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For your knowledge we gathered commonly used terms and key information about HAVC operation and installation

Please click on a term to read more

list is alphabetized for easier search

Gill Heating & Air Conditioning – Residential & Commercial HVAC Experts
122 Harmony Grove Rd Lilburn, GA, 30047 USA 
info@gillair.com • 7709218500
  • AFUE - Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency

    Used to express the efficiency of gas furnaces. The higher the AFUE rating, the more efficient the unit. Federal law has required that all new residential furnaces built after January 1992 operate with an AFUE of 78% or higher. If your furnace was built before 1992, chances are it is operating with an average efficiency of around 60%. Most of the heat is lost up the chimney or out the exhaust vent - devices used by older furnaces to expel dangerous fumes created by the furnace, such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, aldehydes, and even soot. Modern furnaces use more technologically advanced venting techniques to achieve greater energy efficiency. An important note: Be sure to ask your installing contractor if your chimney or exhaust vent is suitable for use with your new equipment.
  • ARI - Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute

    The Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute is an organization created by HVAC manufacturers to ensure an acceptable level of quality within the industry. ARI is a voluntary, nonprofit organization which publishes ratings standards and benchmarks for testing cooling and heating products.
  • BTU - British Thermal Unit

    Short for British Thermal Unit. The amount of heat required to raise or lower the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit.
  • BTUH - ritish Thermal Units per Hour

    The heat transfer rate of HVAC equipment is measured in British Thermal Units per Hour.
  • CAPACITY

    Usually measured in BTUs or tons, capacity refers to an air conditioning or heating unit 's ability to cool or heat a space. For instance, a 20-ton air conditioning unit has twice the capacity of a 10-ton unit.
  • CFM - Cubic Feet per Minute

    A unit to express movement of volume, including air in Cubic Feet per Minute. A 400 CFM air handler moves 400 cubic feet in one minute.
  • COMPRESSOR

    The compressor plays an integral role in cooling your home. It is the device responsible for pumping refrigerant through the refrigerant lines and the coil, making the transfer of heat from inside your house to the outdoors possible. RUUD uses the reliable Copeland ®Compliant Scroll ®compressor exclusively throughout its residential air conditioning and heat pump line for quiet, efficient, and trouble-free operation for many years to come.
  • CONDENSER

    The coil responsible for dissipating heat to the surrounding, outside air. Also called the condenser coil, or outdoor coil, its role is reversed when a heat pump is used in heating mode.
  • CONTOUR COMFORT CONTROL™

    The brain behind the most advanced furnace technology available today. Conventional furnaces turn on and off when temperatures fall or climb to a pre-determined level, delivering warm air (usually much warmer that the air in the house), until the desired temperature is achieved, then turning off. The fan speed and heat output are automatically and constantly varied. The result is that air flows from the registers at the precise temperature you select, for lower utility bills and greater comfort. You can also use up to six optional remote sensors (mounted in closets or other strategic locations) to help the Contour Comfort Control system analyze temperatures throughout your home. The system then uses this information to direct furnace activity accordingly, effectively eliminating hotspots.
  • COP - Coefficient of Performance

    The Coefficient of Performance (COP) rates a heat pump' s ability to efficiently use electricity in its operation. The Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute provides the Coefficient of Performance at 47 degrees Fahrenheit and 17 degrees Fahrenheit. This is because a heat pump is more efficient at higher, outside-air temperatures.
  • dB - Decibel

    The relative loudness of a sound is expressed in dB, short for decibel. As an example, the sound of a human voice talking is around 70 dB. (See also SRN.)
  • DOE - The Department of Energy

    A federal agency, the Department of Energy sets the standards for efficiency throughout the HVAC industry and monitors consumption of energy sources.
  • DOWNFLOW

    A term used to describe the direction of airflow through a furnace. A downflow furnace takes return air from the top, heats it, and then delivers the warm air from the bottom.
  • DUCT/DUCTWORK/DUCTING

    A central heating and air conditioning system uses many components to heat or cool air. This warm or cool air is then transferred to different registers throughout the house via special, flexible, large-diameter pipes or ducts. The system of ducts throughout your house is often referred to as ductwork or ducting.
  • EER - Energy Efficiency Ratio

    The ratio of the cooling capacity of the air conditioner in BTUs per hour to the total electrical input in watts. This measure is determined by comparing test units to ARI specifications.
  • EFFICIENCY

    A general term used to describe how effectively a heat pump, air conditioning system, or furnace converts energy in to energy out. The higher the number, the more efficient the unit, and the lower the operating costs.
  • EVAPORATOR COIL/EVAPORATOR

    An integral part of the indoor unit of a heat pump or air conditioning system. So called because when warm air passes over a coil filled with liquid refrigerant, the refrigerant itself evaporates and absorbs some of the heat. This gas refrigerant is then pumped to the outdoor coil, where it releases heat into the surrounding air and returns to its liquid state.
  • HEAT EXCHANGER

    Responsible for transferring heat from furnace burners to the blower.
  • HORIZONTAL FLOW

