Baileys' and McDaniel
Cooling and Heating Inc.
"A/C and Heating Terminology"
BTU (British Thermal Unit):
The amount of energy needed to change the temperature of one
pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. In practical terms, it
represents a unit of measure of heat extracted from your home for cooling.
Coil:
A network of tubes filled with refrigerant. Coils located inside
the home take heat and moisture out of indoor air as liquid
refrigerant evaporates. Sometimes called the cooling or
evaporator coil.
Compressor:
The pump that moves the refrigerant from the indoor
cooling coil to the outdoor condenser, and back to the
coil again. Often called "the heart of the system" because
it circulates the refrigerant through the loop.
Condenser:
A network of tubes, usually located outside the home,
that removes heat from the hot gaseous refrigerant, so
that the refrigerant becomes liquid again. A fan discharges
the unwanted heat to the outdoors. Sometimes called the
condenser coil.
Refrigerant:
A special fluid that evaporates at relatively low temperatures,
taking heat and humidity out of the air as it does.
Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. A measure of a central
air conditioning system's efficiency. The higher the SEER,
the more efficient the unit. The more efficient the unit, the
lower the operating cost. Federal regulations require a
minimum SEER of 10 for all new split systems.
Split System:
A central air conditioning system in which some components
are located inside the home, and others outside. This is the
most common type of system installed in a home.
Ton:
The unit of measurement for air conditioning system capacity.
One ton of air conditioning removes 12,000 Btu's of heat
energy per hour from a home. Central air conditioners are
sized in tons. Residential units usually range from 1 to 5 tons.
It's Hard To Stop A Trane.™
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