Terminology

A.F.U.E. : Annual fuel utilization efficiency. ( The higher this number is on your furnace, the more efficient your furnace will be.)

c.f.m.: cubic feet per minute.

ERV : Energy Recovery Ventilator. ( ERV's generally are a boxed fan powered unit that exchanges fresh outdoor filtered air with stale stagnant oder proned indoor air. Also known as air exchanger's )

Heat Exchanger: A furnace component. A metallic hallow element where a heated source is created inside. In Colorado the heated source is often created by natural gas and propane burners. This heat after being created is then moved by a blower fan in the air handler to the trunk line and carried to the branch lines to eventually exit out of a register to heat your home.

H.E.P.A : High Efficiency Particulate Acumulator ( Originally introduced by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to protect the public against radiological particulate matter from nuclear power plants. H.E.P.A. filters will catch matter at a remarkable 99.97% at 0.3 microns )

H.V.A.C. : Heating, ventilation and air conditioning

MERV rating: Minimum efficiency rating value. ( MERV ratings are used to determine the efficiency of an air filter at it's lowest effective efficiency, so that the purchaser of the rated filter can have an idea of what to expect out of the filter over the entire coarse of the filter's reccommended lifespan. The higher the MERV rating of a filter, the more efficient the filter is in collecting particulate's. )

Micron : A unit of measurement equal to one - millionth of a meter or approximately 0.00003937 inch ( 25 microns are approximately 0.0001 inch. )

Plenum: The duct work that attaches the air handler to the trunk line.

p.p.m.: Parts per million. In heating and air ppm is often mentioned during a carbon monoxide testing of a furnace heat exchanger. When testing, a 9 ppm or greater would indicate a heat exchanger failure, to where operating the furnace would be considered dangerous to the occupants health.

Return Air : Air intake. Air that is drawn into your ventilation system " duct work " by your air handler to eventually be pushed towards the supply side to become " supply air. "

Supply Air : Out going air. Air pushed out by the air handler that is delivered to the conditioned space or your " liveable square footage " of your home.

Squirrel cage fan: Type of fan where the blades turn vertically.

S.E.E.R. rating : Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating. ( The higher the number of your SEER rating, the more Energy Efficient your air conditioner will be. )

Trunk line: The large rectangular ductwork, in which branch lines derive from. A main vane where air flow pressurization occurs to allow even air flow distribution to all adjoining branch lines (out going or in bound air)

Turning Vanes: Angled pieces of sheet metal located inside of the duct work that enables the air to flow more freely through changes of direction. Turning vanes offers less resistance to air flow so that air can travel further without a severe drop off in pressure, velocity and c.f.m.