What Is an Air Handler?

Ever wondered what actually moves all that warm or cool air through your Bellingham, WA, home? That’s where the air handler comes in.

While it may not get as much attention as your furnace or air conditioner, the air handler plays a major role in keeping your home comfortable year-round. This hardworking component circulates air, helps regulate temperature, and ensures your HVAC system runs smoothly and efficiently.

Whether you’re hearing the term for the first time or just want a better understanding of how your system works, learning about your air handler can make you a more informed homeowner. In this guide, West Mechanical will break down what an air handler is, how it works, and why it’s so important to your indoor comfort.

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?

An air handler is the indoor component of an HVAC system that distributes conditioned air throughout your home. It contains key components, including the blower, evaporator coil, and air filter, all of which work together to circulate warm or cool air through your ductwork.

Air handlers are most commonly paired with heat pumps and electric air conditioning systems. In these setups, the air handler works with an outdoor unit to heat or cool your home and distribute air evenly from room to room.

Homes with gas furnaces typically don’t have a separate air handler. Instead, the furnace itself includes a blower that pushes air through the ducts, with the air conditioner coil installed on top of the furnace.

In simple terms: if your system heats and cools using electricity, you likely have an air handler. If it uses natural gas, the furnace usually handles the airflow instead.

Ask the Pros at West Mechanical About Air Handlers

Our expert team at West Mechanical 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 West Mechanical 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 West Mechanical diagnose and correct the issue before it spirals out of control. 

Call the Air Handler Experts in Bellingham, WA

Whether you need air handler installation, maintenance, or repair in your Bellingham, WA, home, our qualified team at West Mechanical is ready to help. Call us at 360-734-7599 or request service online.