Welcome to the Rural Energy "H" Glossary Terms!

The amount of dissolved calcium and magnesium in the water. Hard water is high in dissolved minerals, largely calcium and magnesium. Water found in wells, or ground water, is an example of hard water.

One of the most important heating terms is “heat exchanger.” Heat exchangers are components in furnaces and actually use the heat from the burners to warm the air. A device for the transfer of heat energy from the source to the conveying medium. Without the heat exchanger, the furnace produce hot air and cold air blows through the vents.

The measure of how effectively a heat exchanger transfers heat between fluids or mediums, often expressed as a percentage.

The amount of heat energy required to maintain desired indoor temperatures in a building, influenced by factors such as climate, insulation, and building occupancy.

The amount of heat energy lost from a building or heating system due to factors such as insulation deficiencies, air leaks, and thermal bridging.

A measure of the amount of energy emitted from a stove. In simple terms the amount of heat you get from the stove depends on the amount of fuel you burn.

Heat pumps are heating units. They warm spaces by taking heat from one area and transferring it into another. In the summer, heat pumps take warmth from inside, then put it outside, which cools the home. To heat a space, the heat pump does the opposite.

A coil or heat exchanger in heating systems that recovers waste heat from exhaust gases or other sources, transferring it to air or water for reuse.

A component in heating systems that absorbs and dissipates excess heat, preventing overheating of components or surfaces.

The three methods of heat transfer are conduction, convection and radiation.

A component in electric heating systems that converts electrical energy into heat, commonly found in electric furnaces, baseboard heaters, and radiant panels.

A type of fuel oil used in oil-fired heating systems to generate heat for space heating, water heating, and other applications

A device used in heating systems to add moisture to the air, improving indoor air quality and comfort during dry winter months.

Hydronic heating systems use water to move heat from a sources such as gas boilers or heat pumps through piping to each room. It's often installed in concrete slabs, secondary topping slabs and radiator panels or baseboards.