Air conditioning terminology can be quite complex to most of those who aren’t a certified HVAC technician. If you have been looking for a new company or trying to Google what may be going on with your HVAC system, you’ve probably experienced this yourself.
Hopefully though – with some of these helpful tips – you can have a better understanding when talking to your HVAC technician! Some common questions that we’ve been asked and are answering here: “What does ac tonnage rating mean?”, “What’s a BTU?”, ‘What’s does SEER mean?’, and “What’s the difference between a tune up and a service call?”
WHAT DOES AC TONNAGE RATING MEAN? AND WHAT THE HECK IS A BTU?
You may hear the term “ton”, short for tonnage, which means the amount of cold air the AC must provide to cool your home. BTU is short for British Thermal Units and is the term used for measuring how much heat an AC can eliminate from a home per hour. With a combination of these two units of measurement, our technicians can properly size an AC unit for your home that will be most efficient.
WHAT DOES AC SEER MEAN?
A more efficient AC means less energy wasted – saving you money on your utility bills. A SEER is used to identify the AC’s efficiency and stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. On average, the most commonly used rating is a 13 SEER, but if you have an older unit it may be anywhere between 10-12 SEER.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TUNE UP AND A SERVICE CALL?
You may hear some terms like routine maintenance, AC tune up, service call, etc. An HVAC tune up, also known as maintenance, is an overall check of the unit to make sure the system is working properly and is not in need of repairs. Many steps are performed as part of a tune up, including checking moving parts, testing electrical parts, and more. It’s recommended to have routine maintenance done once a year on your AC and furnace.
If your AC or furnace has stopped working or isn’t reaching the desired temperature according to your thermostat, it is recommended to schedule a service call. Our technician would look over the system to determine the necessary repairs. Based on the diagnosis, our technician will give you the best options to get your system running again. We can also offer quotes for a new system as well!
THE PROFESSIONALS AT ABSOLUTE COMFORT ARE HERE TO HELP – CALL NOW
If you are interested in scheduling an appointment for a tune up or a service call, call our staff today at 815-893-9276. We can answer any questions you may have and get you set up with one of our certified technicians to get the job done. You can also contact us online for HVAC repair or installation near you!
