Like an industry that deals with complex equipment and terminology, there is an entire language for air conditioning. There are various terms that can be confusing for homeowners that are not experts in home cooling. One of the most common areas that causes confusion is the differences between an air handler and an air conditioner. In this article, we will look at both systems, examine their differences and explain how they work.
The Air Conditioner:
The air conditioner system in your home has a condenser that is located outside the home. Many people think that an air conditioner cools down the air in their homes. This isn’t correct, the AC system actually removes heat from your home and deposits it outside making your home cooler. The air conditioner acts like a circulatory system, picking up the warm air, moving it outside and repeating the process over and over until it’s turned off. The blood in this analogy would be the refrigerant that absorbs the warm air as it passes over the refrigerant coil. The refrigerant then circulates through the lines carrying the absorbed heat outside and returns to repeat the process again.
The Air Handler:
An air handler has components that are used to move the air throughout your home. This is known as the blower, and it is located inside your home. The blower can operate with both the cooling and heating components of your HVAC system. The air handler looks like a furnace, but it acts differently in operation. The air handler can run with either a heat pump or an air conditioner. It contains an indoor coil that is used to heat or cool your home depending on which system it is being used with.
This may seem confusing at first, but all you really need to understand is that if you’re going to be using an air conditioner or a conventional furnace, you probably will not need an air handler. If you’re considering using an electric heat pump, the air handler will probably be needed as a part of the HVAC system in your home to move the air.
In Conclusion:
As you can see, there are significant differences in the way that air conditioners and air handlers work. It may be the case that you never even need to understand the air handler in any real detail unless you have a specific need to use an electric heat pump.
In any event, if you’re looking to install a new system and you’re not sure about the different methods of heating and cooling, seek the advice of a local heating and cooling specialist. Many companies in this field offer a complimentary no obligation assessment on the size and type of system that may suit your needs. This can give you a clear picture on how to get the best level of indoor comfort for your family. It will also tell you the relative costs to install and run the system to ensure that your choice is energy efficient.