What is an Air Handler for Heat Pumps?

There are certain HVAC units that are meant to go hand-in-hand. The moment one unit is installed, it is mandatory to have the other installed to enjoy seamless home conditioning. This is the type of relationship that exists between an air handler and a heat pump. The heat pump is the outdoor unit that draws air from outdoor sources while the air handler is the indoor component that disperses the air within your home.

Source: SPRSUN air souce heat pump

In this blog post, we will emphasize the relationship that exists between heat pumps and air handlers, not leaving behind the types of air handler for heat pump and other crucial parts that make home conditioning efficient.

What is a Heat Pump Air Handler?

Heat pump air handlers are a crucial component that oversees the spread of controlled air across every corner of your home. Without an air handler, there is no way a heat pump will disperse conditioned air within a building, hence why they are often paired together.

While heat pumps stand as the major outdoor component, an air handler is one of the essential components that make up the indoor unit.

Air handler is housed in a rectangular metal cabinet alongside other components like evaporator coil, air filter, blower motor, and electrical heat strip. All these components put together, regulate the temperature of air that will be released from your ventilation ducts and also ensure that all dirt and debris are filtered out properly.

Types of Air Handlers

Air handlers can be grouped into three major types to meet up with the features needed by your heat pump.

● Packaged Unit: This is a self-contained unit that houses heating, cooling, and air handler components in a single system. This unit is installed outdoors or on rooftops of commercial buildings and homes with limited space. It does not only function with air to air heat pumps but can also be paired with air to water heat pumps to warm both indoor air and water.

● Split System: This type of air handler possesses an indoor and outdoor component. The indoor part consists of multiple controls that can be configured based on the apartment's need, while the outdoor component features a condenser with a compressor. It is suitable for large buildings because it allows you to set different temperatures for each room.

● Fan Coil Unit: This is the most energy-efficient air handler and it contains coils for heating and cooling. This unit is only installed in homes with an existing HVAC ductwork system for it to be able to maintain a precise temperature throughout your home.

Parts of an Air Handler

Every air handler contains a few key components designed to undertake specific functions. We will discuss four major parts below:

● Evaporator Coil: The evaporator coil is the part responsible for absorbing heat and moisture from indoor air. The coil is made of rust-resistant metals or aluminum and it is connected to the outdoor condenser by a refrigerant line. Once the thermostat is switched on, the refrigerant flows into the coil to absorb heat and humidity from the air passing through.

● Blower Motor: After the absorbed air has been conditioned by the heat pump, the blower motor takes on air distribution from the system to every ductwork present in the home. A blower motor may vary in power and size depending on its design and home requirements. Blower motors are of three types, classified according to their speed level. They include; single-speed, multi-speed, and variable-speed.

● Air Filter: Air filter is responsible for trapping dust particles before releasing air in and out of your home. This is a very crucial part because it protects the air handler’s internal components, and also ensures clean air is circulated within an apartment. Hence why it needs to be regularly cleaned or replaced if need be.

● Electrical Heat Strip: This is an optional part that doesn't come with all air handler heat pumps. It contains the same electric element that is present within a hot water heat pump. This electric element provides additional heat to the air that passes through an air handler, hence why it is predominantly used in areas with prolonged cold periods.

How Does an Air Handler Work in Heat Pumps?

The process of air handlers working in heat pumps involves drawing indoor air through return ducts, filtering, and regulating the air before releasing it back into the room through supply ducts.

The air handler does this by pulling in air through a return duct and running it over a filter to remove dust particles. After that, the air passes through an evaporator coil where it is either cooled or warmed. If warm air is requested, the system immediately pumps a high-temperature refrigerant from the outdoor condenser, passing through the refrigerant line to heat up the air present in the evaporator coil. Finally, the blower fan disperses air to the room through its supply duct.

If cool air is requested, the same process happens but this time, the system takes a low-pressure gas from the condenser. The low-pressure gas then cools down the air within the evaporator coil before the blower fan disperses it within your room.

Benefits of an Air Handler to Heat Pumps

An air handler is primarily designed to boost the efficiency and air delivery of a heat pump. Below are notable benefits of pairing heat pump with air handlers:

● Precise Zoning of Indoor Temperature: Air handlers work in conjunction with the dampers within a ductwork to direct airflow to each section of an apartment. It gives users the chance to set a unique temperature level for different areas of the house.

● Improved Indoor Air Quality: Air handlers help maintain a healthy living space by using their filter to trap all pollen, dust, and mold spurs that would have circulated back into your home.

● Protect Heat Pump's Internal Component: Indoor air sucked in through the heat pump's return duct often contains dust particles that may damage its internal component in the long run. The air handler ensures all dirt is trapped in its filter before indoor air finds its way into the system.

● Humidity Control: By conditioning indoor air, the air handler's evaporator coil reduces the level of humidity present in air released back indoors. This prevents moisture build-ups that may develop into molds.

● Energy Efficiency: Air handler prevents heat pumps from consuming more energy because it functions at a constant temperature. Units like heat pump R290 further reduce energy saving rate by 15-35% due to its high Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER.

When to Replace a Heat Pump's Air Handler

When the components of an HVAC system become old, their performance level begins to drop until it gets to a stage where they can no longer serve their purpose. The estimated life for an air handler with heat pump is 10 to 12 years. After this period, it is advisable to get a new unit from professional Chinese heat pump manufacturers for utmost satisfaction.

When replacing an air handler, it is best to replace it alongside all HVAC components in and out of your home. This is because several manufacturers often design the air handler vs heat pump to be streamlined as a matched system that operates optimally when paired with each other.

Another reason to replace your air handler are instances where you experience issues like weak airflow, reduced energy efficiency, and a frozen air handler.

Conclusion

The air handler is one HVAC unit that people often mistake for a heat pump. Heat pumps and air handlers are separate units of the HVAC system. However, they function hand-in-hand, using parts like air filters, blower motors, and evaporator coils to ensure that air transferred from outdoor sources is conditioned and dispersed properly within your home.