What do I need for my AC?

There are many different types of equipment used to heat and cool a home. Each home is different, as are the needs of those living in the home. Researching the types of equipment will help you make an informed decision on what to install in your home. What is an Air Handler? Air Conditioning and Heating Units require both a heating and cooling aspect and also a blowing aspect. The heating is usually done in a coil and the cooling is usually done in the condenser. The Blowing usually comes from a blower motor that pushes air (hot or cold) through the duct work throughout the house. For this reason, a homeowner cannot add on air conditioning without adding or already having central heat. The air conditioning unit (usually a condenser) is often set up outside and uses a type of Freon to charge the air and cool it down. Then, the cooled-down air is then pushed through the house using the blower motor. As each cooling or heating mechanism requires both parts, air conditioners and heating units are usually sold in pairs. An Air Handler has a blower motor and is a type of component that will blow air through a house. More specifically,

“An air handler, or air handling unit (often abbreviated to AHU), is a device used to condition and circulate air as part of a heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system. Usually, an air handler is a large metal box containing a blower, heating and/or cooling elements, filter racks or chambers, sound attenuators, and dampers. Air handlers usually connect to ductwork that distributes the conditioned air through the building, and returns it to the AHU. Sometimes AHUs discharge (supply) and admit (return) air directly to and from the space served, without ductwork.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_handler