Air handlers are prevalent both in residential and commercial buildings. However, many still fail to understand the system. Some even mistake it as an air conditioner, which is inaccurate.

So, What Is It?

An air handler is a device used to distribute conditioned air, either warm or cool, throughout a home. It cannot control the temperature, but it can assist in the process. Hence, it cannot work as a standalone system.

Most of the time, an air handler comes as a part of the air conditioning system, especially the heat pumps. It can also work with a whole-house air purifying system or a dehumidifier. However, despite its ability to distribute warm air, an air handler is unnecessary to install with a furnace. A furnace usually has a built-in blower to deliver the warmed air.

How Do Air Handlers Work?

An air handler connects the AC unit with the ductwork. The device includes a filter, a blower motor, and an indoor coil. After being conditioned, the air will pass through the filter to block as many contaminants as possible. After that, the blower motor pushes the air through to all the areas connected with the ductwork.

For a better understanding, here are the vital components of an air handling unit:

1. Blower Motor

A blower motor is a machine that rotates the fan to send out the air. It can either have a single speed or variable speeds. The single-speed motor runs at a constant RPM (revolutions per minute). Meanwhile, the variable-speed motor can adjust its speed accordingly to meet the current condition in order to optimize efficiency and maximize comfort.

2. Air Filter

Micron particles carried along by the air can get into the system and cause various issues, from inefficiency and overheating, to early breakage. Hence, the system incorporates a filter to block these particles. However, the filter on your air handling unit is of a different quality from the ones in an air purifier. Therefore, you cannot rely on your air handler filter if you have concerns about your indoor air quality.

3. Evaporator Coils

The evaporator coils work to remove the heat from the air, making the air colder. Therefore, the components will operate only when the cooling system is on. If your heat pump is in heating mode, the coils will stay idle.

4. Heat Strips

These items work to add extra warmth to the air. In extreme cold, a heat pump will not be able to generate enough warmth, thus needing the heat strips to support it. Not every air handling unit has a built-in heat strip. Even so, you can ask your HVAC technician to add one if you think you need it.

Air handlers are an integral part of an HVAC system. Not only do you need to understand the basic concept of it, but you also need to know how to maintain it. It is also necessary to get a professional scheduled for regular maintenance every six months. If you have a maintenance schedule for your AC system, the air handler is usually already included in the service package.

ECM Air Conditioning, with its headquarters located in Boynton Beach, FL, provides air conditioning services within Palm Beach County, Broward County, Martin County, and St. Lucie County. If you’re having issues with your HVAC system, we’re on-call and ready to assist you with your air conditioning needs. So if you’re in need of an HVAC Contractor, don’t hesitate to contact us today to schedule an air conditioning service call diagnostic! Our HVAC experts will diagnose any issues that may be occurring with your HVAC system and help to repair your AC issue on the spot.

Best of all, because ECM is the largest HVAC company in South Florida our local warehouse facility that is 69,000 SQFT houses over $1 million in inventory and fully stocks our 127 vehicles on the road, making us one of the very few AC service companies capable of repairing most issues right on the spot. That means no waiting and no downtime without air conditioning for you & your family in the blistering Florida heat!

Call us at 561-295-1763 or contact our HVAC team online.