GLOSSARY OF TERMS

AFUE - Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. A measure of a furnace's heating efficiency. The higher the AFUE percentage, the more efficient the product. The US government's established minimum AFUE rating for furnaces is 78% for products produced after July 1992.

BTU's - British Thermal Units. The amount of heat required to raise one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. The higher the BTU rating, the more the heating capacity of the equipment.

BTUH - British Thermal Units per Hour. The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit.

CAE - Combined Annual Efficiency is a measure of the amount of heat produced for every dollar of fuel consumed for both home heating and water heating.

Carbon Monoxide - An odorless, poisonous, flammable gas produced when carbon burns with insufficient air. Deadly to humans.

Catalytic Combustor - Device used on some woodburning stoves to reduce the temperature at which smoke is ignited.

CFM - Cubic Feet per Minute - A visit of measure commonly used to express the quantity of air being moved throughout a home.

Clearance - Distance required by building and fire codes between stove, smokepipe, or chimney and combustible material such as wood furniture or carpets. Clearances must be obeyed even if the combustible material is covered by noncombustible plaster or other masonry materials.

Combustion - Process by which fuel burns. For this to occur, three elements are required: Fuel, heat, and oxygen.

Compressor - The part of the outdoor air conditioner or heat pump that compresses and pumps refrigerant throughout the system.

Condenser Coil - The outdoor portion of an air conditioning or heat pump system that serves as a heat transfer point for dispelling heat to the outside air.

Damper - Located in the ductwork, this regulates airflow. Effective in controlling airflow for zoning.

Direct Vent Appliances - Direct vent hearth appliances draw combustion air from outdoors and exhaust its combustion products to the outdoors eliminating the need for a standard chimney system. A glass panel in direct vent units is critical to keeping the combustion system sealed from the home, maintaining high efficiency and indoor air quality.

Emissions - Unburned gases and smoke left after combustion.

EPA Regulations - Government regulation of woodburning appliances mandating that products sold after July 1, 1992, emit no more than 4.1 grams of particulate matter per hour for catalytic-equipped units and no more than 7.5 grams for non-catalytic-equipped units.

Evaporator Coil - The part of an air conditioning system where the refrigerant evaporates as it absorbs heat from the air that passes over the coil. It is commonly referred to as the "A" coil because of its shape. It is located in the ductwork of the discharge (supply) side of the furnace.

Fireplace Insert - Heating units that retrofit into an existing fireplace (masonry or factory built). They burn wood, gas or wood pellets and offer superior efficiency.

Flue - Vent or chimney for a combustion device.

Freestanding Stove - Heating appliance normally on legs or a pedestal that occupies an area roughly equal to that of an easy chair.

Gas Logs - Provide dramatic realism from the like-like ceramic fiber, concrete or refractory logs down to the glowing embers. Manufactured log sets have a burner that uses either natural gas or propane.

Hearth - Traditionally refers to the floor of a fireplace on which a blaze is built. Now also used to refer to all the devises and equipment used in connection with the fireplace and stove industry.

Heat Exchanger - Located in the furnace, the heat exchanger transfers heat to the surrounding air, which is then distributed throughout the home.

Heat Shield - Refers to a non-combustible protector used around appliances, smokepipe, or chimney.

HSPF - Heating Seasonal Performance Factor. A measure of heat pump heating efficiency. The higher the rating, the more efficient the heat pump. The US government's established minimum HSPF rating for furnaces is 6.8%.

Humidifier - Equipment that injects moisture into heated air as it passes from the furnace into the ductwork to be distributed throughout the home.

HVAC - Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning

Listed Product - Refers to product that has been safety tested by an agency such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL).

Metal Liner - Used primarily with fireplace inserts. Placed inside existing chimney (usually masonry) to reduce diameter of the flue for more rapid exit of smoke and combustion gases. Also used when existing chimney is unlimited or deteriorating.

Natural Draft (B-vent) Appliances - Natural draft hearth appliances take in combustion air from the home and vent products of combustion outside the home.

Peninsula Fireplace - A fireplace that has three sides of glass.

Refrigerant Lines - Two copper lines that connect the outdoor air conditioner or heat pump to the indoor evaporator coil. They are often referred to as the liquid line and suction line.

SEER - Seasonal Energy Efficiency ratio. A measure of cooling efficiency for air conditioners. The higher the SEER, the more energy efficient the unit. The government's minimum SEER rating is 10.

Split System - A combination heat pump or air conditioner with indoor components such as a furnace or blower coil. Split systems should be matched for optimum efficiency.

Thermostat - usually found on an inside wall, this device operates as a control to regulate our heating and cooling equipment to maintain a desired temperature.

Ton - Unit of measurement for determining cooling capacity. One ton of cooling equals 12,000 BTU.

Unvented or Vent-Free Appliances - Unvented or vent-free refers to the kind of hearth appliances that draw their combustion air from inside the home and are designed to burn so efficiently the they eliminate the need for venting.

Vent-Free - Gas appliances that have no need of a flue.

Zero-Clearance Fireplace - A factory-built fireplace that is constructed so that it can be placed safely, close to combustible material.

Zoning - Partitioning a home with the capability of maintaining individual set points in different areas utilizing a single furnace and air conditioner.