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.  

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.

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.

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.

A home comfort system that uses an indoor and an outdoor component to deliver comfortable air to a living environment.

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.

Copper lines used to transfer the refrigerant between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit.

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

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

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