An air handler is an HVAC component that circulates conditioned air throughout a building. It is often installed in conjunction with heat pump heating and cooling equipment.

A heat pump without an air handler is like a fan without blades.

The motor can revolve, but it won’t move any air.

The same goes for a heat pump. The outdoor unit might be in perfect working condition. Still, the heating and cooling process stops without an indoor evaporator coil, connecting refrigerant lines, and a fan to blow conditioned air through ductwork.

Add an air handler inside your Glendale home, and your heat pump will be back in business.

What Is an Air Handler: Table of Contents

• What Is an Air Handler?
• What Does an Air Handler Do?
• Does My Home Need an Air Handler?
• What Maintenance Does an Air Handler Need?

What Is an Air Handler?

If you own a heat pump or split system air conditioner, air handlers are crucial to your comfort. However, not all HVAC equipment requires a separate air handler.

If you own a gas furnace, the air conditioner evaporator coil typically sits above the furnace, and the furnace blower distributes the cooled air throughout your Glendale home.

Air handlers may be the least understood type of HVAC equipment. They are essential for some systems and redundant in others.

Confusing? They can be.

Ask the Pros at Clear Air Conditioning & Heating About Air Handlers

Our expert team at Clear Air Conditioning & Heating can answer your questions and concerns about air handlers and explain how they may affect your heating and cooling system.

If you plan to replace your aging furnace with an electric heat pump, we can help with equipment recommendations and installation. That includes recommending an air handler to work with your heat pump and ductwork.

What Does an Air Handler Do?

Air handlers, no matter what size, are the distribution system for your HVAC unit. Here is what they do:

• Circulate Air: The handler’s powerful blower fan pulls air over the indoor coil, pushing out conditioned air through your ductwork and into your home.

• Filter Air: Air handlers contain air filters that trap dust, pet dander, pollen, and other contaminants, improving indoor air quality (IAQ). Filters prevent these particles from circulating in your home or settling on the indoor coil.

• Ductwork Connection: The air handler connects to your home’s ductwork, where cool or warm air enters and returns for reconditioning.

Does My Home Need an Air Handler?

When your air handler functions correctly, it distributes temperature evenly throughout your home and eliminates hot and cold spots. It also maintains airflow to your HVAC unit, allowing it to operate without straining.

Its filter is essential for trapping pollutants and contributing to cleaner, healthier indoor air. Keeping particles out of your HVAC system contributes to its longevity.

Air handlers also help regulate humidity in your home, which is crucial for maintaining comfort. Too much humidity can create the perfect environment for mold growth. Indoor air without sufficient moisture can dry your skin and warp wood floors and furniture.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends a humidity level between 30 and 50 percent. An air handler can help maintain the proper level, especially when working with a humidifier or dehumidifier.

Highly efficient air handlers use variable-speed blowers that adjust their output continuously to maintain a constant temperature in your home. They reduce energy consumption and can save money on utility bills.

What Maintenance Does an Air Handler Need?

If your home has an air handler, it has a filter. Check your air filter every month and replace it when it is dirty. Consult your user manual for guidance on the type of filters your unit uses and how often you should replace them.

Our qualified technicians at Clear Air Conditioning & Heating will check your air handler’s blower motor, fan, and other components during your annual heat pump or air conditioning tune-up.

Regular preventative maintenance can keep your air handler operating at peak efficiency and detect issues before they escalate into costly problems or breakdowns.

Uneven heating and cooling, strange noises, or weak airflow could indicate your air handler has a problem with the blower fan, a clogged filter, or a faulty thermostat. Let us at Clear Air Conditioning & Heating diagnose and correct the issue before it spirals out of control.

Call the Air Handler Experts in Glendale

Whether you need air handler installation, maintenance, or repair in your Glendale home, our qualified team at Clear Air Conditioning & Heating is ready to help. Call us at 480-702-3540 or request service online.

The post What Is an Air Handler? first appeared on Clear Air Conditioning & Heating and is written by Clear Air Conditioning & Heating.

Meet the air handler. It has a starring role in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) industry.

If you have a ductless mini split system, you need an air handler to do the heavy lifting. It circulates conditioned air throughout your Arizona home. Doing so lets you keep your living space at the desired temperature.

Are you in the market for a new heating or cooling system? Clear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. is here to help.

Is your air conditioner or heater is more than 10 years old? You’ll be pleased to know that comfort technology is much more efficient now. The US Department of Energy (DOE) estimates you could save up to 40 percent on your energy bill just by upgrading your current AC system.

From our desk, here’s what you should know about air handlers:

How Do Air Handlers Work?

Air handlers work in conjunction with your heating and cooling equipment to produce the perfect indoor temperature. They have four main components with important duties:

1. The blower is a motor-controlled fan. It aids with circulation.

• The evaporator coil removes heat and humidity from the air.

