天美传媒

If you’re听hunting听for听heating听补苍诲听cooling听services, you may听find听confusing, sometimes contradictory information about听a variety of听HVAC systems. One听component听that听garners听a lot听of confusion is the air handler. Is this听another way to describe听an air conditioner? We’re here to听clear things up.

What Is an Air Handler?

An air handler is the indoor听portion听of some听models听of HVAC systems. It听hooks up听to a network of air ducts that听deliver听conditioned air听through听the building. Air handlers听vary听in size, type and capacity,听dependent听on the application.

Some听people听use the听jargon of听“air handler” and “blower” interchangeably, but this is not听right. An air handler is an entire unit containing a blower and听a number of听other听elements, all of which听function听together to condition and circulate the air.

Does an Air Conditioner Use an Air Handler?

Usually, an air conditioner听uses听the furnace’s blower motor, so no air handler is听required. However, in听environments听where home heating is not听required, an air conditioner may be the听only听HVAC equipment present. In this听situation, the indoor air handler听runs听in conjunction听with the听outside听unit,听called听the condenser.

In this setup, the AC unit’s air handler听blows听indoor air听across听the evaporator coil, which absorbs heat and collects moisture, leaving the air handler to听circulate听cooled, dehumidified air back听inside听the building听via听ductwork. Refrigerant lines听attach听the air handler to the outdoor condenser,听facilitating the听heat transfer to the outside. This听makes it possible for the听air conditioning to听uphold听a constant,听comfy听indoor temperature and humidity level.

Does a Heat Pump Use an Air Handler?

This is where air handlers are most听frequently听found. In cold climates where heat pumps are less听reliable, they are听at times听installed alongside furnaces, creating what’s听called听a dual-fuel system. However, advancements in cold-climate heat pumps make dual-fuel systems less听common听these days.听Without a听furnace to lend its blower motor, heat pumps听need听a dedicated air handler to听disperse听conditioned air.

Heat pumps work by听pulling听heat from the outside air and听moving听it inside听via听the indoor coil. The air handler blows air across the coil to听collect听heat before circulating it听through听the building. A heat pump can听even听be used for cooling, where it听retrieves听heat from the indoor air and听transmits听it outside, just like an air conditioner.

Does a Furnace Use an Air Handler?

No. Furnaces听are made听with a blower motor to听circulate听conditioned air. The blower is听commonly听located听within听the furnace. It听blows听air across the heat exchanger, a metal component that听moves听heat from a fuel source to the air blowing听past听it. The fuel source can be natural gas, propane or oil, which is ignited to听generate听heat. Once听warmed up, the air听circulates听back through the ductwork system and听into听the building.

What Are the Parts of an Air Handler?

The听major听components听of an air handler include:

• Blower: The blower is a motor-driven fan that听disperses听air听through听the ductwork. It听forces听air across the heating or cooling elements to听manage听the indoor temperature.
• Heating or cooling elements:听Based on听the type of HVAC system you听have, the air handler may听contain听heating or cooling elements, including an evaporator coil or backup electric heat strip.
• Air filter: An HVAC air filter听eliminates听dust, dirt and other听contaminants听from the air as it听flows into听the air handler to be heated or cooled. Air filter types and efficiency ratings vary听depending on听system requirements. Remember to听change听your air filter听routinely听to听protect against听restricting airflow through the system.
• Dampers: Dampers are used to control airflow in听structures听with zoned heating and cooling. They can be manually or automatically听controlled听to direct air to听specific听rooms as听desired听to听maintain听a comfortable temperature.
• Humidifier or dehumidifier: Some air handlers听have听a humidifier or dehumidifier, which听regulates听the indoor relative humidity level. A humidifier听adds听moisture into the air in the winter, while a dehumidifier听gets rid of听moisture in the summer.
• Control听system: The control system is听a way to regulate听the air handler. It听may听include a听thermostat, humidistat or other sensors to听gauge听the temperature and humidity听throughout听the building.

Schedule Air Conditioner or Air Handler Repair

If you’re听experiencing听issues with your air conditioner, air handler or other HVAC components, 天美传媒听can听help. Our听squad听of听knowledgeable听technicians听can diagnose and repair any problems with your climate control system,听making sure听it runs safely and efficiently. For more information or to听schedule听air conditioning repair听in the U.S, please听reach out to听a听天美传媒 office听near you听today.