An essential part of any heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system is the air handler. This unit acts as a large fan that blows the cooled or heated air through the ductwork, to be delivered into each room of your building. Without this mechanical device, the cool or warm air will only just trickle out of your vents.
Additionally, the air handler regulates the amount of air necessary to achieve your desired temperature, as well as filtering the air to keep it fresh and clean. Think of the air handler as the heart of your HVAC system. There can be several varying elements that make up an air handler, depending on the needs of the building it supports. Air filtration is found in most units as it serves a vital role in keeping the air dust free and the ductwork clean.
Some air handlers may contain additional heating and cooling components to help keep a fluctuating air supply steady. Other elements that can be utilized are humidifiers to negate dry air and static electricity, mixing chambers for the introduction of outside air, and a heat recovery device for added energy savings and capacity.
Why do you need a great air handler?
Since the air handler is in charge of regulating how much cool or warm air needs to go where it is critical that your unit performs at the same capacity as the rest of your HVAC system. Sometimes the air handler might wear down over time and perform with reduced efficiency.
This is bad news not only for your heating and air conditioning bill but for all other parts of your HVAC system as well. On the other hand, if you have a new HVAC system installed, but leave in an old air handler, your new installation will suffer increased wear and tear.
If your air handler is not operating at the maximum performance you are losing out on:
- Energy efficiency
- Higher quality air
- Reduced strain on other HVAC components such as the heat pump
For these reasons, it is critical that your air handler is properly serviced and kept up to date. Furthermore, by installing a new air handler yourself, the chances of imbalanced performance between all components of your HVAC system will foot you higher maintenance bills down the road. We can help, call now at 408-295-2182.