• Sound attenuators keep your air ducts whisper-silent.

• Air filters ensure high indoor air quality (IAQ) and protect your equipment from dust build-up.

Different Sizes for Different Needs

Depending on square footage, there is an air handler for just about every space. The ideally-sized air handler can circulate air evenly without using more energy than necessary.

Smaller air handlers are typically reserved for residential settings. These air handlers may be called terminal units, blower coils, or fan coil units. Their setup is simple: consisting of an air filter, a blower, and a coil. They pull air from inside your Peoria home, treating and recirculating it.

Large air handlers are called makeup air units (MAUs). These mega-machines are usually found in commercial or industrial settings. Unlike their smaller cousins, MAUs pull air from the outdoors. If you’re a business owner, you should consider a rooftop unit (RTU).

When you’re shopping for an air handler, one of our HVAC specialists can audit your home. They will take notes, conduct measurements, and perform calculations to find a model tailored to your needs. That way, you’ll have the perfect balance of comfort and efficiency.

Do I Need an Air Handler?

If your home has an AC and heat pump combination, you’ll need an air handler. If you have a furnace or radiant heat, you don’t need an air handler.

If you live in a mild temperature region, a ductless system coupled with an air handler is the way to go. However, if you live in an area with harsh winters, it’s wise to have a furnace.

Or, you can enjoy the best of both worlds with a dual-fuel system. These systems provide you with a fuel-burning furnace on those super cold days and an electric heat pump on milder days. Ask our team how this system can save you significant money over time.

Need help with heating and cooling?

Clear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. has a team of curious and reliable HVAC specialists on call for you here in Peoria, Arizona. Whether you need a repair, replacement, or maintenance, you can always reach us at 623-516-8373 or conveniently request service online today.

The post How an Air Handler Works first appeared on Clear Air Conditioning & Heating and is written by Clear Air Conditioning & Heating.

A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) air handler unit, or AHU, may resemble a furnace in appearance, but its purpose is very different. It conditions and circulates both cool and hot air, depending on what time of year it is.

An air handler works in tandem with your air conditioner or heat pump to help you get the most efficiency from your HVAC system. As you take in these details on air handlers, our Clear Air Conditioning & Heating professionals are happy to answer any questions you may have.

What Exactly Is an Air Handler?

An air handler looks like a furnace in that it is usually a cased unit, like a furnace. Typically it is located inside your Peoria, AZ home and contains a blower, evaporator coil, and many components of your ventilation system, such as sound attenuators, filter racks or chambers, and dampers.

The air handler is the inside component of your HVAC system––working with your split-system air conditioner or heat pump. Usually air handlers connect to existing ductwork, distributing the conditioned air through your Arizona home and returning it to the air handler. The air handler blows the air (where the heat has been removed by the evaporator coil) through the air ducts in your home.

Air handlers come in different sizes. Smaller units may only have an air filter, blower, and coil. These are called terminal units, blower coils, or fan coil units. A larger air handler, known as a makeup air unit (MAU), conditions 100 percent outside air, no recirculated air. An air handler only designed for outdoor use and usually on roofs is called a rooftop unit (RTU); this type is generally for commercial use.

How Do I Know If I Need One?

If you are in the market for a new HVAC system, and you are considering a conventional gas furnace and air conditioner, you most likely will not need an air handler. On the other hand, if you are considering an electric heat pump, an air handler will probably be part of your purchase.

Often air handlers contain heat strips to provide additional heating, which cause them to sometimes be mistaken for electric furnaces. True electric furnaces are completely different in workings and purpose than an air handler. The air handler heat strips are only there to assist in providing heat when the temperatures are a little lower, but not low enough to require a furnace.

A general rule of thumb in determining whether you need to purchase an air handler as part of your HVAC system is to take a look at the temperatures where you live, like here in Peoria, AZ. The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports since 2015, separate efficiency standards were set for different heating and cooling systems in both northern and southern regions. An air handler, when necessary, can help with these efficiencies.

If you live in an area with mild temperatures that rarely see cooler numbers on the thermometer, say in a balmy climate, you will most likely need an air handler. In this situation, a split-system air conditioner with an outdoor condenser and indoor air handler is frequently used. If you live in the South where you may experience some cooler temperatures but generally see higher ones, you will most likely be installing a heat pump and an air handler. If you live in the North, especially the upper North where temperatures definitely dip into frigidity, you will want a high-efficiency gas furnace but no air handler.

We Are Your Air Handler Experts

There are many factors to consider when it comes to air handlers. If you have any questions on whether you need an air handler as part of your HVAC system, call 623-226-5206 or request service online to talk to one of our Clear Air Conditioning & Heating experts here in Peoria, AZ. We are always happy to discuss air handlers.

The post What You Should Know About Air Handlers first appeared on Clear Air Conditioning & Heating and is written by Clear Air Conditioning & Heating.