What Is an Air Handler?

An air handler is a part of your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system that moves air. 

Your furnace blower does the work of an air handler by blowing heated air through your ductwork. It also works in conjunction with the indoor unit of your air conditioner, sending cool air circulating throughout your Utah home. 

Switching from a furnace and air conditioning unit to an air-source heat pump necessitates an air handler. If you decide to install a ductless mini split in a new addition to your home or an accessory building, you will need one or more air handlers paired with your ductless heat pump.

Most air-source heat pump systems include an outdoor and an indoor unit. The air handler stays indoors while the compressor and condenser operate outdoors.  Working together, they can deliver up to three times more heat than the electrical energy they consume, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

Carrier Air Handlers

At Gillette Heating and Air Conditioning, our qualified technicians have experience in repairing, maintaining, and installing all HVAC equipment. Although we service and repair all makes and models of heating and cooling equipment, we are a Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer and are proud to offer Carrier products.

Carrier’s Infinity^®, Performance^™, and Comfort^™ brands offer the best air handler features, including variable or five-speed blowers, sloped drain pans to reduce mold growth, and improved humidity control. 

Carrier’s ductless air handlers include built-in Wi-Fi, multi-speed fans, sensors that help customize the humidity level, and occupancy sensors that detect a person in the room and redirect airflow. 

Anatomy of an Air Handler

In addition to high-tech and energy-efficient features, air handlers include a blower, an evaporator coil, and an air filter. 

The blower is a fan that sends conditioned air through the ductwork in your Springville home. Some blowers run at one speed. They turn on, operate at capacity, and turn off when the temperature in your home reaches the thermostat setting. Other blowers run at multiple speeds, offering better control over heating and cooling output.

Variable-speed blowers produce the best control, automatically and precisely choosing the fan speed that matches your comfort needs. 

The evaporator coil plays an essential role in the cooling process. The refrigerant that moves through the coil absorbs heat from the indoor air. At the same time, moisture in the air condenses and drips from the coil into the drain pan.

The cool air blown into your ductwork has less moisture, helping to reduce the humidity level in your home. 

The filter traps particles, preventing them from entering your HVAC system and exiting your air vents. Filters safeguard the indoor air quality (IAQ) in your home. 

Making it Fit

Our Gillette Heating and Air Conditioning technicians are experts at matching system components and sizing heat pump and air handler combinations that achieve your comfort needs. We can recommend the blower and compressor speeds that will work best for your Springville home.

When we size a heat pump for your home, we also choose the correct air handler size. 

Preventative Maintenance

Your air handler is an essential part of your heat pump system. We recommend an annual tune-up to ensure your system runs efficiently. During a maintenance visit, we can find and fix budding problems before they grow into major issues. Our technicians will inspect indoor and outdoor units, including the evaporator coil, blower, and filter in your air handler. 

Ask Us About Air Handler Options

Learn how an air handler-heat pump combination can improve energy efficiency in your Springville, UT, home. Gillette Heating and Air Conditioning can help you choose the best heating and cooling system for your budget and comfort. Call us at 801-465-7760 or request service online.