What Does The Air Handler Do For My HVAC System?

There are myriad components that go into your HVAC that sometimes it can get confusing to understand the function of each component. Nonetheless, every component plays a very significant role in ensuring that your home maintains a premium comfort levels. Air handler is a crucial part of this network of components.

What’s Air Handler?

By definition, an air handling unit (AHU) or simply air handler is a device in your HVAC that is used to circulate and regulate air. An air handler is usually placed in a bigger metal box containing filter chambers, dampers, sound attenuators, blower, and heating and cooling elements. Small air handles, mostly for domestic use, only include coil, air filter and a blower.  They are sometimes referred to as terminal units, fan coil units, or blower coil. Large air handlers designed to condition 100 percent outside air (no recirculated air) are called makeup air unit, rooftop units (RTU) or packaged unit (PU), and are usually placed on roofs.  An air handler is usually connected to the duct ventilation system which distributes the conditioned air through your home/ building and redirects it to the AHU. In some cases, AHU is designed to discharge (Supply) then admit (return) air to and from the space without duct work.

Function of an Air Handler

Basically, an air handler does exactly what it sounds like it can do—it handles/manages air in your heating and ventilation system. It is the indoor part or component of your heat pump or split-system air conditioner. It has an evaporator coil that removes the heat from the air which is in turn blown through a series of ducts attached to it.

Because the air handler often has strip that provide your HVAC with additional heating power, some people mistakenly refer to it as an electric furnace. However, this is not true: the heat strips in your air handler are designed to provide sufficient heat when it is little colder outside but not cold to a level that warrants having a furnace.

Bottom Line

An air handle is a very vital component of your HVAC system. Follow us for more articles that will keep your heating and cooling systems running efficiently.