs it to the areas that need it most.
A unit used to measure the relative intensity of sound.
A heat pump's automatic process of melting frost off the outdoor coil during cold weather.
An indoor air quality product that removes excess moisture from the air for comfort and mold prevention.
An air conditioner or heat pump that is shipped dry and charged with refrigerant at the place of installation.
A comfort system that pairs an electric heat pump with a gas furnace and alternates between fuel sources for efficiency.
A heating and cooling system with an outdoor unit connected to one or more indoor units, requiring no ductwork.
A system of ducts used to distribute air, as in a ventilation or heating and cooling system.
An Electronically Commutated Motor: a highly efficient, variable-speed blower motor that lowers energy use and improves comfort.
An electronic device that filters out large particles and bioaerosols in indoor air.
A measure of an air conditioner's cooling efficiency at a single peak operating condition.
A ventilator that swaps stale indoor air for fresh outdoor air while transferring both heat and moisture to save energy.
A designation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency identifying energy-efficient products.
A U.S. government agency that develops and enforces federal environmental regulations.
The part of an air conditioner or heat pump that absorbs heat from the air inside your home.
A safety device that confirms the burner has ignited and shuts off the gas if no flame is detected.
An opening through which outside air is drawn into the building.
An appliance fired by gas, oil, or wood in which air or water is heated to be circulated throughout a building.
A device between the return-air vent and the furnace that protects components and improves indoor air quality.
A natural-gas or propane unit that provides warmth for car garages during the winter months.
A highly efficient system that exchanges heat with the stable temperature of the ground through buried loops.
A facing across a duct opening, often rectangular, containing multiple parallel slots.
A heating component located in the furnace that transfers heat to the surrounding air.
An HVAC unit that heats or cools by moving heat between the indoor and outdoor environments.
Like an ERV but transfers heat only, making it well suited to colder climates.
The heating efficiency rating for heat pumps. The higher the rating, the more efficient.
A High-Efficiency Particulate Air filter that captures 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns and larger.
An air handler or furnace positioned on its side that draws air in one end and out the other.
A modern furnace component that glows hot to ignite the gas, replacing the old standing pilot light.
An indoor air quality product that adds moisture to heated air distributed through the ductwork.
An automatic device used to maintain humidity at a fixed or adjustable set point.
Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning.
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration.
The air quality within and around buildings as it relates to occupant health and comfort.
Any individual, firm, corporation, or company engaged in the installation of HVAC equipment.
A compressor that continuously varies its speed to match demand, improving efficiency, comfort and quietness over fixed-speed units.
Heat associated with changing the moisture content (humidity) of the air.
The industry-standard method of sizing HVAC equipment based on a home's specific heating and cooling needs.
Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. It rates how effectively a filter captures particles; a higher MERV traps smaller particles.
A unit of measure equal to one millionth of a metre, or one thousandth of a millimetre.
A furnace that adjusts its flame and output in small increments for very precise, efficient comfort.
North American Technician Excellence, a respected certification proving an HVAC technician's knowledge and skill.
A complete heating and cooling system contained in a single outdoor unit.
Any airborne substances measuring less than 100 microns in diameter.
The central air-distribution box attached to the furnace or air handler that connects to the supply and return ducts.
A thermostat that can store different temperature settings for different times of day.
The older standard of refrigerant that is now being phased out.
A newer refrigerant with a lower global-warming potential, increasingly used in modern systems.
A newer, chlorine-free standard of refrigerant used in modern systems.
A chemical that produces a cooling effect as it expands (liquid) or vaporizes (gas).
Return air is drawn from the rooms back to the system; supply air is the conditioned air delivered to the rooms.
A specially designed compressor that compresses refrigerant in a smooth, circular motion.
An energy-efficiency rating for air conditioners. The higher the SEER, the more efficient.
The updated efficiency standard for ACs and heat pumps, measured under more realistic, higher-pressure test conditions than the original SEER.
Heat that changes the air's temperature without changing its moisture content.
A Wi-Fi-connected thermostat that learns your schedule and can be controlled remotely from your phone for added savings.
A heating and cooling system that includes an indoor unit, an outdoor unit, and a thermostat.
The resistance to airflow within a duct system; excessive static pressure reduces efficiency and comfort.
The temperature of liquid refrigerant below its condensing point, used to verify a proper refrigerant charge.
The temperature of refrigerant vapour above its boiling point, used to diagnose and charge a system correctly.
A unit that allows homeowners to monitor and adjust their heating and cooling equipment.
A device that precisely meters refrigerant flow into the evaporator coil for efficient operation.
A unit of measurement for cooling capacity. One ton equals 12,000 BTUh.
Provides two levels of heating or cooling output for more consistent, efficient temperature control.
An air handler or furnace installed in an upright position that discharges air upward.
A device that uses ultraviolet light to reduce mold, bacteria and viruses in the air stream.
An advanced commercial system that can heat some zones while cooling others at the same time.
A motor that operates across a wide range of speeds to precisely control the distribution of conditioned air.
A system that exchanges stale, recirculated indoor air with fresh, filtered outside air.
A household appliance with a gas or electric heating unit under a tank that stores heated water.
A system that divides a building into independently controlled zones for tailored comfort and efficiency.