    A term used to describe the direction of airflow through a furnace. A horizontal flow furnace takes return air from one side, heats it, and then delivers the warm air from the other side.
  • HSPF - Heating Seasonal Performance Factor

    It measures the efficiency of the heating portion of your heat pump. The Department of Energy minimum is 6.8. (Similar to SEER.)
  • HUMIDIFIER

    Usually available as an optional accessory, a humidifier is used to inject water vapor into the dry, heated air expelled from a furnace/air handler. The benefits can be improved efficiency and a more comfortable living environment.
  • HVAC - Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning

    Used to refer to the industry at large, particularly dealers of heating and air conditioning equipment.
  • INDOOR COILS

    Split-system home comfort systems use two main components to deliver air for a comfortable living environment. The indoor coil is the device responsible for transferring heat from indoors to the outdoors (or the reverse in the case of a heat pump in heating mode). Most modern systems are designed to achieve maximum efficiency when the indoor unit (coils and blower) is properly matched with the outdoor unit (air conditioner or heat pump). For best results, be sure to replace both the indoor and outdoor units.
  • KILOWATT

    A unit used to express 1,000 Watts. Denoted as "kW." Note that the "W" in "kW" is always capitalized because the Watt unit was named after a person.
  • KWH

    If a unit uses 1,000 Watts in 1 hour, it is said to have an energy rating of 1kWh.
  • MODULATING FURNACES

    Furnaces are designed to deliver maximum heat for comfort on the coldest of days. In most cases, those days account for fewer than three percent of winter days. The rest of the time, your furnace is providing more heat than necessary. Because conventional furnaces are either providing no heat, or on at full capacity, the temperature in your house goes up and down by several degrees, adversely affecting your comfort and your energy bills. Modulating furnaces solve this problem by varying the amount and temperature of air delivered between different capacities, so that the air flowing out of the registers is always at the temperature you determine. This results in lower operating costs, more comfortable temperatures throughout the house and quieter operation.
  • PACKAGE UNIT

    Equipment in which all heating and cooling components are located in one cabinet. Installed either beside or on top of a home or business.
  • REFRIGERANT

    The liquid used to absorb and transfer heat from one part of the home comfort system to another.
  • REFRIGERANT LINES

    Copper lines used to transfer the refrigerant between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit.
  • SEER - Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating

    Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating. Used to express the efficiency of an air conditioning unit, or a heat pump in cooling mode. The higher the SEER rating, the more efficient the unit. The Department of Energy minimum is 10 SEER.
  • SPLIT SYSTEM

    A home comfort system that uses an indoor and an outdoor component to deliver comfortable air to a living environment.
  • SRN - Sound Rating Number

    The Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute performs tests and assigns a Sound Rating Number (SRN) to units. A lower SRN rating indicates a quieter unit with average SRNs of between 74dB and 80dB.
  • THERMOSTAT

    A temperature-measuring device used to control the operation of home comfort systems to maintain a comfortable temperature within the house. Programmable thermostats allow you to program different temperatures for different times of the day.
  • TON

    The ton ratings you see here have nothing to do with the weight of the unit. In fact a ton is simply 12,000 BTUs (see BTU definition on this page). A typical home cooling/heating system uses heat pumps or air conditioners with a capacity of between 1.5 and 5 tons.
  • UPFLOW

    A term used to describe the direction of airflow through a furnace. An upflow furnace takes return air from the bottom, heats it, and then delivers the warm air from the top.
  • WATT/WATTS

    Electrical power, also expressed as 'W' . For example, a 100W globe consumes 100 Watts of electrical power. The W in Watt is always uppercased, because it is named after a person.
  • ZONE/ZONING

    A home may be divided into several different areas, or zones, to better control the temperatures throughout the house. The process of dividing your home into different zones is called zoning.

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“Fantastic!!

Gill Heating & Air replaced our HVAC system. The price was competitive, the work was excellent & done in a timely manner. We couldn’t be happier.”

“Gill came out at 7:30 at night at no charge and told me that he could fix my unit. In ten minutes he had my air back on and he went the next day and picked me up a new switch to make sure I didnt have any more problems”

“Well qualified-Fast honorable service at fair prices. Would highly recommend Gill and his fine team of experts for any and all heating a/c needs”

Dozen reasons to choose Gill Heating & Air Conditioning Repair & Installation

  • Service and replacement for all cooling and heating systems
  • Preventive maintenance
  • Reliable quotes
  • Billing by the JOB, not by the hour
  • 24-hour emergency service
  • No overtime charges
  • A variety of systems and equipment to fit your budget
  • Cost-benefits analysis for energy savings
  • Attractive financing alternatives
  • Dependable and quality service
  • Friendly and professional customer support
  • Most up-to-date products & services available

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Gill Heating & Air Cond. Inc

122 Harmony Grove Rd
Lilburn, GA 30047

770.921.8500

Monday to Friday 7 AM – 7 PM
Saturday 10 AM – 5 PM
Sunday Closed

Reviews: Kudzu, Google Places, Manta

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