Heating and Cooling Glosssary

• Air Handler: The indoor unit of a split system that circulates air throughout the home.
• BTU: British Thermal Unit, a unit of measurement used to indicate the heating or cooling capacity of a system.
• Compressor: The part of an air conditioning system that pumps refrigerant through the system.
• Ductwork: The network of tubes that carries heated or cooled air throughout a building.
• Energy Star: A program run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that identifies energy-efficient products.
• Evaporator Coil: A component of an air conditioning system that absorbs heat from indoor air and releases it outside.
• Heat Pump: A system that can both heat and cool a space by moving heat from one place to another.
• Humidifier: A device that adds moisture to the air to improve indoor air quality and comfort.
• SEER: Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, a measure of an air conditioner’s energy efficiency.
• Thermostat: A device that regulates the temperature of a heating and/or cooling system.
• Ventilation: The process of replacing stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air to improve indoor air quality.
• Zoning: The ability to control the temperature of different areas or zones in a building separately.