wow, thanks Ray. On Mon, 1 Jan 2007, Ray Boyce wrote:
> Hi > What size air conditioner do I need for my house? > What is the recommended indoor humidity level for homes? > What is a Btu? > What is a ton? > What does EER mean? Should I spend more money for a higher EER unit? > What does SEER mean? Should I spend more money for a higher SEER unit? > What does HSPF mean? > What does AFUE mean? > > What size air conditioner do I need for my house? > > Sizing a residential HVAC unit is a multi-variable problem that depends on > such variables as geographic location, orientation to the sun, construction > details, > insulation values, window area and type, etc. Under sizing a system may lead > to warmer or cooler temperatures than desired by some occupants. Over sizing > the system may lead humidity or moisture control problems in the space. > > The industry standard procedure for sizing residential systems is the Air > Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) Manual J procedure. You can learn > more > about the procedure and ACCA by visiting > www.acca.org > or calling 703-575-4477. ASHRAE has provided future . > What is the recommended indoor humidity level for homes? > > A good range is between 30% and 60% relative humidity. You can determine > humidity levels with a relative humidity sensor typically referred to as a > hygrometer > or psychrometer. This level of humidity minimizes the indoor growth of > allergenic or pathogenic organisms such as dust mites and molds.1 > > A wider range of humidity levels, from a low of 25% to a high of about 80%, > can be acceptable in terms of thermal comfort (your comfort level) depending > on the type of clothing worn and the level of physical activity.2 > > ASHRAE specifies the combinations of indoor space environment and personal > factors that will produce thermal comfort conditions acceptable to 80% or > more > of the occupants within the space.2 to be specific, temperatures in the > winter should range from 68-74° F and 73-79° F in the summer.3 > What is a BTU? > > BTU stands for the British Thermal Unit (Btu). It is a unit of heat energy > in the inch-pound unit system, which is common today in the United States. > The > Btu is defined as the amount of heat necessary to raise the temperature of > one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit from 58.5 to 59.5. > > A Btu is commonly used to indicate the heating and cooling capacity of a > system, heat losses, and heat gains. To give an example of system capacity, > a 10,000 > Btu window air conditioner is capable of removing 10,000 Btu's of heat per > hour. To give an example in terms of heat gains, the typical heat gain added > to a room by a person at rest is about 230 Btu/hour. > What is a Ton? > > A ton is the unit of measurement for air-conditioning system capacity. One > ton of air conditioning removes 12,000 Btu's of heat energy per hour from a > home. > Central air conditioners are sized in tons. Residential units usually range > from 1 to 5 tons. > What does EER mean? Should I spend more money for a higher EER unit? > > EER stands for energy efficiency ratio. The higher the EER rating, the more > energy efficient the equipment is. This can result in lower energy costs. > The > following US Dept. of Energy Web site can show how to calculate potential > energy cost savings of a more efficient unit - > www.eere.energy.gov/femp/procurement/pdfs/cac.pdf. > The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI.org) > posts a Certified Ratings directory, which lists EER ratings of various air- > conditioning equipment. > What does SEER mean? Should I spend more money for a higher SEER unit? > > SEER stands for seasonal energy efficiency ratio. The higher the SEER > rating, the more energy efficient the equipment is. A higher SEER can result > in lower > energy costs. This U.S. Dept. of Energy Web site, > www.eere.energy.gov/femp/procurement/pdfs/cac.pdf, > can show how to calculate potential energy cost savings of a more efficient > unit. > The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI.org) > posts a Certified Ratings directory, which lists SEER ratings of various > air-conditioning equipment. > What does HSPF mean? > > HSPF stands for heating system performance factor. The higher the HSPF > rating, the more energy efficient the equipment is. A higher HSPF can result > in lower > energy costs. > The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI.org) > posts a certified ratings directory, which lists HSPF ratings of various > air-conditioning equipment. > What does AFUE mean? > > AFUE stands for annual fuel utilization efficiency. The higher the AFUE > rating, the more energy efficient the equipment is. A higher AFUE can result > in > lower energy costs. The Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association, > www.gamanet.org, > publishes a directory of certified AFUE ratings. > HTH > Ray > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] To listen to the show archives go to link http://acbradio.org/handyman.html or ftp://ftp.acbradio.org/acbradio-archives/handyman/ The Pod Cast address for the Blind Handy Man Show is. http://www.acbradio.org/news/xml/podcast.php?pgm=saturday The Pod Cast address for the Cooking In The Dark Show is. http://www.gcast.com/u/cookingindark/main.xml Visit the new archives page at the following address http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ For a complete list of email commands pertaining to the Blind Handy Man list just send a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! 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