What is an Air Handler's Exact Purpose and How Does It Work?

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The term “air handler” may sound like a job description with no heavy lifting. Actually, it’s a vital component in your air-conditioning system. Most central AC systems incorporate two units: the indoor air handler and the outdoor condenser.

An air conditioner is essentially a heat mover. It takes heat from the indoors and disperses it outside. What’s left behind after heat energy is removed from indoor air is simply cool comfort.

How Air Gets Handled

The air handler inside the house — typically located in the attic, basement, or a small closet enclosure — is the component that extracts heat. Here’s how the cooling sequence proceeds:

• Warm air is drawn out of rooms in the house by the system blower, which is located in the air handler.

• Return ductwork conveys the warm air to the air handler, directing the flow of air through the air filter that removes particles like dust and lint.

• Filtered air passes through the evaporator coil inside the air handler. Frigid refrigerant circulating through the coil chills the evaporator passages and extracts heat from the warmer airflow.

• Because dry air cools more effectively and efficiently, a dehumidification process also occurs as the warm, moist air contacts cold coil surfaces and liquid condensation occurs.

• At this point, the airflow temperature as it leaves the indoor air handler will typically be somewhere between 55 and 60 degrees.

• The blower pushes cooled air out of the air handler and into the supply ducts that extend to all rooms in the house.

What Can Go Wrong

Potential problems occurring inside an AC indoor air handler include:

• Refrigerant leaks. Often through tiny pinholes in the evaporator coil that can only be detected and repaired by a qualified, licensed technician.

• Ice obstructing coil airflow. Frequently a symptom of low refrigerant charge caused by leaks.

• Clogged air filter. For efficient, effective cooling, change the air filter monthly all summer long.

• Blower malfunction. System airflow volume declines and eventually ceases.

• Condensate drain pan overflow. Usually due to a clogged condensate drain line.

For more about air handler functions and possible issues that may arise, contact the professionals at Air Assurance.

Ductless Mini Splits: Options to Enhance Your Comfort and Convenience

Ductless mini splits deliver comfortable heating and cooling solutions with convenient installation options for a host of applications. If you’re looking for practical alternatives for your remodel, new addition or new energy-efficient home, explore the many benefits of going ductless.

Ductless Mini Split ConfigurationsDuctless mini splits are compact air-source heat pumps and cooling-specific systems that utilize a thin conduit to connect the outdoor unit to the indoor air-handlers for convenient and efficient conditioning without the ducts. Ductless systems are available in the following configurations.

• Single-zoned (the mini): Classic ductless mini splits provide heating and cooling for a single room or zone.

• Multi-zoned: Two or more air-handlers heat and cool multiple rooms.

• Flex-zoned (mini-duct): This configuration uses a small duct run to provide heating and cooling to two or more zones from one air-handler.

• Modular: A modular system consists of several air-handlers connected to two or more outdoor units. This configuration is ideal for commercial and whole-home conditioning.

Installation Options

The flexible conduit is concealed within walls, crawl space and/or the attic for better aesthetics, and for easily connecting the outdoor unit and indoor air-handlers. The outdoor unit(s) may be strategically located, too, for aesthetics and convenience. The air-handlers offer multiple installation options inside the home in the following installs.

• High wall: Located high on walls out of foot traffic, this installation is perhaps the simplest and most popular among homeowners.

• Universal (floor, low wall or ceiling): Mounting is also available for low wall with clearance for a vacuum cleaner, floor console and ceiling mounted (floor and ceiling mounted options should include airflow enhancements that increase comfort and efficiency depending on heating and cooling cycles).

• Ceiling cassette: This option is aesthetically pleasing. Only the supply outlet is visible, as the air-handler is hung flush in a drop ceiling, or concealed in attic space.

• Slim duct: The slim duct is concealed within a ceiling, wall or floor. It uses a slim duct run with a supply outlet and return grille installed flush.

For more information about installation options for ductless mini splits in your Tulsa area home, contact Air Assurance today.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). 

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