Air handlers help push hot and cold air through your home. They often look similar to a furnace but have a different purpose than a furnace does. If you are looking for or already have a conventional air conditioner or furnace then you will want to look at our air conditioner page or furnace page. If you are looking for or have an electric heat pump then this is the page for you. Additionally, if you have radiant heat, an air handler with air conditioning capabilities is a good pairing to your radiant heat system.
If your air handler isn’t working properly or has stopped working all together, there are several components that our certified technicians will check. These include the blower/fan, control components, cooling elements, filters, heating elements, humidifier (typically only if you live in a dryer climate), the mixing chamber, vibration isolators, and more.
There are also different types of air handler units. These include down flow, horizontal, and up flow air handling units.
At 1st American Plumbing, Heating, and Air we know how each of those components work together and will find and fix any problem that may occur with your unit.
The air handler works with both your furnace and air conditioner. That is one reason why annual tune-ups are so important.
Air handlers that are not part of a package unit are typically located in a closet, in the attic, or in the garage.
Maybe you are considering an alternative to a furnace or an air conditioner. Why choose an air handler?
Air Quality
Because the fan is constantly moving the air in your home is always running through a filter. That means fewer air particles floating around your home.
Comfort Control
Heaters and air conditioners have a similar cycle. They blast out heat or cold air and then they stop. Then they start up again only to shut off a few minutes later. You may be too hot one minute and not hot enough the next. An air handler’s fan speed can be adjusted but because it is always blowing air, the temperature remains more consistent. With a newer high efficient furnace and AC with an ECM style motor, you can also achieve this without the additional need of a separate air handler.
Energy Efficient
Even though a variable speed air handler is constantly running, it is usually doing so at a low level. This saves energy because your system doesn’t have to constantly turn on and off, and it spends much less time wasting energy at the highest level. With a newer high efficient furnace and AC with an ECM style motor, you can also achieve this without the additional need of a separate air handler.
The Sound of Silence
Air conditioners and furnaces make quite a bit of noise when they kick on and off. Because an air handler isn’t turning off and on, you won’t have the additional noise.
Perfect for Zoning
If you are using HVAC zoning, you will want to consider using a variable speed unit. A variable speed unit can deliver the correct amount of air to each zone in your house, by providing constant air flow to the zone, better than a furnace or air conditioner can.
Removes Humidity
Air conditioners and heaters turn on and off, allowing humidity to either stop being circulated during a heating cycle or not being removed and building up during an AC off cycle. An air handler runs continuously in a cost-effective manner so humidity isn’t a problem.
Call us at (801) 477-5818 or fill out the form on this page to ask about Air Handlers.