HVAC, Air Quality & Home Comfort Glossary

Name: Strive HVAC & Construction
Address: 11500 FM 1960 Rd W Ste. 117, Houston, TX, 77065, US
Telephone: (832) 275-6615

Plain-English definitions of the terms you'll see on this site and in your estimate.

Cooling & heating

SEER2: Seasonal cooling-efficiency rating (2023 standard). Higher = more efficient.
AFUE: Furnace efficiency — % of fuel turned into heat.
HSPF2: Heating-efficiency rating for heat pumps.
Heat pump: Heats and cools by moving heat instead of burning fuel — efficient in mild Houston winters.
Ductless / mini-split: Ductless heat pump for rooms or additions.
Tonnage: AC capacity (1 ton ≈ 12,000 BTU/hr); set by a load calculation, not square footage.
Manual J: The load calculation that right-sizes equipment to your home.
R-410A: Legacy refrigerant being phased out under the EPA AIM Act.
A2L (R-454B / R-32): Lower-GWP refrigerants used in new 2025+ systems.
Short cycling: Turning on/off too often — often oversizing or a fault.

MERV: Filter rating — higher captures smaller particles (balance with airflow).
HEPA: High-efficiency particulate filtration.
UV germicidal light: UV-C light that reduces microbial growth on the coil.
Whole-home dehumidifier: Controls humidity beyond what the AC alone manages.
ERV / HRV: Ventilator that brings in fresh air efficiently.

U-factor: Window heat-transfer rate — lower = better insulation.
SHGC: Solar Heat Gain Coefficient — lower = less solar heat (key for Houston).
Low-E coating: Window coating that reflects heat.
R-value: Insulation's resistance to heat flow — higher = better.
Radiant barrier: Reflective attic layer that cuts radiant heat gain.
Attic ventilation: Intake/exhaust airflow that manages attic heat and moisture.

IMC / IPC / IFGC: Adopted Mechanical / Plumbing / Fuel-Gas codes (edition set by your AHJ).
AHJ: Authority Having Jurisdiction — your local building department.
TDLR: Texas Dept. of Licensing & Regulation — licenses HVAC contractors.
EPA certified: Certified to handle refrigerants per federal rule.