Reference
Plain-language definitions for the HVAC, plumbing, and water-treatment terms you'll see on estimates — each linked to our guides and services so you can go from terminology to a confident decision.
Seasonal efficiency ratings for cooling (SEER2) and heating (HSPF2) under the current DOE test procedures. Hig…
Define → Heating & AirHVAC equipment that moves heat instead of burning fuel, providing efficient heating and cooling from one syste…
Define → Heating & AirA zoned HVAC system with an outdoor compressor and one or more indoor heads — no ductwork required. Ideal for …
Define → Heating & AirAnnual Fuel Utilization Efficiency — the percentage of fuel a furnace converts to usable heat. Higher AFUE mea…
Define → Heating & AirThe ACCA industry standard for sizing HVAC equipment to a home's actual heat gain and loss. Proper Manual J si…
Define → Heating & AirMinimum Efficiency Reporting Value — how effectively an air filter captures particles. Higher MERV traps more …
Define → PlumbingReplacing the supply piping throughout a home — typically swapping failing galvanized or polybutylene pipe for…
Define → PlumbingA water leak in pipes running through or beneath a home's concrete foundation. Detected electronically so the …
Define → PlumbingHigh-pressure water cleaning that scours grease, scale, and roots from the full diameter of a drain or sewer p…
Define → PlumbingMethods (pipe lining or pipe bursting) that repair or replace a sewer line with minimal digging — protecting d…
Define → PlumbingAn on-demand water heater that heats water as it flows, instead of storing it. Endless hot water, a smaller fo…
Define → PlumbingThe main kinds of residential water heater: a storage tank that keeps a supply hot, a tankless (on-demand) uni…
Define → Water TreatmentA whole-home system that removes the calcium and magnesium that cause hard water — protecting pipes, water hea…
Define → Water TreatmentA filtration method that forces water through a fine membrane to remove dissolved contaminants — commonly inst…
Define → Water TreatmentWater with a high mineral content (measured in grains per gallon). Common across San Diego and Orange County, …
Define → Multi-tradeSan Diego Gas & Electric equipment rebates for qualifying high-efficiency systems (such as heat pumps). Amount…
Define → Heating & AirThe metal component in a furnace that transfers burner heat to your home's air without mixing combustion gases…
Define → Heating & AirWhen heating or cooling equipment turns on and off in rapid, incomplete cycles — often from a dirty filter, an…
Define → PlumbingA sacrificial metal rod inside a tank water heater that corrodes in place of the steel tank. Once it's deplete…
Define → Heating & AirAn air-cleaning device installed in the HVAC system (media, electronic, or UV) that captures or neutralizes pa…
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