How does an air handler work?
Simply put, an air handler “handles air” around the house via ductwork. An air handler is installed inside and works with an outdoor air conditioning and/or heat pump condenser unit to make the air hot or cold. A blower fan that moves the conditioned air throughout the home via ductwork. …
How do commercial air handlers work?
Air handlers blow air through the evaporator coil and then transfer it all throughout the building. They rely on a system of ductwork that ensures every room is equally cooled off, or heated up. The main components included in a condensing unit are a compressor and condenser coil.
What is the difference between an air conditioner and an air handler?
Air handlers are designed to move air around. That’s all that they do. They don’t heat up or cool down, they move air. Air conditioners, on the other hand, exist only to cool air by removing heat from the outdoor air.
How do air handlers heat?
An air handler moves heated and cooled air in a forced-air system. Forced air systems use a powerful fan called a blower to circulate air through your ductwork. In short, the blower handles the air. The cabinet the blower is a part of was given the name “air handler,” which is quite fitting.
Do you need an air handler?
If you have a furnace you probably don’t need to worry about an air handler. Air handlers tend to be used with heat pumps and help manage air flow throughout the building. Some units also provide backup heating and cooling elements to help out the heat pump.
Can air handler outside?
It is always the case that an air handler is located inside, but it is not always the case that the stuff inside an air handler have to be inside. For example, a packaged unit combines the compressor, condenser and evaporator coils, and the fan in one big cabinet that is always installed outside.
Can I just replace the air handler?
Unfortunately, the short answer is yes. You should replace your indoor air handler at the same time as your outdoor heat pump — or air conditioning unit if it’s that time of year.
How long does it take to install an air handler?
Generally speaking, the average installation will take anywhere from four to eight hours, which means the process of removing the old unit and being able to turn on the new one should be finished within a day.
Do air handlers have heat?
Surprisingly, an air handler itself doesn’t heat or cool the air at all. Instead, it blows indoor air across an internal heat exchanger or coil to add or remove heat from the air.
