What Is an Air Handler? The A/C Closet at Palm Cay

An air handler is the indoor part of a central air conditioning system. It holds a fan, called a blower, and a cooling coil. The blower pulls air from your home through a filter, pushes it across the coil to cool it, and sends it back out through the ducts. It works as a team with the outdoor unit. In every Palm Cay floor plan, the air handler sits in its own small closet on the second floor, marked AHU on the builder's drawings. This guide explains what it does, how to care for it, and what to ask before you buy.

Air handler unit inside a small closet.png

What Is an Air Handler?

Carrier, the heating and cooling company, describes the air handler as the indoor part of the HVAC system that moves conditioned air through the ducts. HVAC stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning.

Carrier lists the main parts inside:

A blower motor, the fan that moves the air
An evaporator coil, the part that cools the air
An air filter, which catches dust before the air is cooled
A drain pan, which catches water that forms on the cold coil
Electric heat strips, an option on some systems for heating

The air handler usually sits in a closet or an attic. It pairs with an outdoor unit, which is either an air conditioner condenser or a heat pump. Together they are called a split system: one part inside, one part outside.

How an Air Handler Works, Step by Step

Warm air from your rooms is pulled into a return vent.
The air passes through the filter.
The blower pushes the air across the cold coil. The coil takes heat out of the air.
The cooler air goes out through the ducts and into each room.
The heat is carried outside, where the outdoor unit releases it.

Trane, another heating and cooling company, explains it the same way: the blower pushes air across the coil, and the indoor and outdoor units work as a matched system.

Air Handler vs. Furnace

Many people up north have a furnace. A furnace makes heat, often by burning gas, and has its own blower. An air handler moves air and holds the cooling coil, and it works with an outdoor air conditioner or heat pump. In South Florida, cooling is the main job most of the year.

Which heat source your home uses depends on the system. The Palm Cay features list names an energy-efficient central A/C and heating system. Ask the sales team what type of heat your home's system uses.

Diagram of how an air handler moves cool air through a home.png

Where the Air Handler Sits in Each Palm Cay Plan

On all five Palm Cay floor plans, the air handler closet is upstairs, off the hall near the bedrooms. Here is where the drawings put it:

Angelo: beside the walk-in closet, near the stairs
Harris: in the hall, next to Bath 2
Roby: in the hall, just below the laundry closet
Archer: in the hall, just below the laundry closet
Wittkop: in the hall, next to Bath 2

An upstairs closet is easy to reach, which makes filter changes simple. It also means you will hear the blower a little when the system runs. That is normal.

In the Roby and the Archer, the air handler closet and the laundry closet sit next to each other. See how the rest of those plans compare in Roby vs. Archer at Palm Cay.

How Often Should You Change the Filter?

This is the one job every owner should know.

Carrier says to change the filter every 30 to 90 days. It notes that 1-inch filters are often changed monthly.
Trane gives the same 30-to-90-day range, and says more often with pets or allergies.
The U.S. Department of Energy says to clean or replace your air conditioner's filter every month or two during the cooling season. It says replacing a dirty, clogged filter can lower your air conditioner's energy use by 5% to 15%.

In South Florida, the cooling season is most of the year. So a simple habit works: check the filter every month, and change it when it looks dirty.

Tip: write the filter size down on move-in day. It is printed on the edge of the filter. Buy a few at a time so you always have one ready.

Other Simple Care

Keep the closet clear. Do not store boxes in front of the air handler. It needs air and a technician needs room.
Keep supply and return vents open. Do not block them with furniture.
Ask about the drain line. The cold coil makes water, and a drain line carries it away. Ask where it runs in your home.
Schedule a check-up. Have a licensed technician look at the system on a regular schedule.

What the Palm Cay Features List Says About Cooling

The Palm Cay features list from the builder's brochure includes:

An energy-efficient central A/C and heating system
R-30 blown insulation in all attic spaces above living areas
R-4.1 insulated exterior masonry walls
A Z-Wave thermostat as part of the Home Is Connected smart home package
A 10-year Carrier limited warranty

Ask which equipment the Carrier warranty covers and read its terms. D.R. Horton homes also carry a 1-year workmanship warranty, a 2-year systems warranty and a 10-year structural warranty. Features can change, so ask for the current list for your home.

Hand changing an air filter in an air handler.png

Questions to Ask on Your Tour

What size filter does this air handler use?
What type of heat does the system use?
Where does the condensate drain line run?
What does the Carrier limited warranty cover, and for how long?
How does the smart thermostat connect to my phone?

Palm Cay in Short

Palm Cay is a D.R. Horton townhome community in Florida City with five two-story plans, from 1,382 to 1,582 square feet. Homes have recently started in the low $370,000s. Prices and incentives change, so call 561-704-0091 for today's numbers.

Three plans put the laundry upstairs near the air handler. See which in our washer and dryer hookup guide, and compare every plan in Palm Cay floor plans compared.

Common Questions

What is an air handler?

It is the indoor part of a central air system. It holds a blower fan, a cooling coil, a filter and a drain pan. It moves air across the coil and sends cooled air through the ducts to each room.

Where is the air handler in a Palm Cay townhome?

On all five Palm Cay floor plans, the air handler sits in its own closet on the second floor, off the hall near the bedrooms. The builder's drawings mark it AHU.

How often should I change my air handler filter?

Carrier and Trane both say every 30 to 90 days. The Department of Energy says every month or two during the cooling season. In South Florida, checking it every month is a good habit.

What is the difference between an air handler and a furnace?

A furnace makes heat, often by burning gas. An air handler moves air and holds the cooling coil. It works with an outdoor air conditioner or heat pump, and cooling is the main job in South Florida.

Does a dirty filter really matter?

Yes. The Department of Energy says replacing a dirty, clogged filter can lower an air conditioner's energy use by 5% to 15%. A clean filter also helps the system move air the way it should.

What warranty covers the A/C at Palm Cay?

The Palm Cay features list includes a 10-year Carrier limited warranty. D.R. Horton homes also carry a 2-year systems warranty. Ask which equipment the Carrier warranty covers and read the terms.

Call 561-704-0091 or Tour a Palm Cay Townhome With Simon to open the closets, see the systems and ask every question on your list.