Humid Air and Air Flow. I am replacing windows and re-siding - adding 2" of foam to the exterior. Been in my house 10 years also, and have never cleaned the coil in the air handler. Need filters for your air handler? While in your attic, look for areas where the insulation is darkened (see photo), a result of filtering dusty air from the house. There is no good way to move the Air Handler into conditioned space, and I do not want to create a completely unvented attic. The attic then becomes superheated, which in turn heats up the ductwork—and the cooled air passing through it headed for your in-law suite. When we went to look, we saw the location is where there is ductwork. In my view, the suggestion to put the air handler in the attic when you have basement space available is insane, especially if it is a conventional vented attic. Replace supply and return air plenums. Photograph 2: Air Handler in Garages - There are complications. What is an air handler? A notice is posted on the electric service panel indicating to the homeowner that the air handler is located in the attic. Also I sometimes see only one sheet metal screw holding the HVAC cabinet to the straps. Attic installations can hurt efficiency to be sure. The air handler is the large metal box containing the fan and fan motor. I like to add a layer of foam board to both insulate the bottom of the air handler and help eliminate vibration. Air Handler An air handler, or air handling unit, is the indoor part of an air conditioner or heat pump that moves cooled or heated air throughout the ductwork of your home. Sometimes I see 3 nails, sometimes 2 nails, sometimes 1, and some time sheet metal screws (See the photos). Hot, humid air mixes with the cold internal air of the air handler by the cold … I am writing contract on this home is there a problem with this unite? From an efficiency standpoint, the garage would be a better location than an unconditioned attic. This is a common occurrence in Florida garages. Regarding the steel straps that are used to connect some attic HVAC units to the rafters,I see varying amounts of fasteners holding the steel straps to the rafters. I rarely run the unit in the summer time to cool the house. Don’t let the humming and rattling of your air handler disturb your employees, quiet things down with a Thermaxx Jacket. Since it was not a major problem, we waited a couple of months before the guy returned to the area. Edit, looks like a furnace in the attic really. Redesign condensate drain line with a trap installed. Find costs to replace an air handling unit in an attic or closet. The horizontal air handler unit has a rust around the blower outlet and white and greenish stains running down the outside Sheetmetal. In warmer weather, you’ll find water staining in these same areas. Attics are small, cumbersome spaces that can reach temperatures of 130 degrees in … If I have the air handler put in the attic which is at least 30 degrees warmer than the living space, in South Florida, this is not the best solution, unless you have it very well sealed and insulated. 3. On 2012-08-24 by Larry My note: This still does not address the possibility of ventilation exasperating mold issues in the attic. My 1978 Ranch house in Zone 5 (Southern NY) was constructed with the AC Air handler in the attic. Your air handler is responsible for evenly distributing cool and warm air throughout your house. Last winter we had 35 homes with condensation lines that froze when the the temp dropped. It gets worse…wait for it….in a hot attic the box that makes air … An air handler, or air handling unit, is the indoor part of an air-conditioning or heat pump system.Air handlers work much like furnaces in that they efficiently move air throughout the home. A home inspector told my daughter to move air handler from attic to garage, when she ever replaces it, for less strain from heat. On 2012-09-03 by lottie kenny like to change the attic air filtes, if i can locate . Once it is located, look for a slot where an air filter should fit. I disconnected the condensation line and had the water draining in a bucket but had to empty the buckets ever 4 to 6 hours. Another way your ducts lose energy (reducing your HVAC system’s effectiveness and costing you extra money) is when hot or cold energy from outside air literally forces its way through your ducts, changing the temperature of your air. The air handler is in the equipment room. What you are seeking is a 1" wide hinged or removable cover. Typically, the unit would be found in a basement, an attic, or sometimes in the back of a closet. Have questions about your air handler in the attic? Air conditioner in an attic, though? Air handlers usually consist of a large metal box that combines an electric heat strip, blower, and an evaporator coil. But lately, we’re starting to see more and more HVAC companies install the unit in a conditioned room. The air handler and supply ducts are all in the attic and so are outside of the insulating envelope of the house. House is 1575 sqft. Unless you have a finished attic, you probably aren’t fond of spending time up there during a hot summer day. One problem is the unit is freezing up and a repairman said theres a block of ice in attic. Seal connections at the air handler. Air conditioning systems are made up of two separate components – the condenser (or outdoor unit) and the air handler (or indoor unit). The problem here is health and safety. Contact Us for more information on removable insulation blankets for air handlers, or call (203) 672-1021. Replacement of air handler in main home. The main difference is that the air handlers only circulate heat when paired with a heat pump. This is a digitized version of an article from The Times’s print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. I don't like the hanging system either. Replace 5” media filter. Your attic is the most susceptible room in the house for this. This allows your air handler to cool itself, improving efficiency and extending the lifespan of the product. See Kevorkian. The air in an attic and garage comes from the same place…outside. There's one place, though, that's even worse: an attached garage, as shown at left. 4. In cold weather, you may see frosty areas in the insulation caused by warm, moist air condensing and freezing as it hits the cold attic air. The attic access opening is of sufficient size to replace the air handler. Change my intake filter regularly, like you. Discover forced air vs. hydronic. Is there any way you can get the model number off of your unit? Good units can be on the attic decking, usually on concrete blocks that sit in the emergency drain pan. But I do run it for about 9 months of the year to heat the house. The condenser in your air conditioner works hard to get rid of heat and pressurize refrigerant for the return trip through your house. I've written about how bad it is to put your heating and cooling system in an unconditioned attic, especially in a cooling climate. There is a pipe/cable/tube coming up from outside that is connected to a heat pump for cooling. Said notice shall be in all capi-tals, in 16 point type, with the title and first para-graph in … An AC guy said attic location is fine. This entry was posted in Insulation. He(Heating is gas fired hot water) . With so much premium placed on spaces, attic conversion took off as a home remodeling fad. The air handlers are in the attic. My AC unit, 4 ton, YORK, R22, 21 years old, last serviced 8 years ago, with apparently a non-original universal fan motor with improperly routed reversing wires. Usually the air handler (called an evaporator) and the blower are in a unit together and will have the filter close by. But with proper ventilation, you can at least bring those temperatures down to match that of the outdoor air. It's got ducts going into the ceilings of my second floor rooms. What is this world coming to? The indoor AC unit in many Phoenix area homes is attached to your furnace and located in the attic. Attic AC air handlers are typically installed in an unconditioned part of the home. Schedule a preventative maintenance checkup for your air handler with your local dealer at least once a year. Who is right? However, if you still suspect that you are losing heat through the unit (i. e., the air handler is keeping your attic warm), I’d suggest contacting a local HVAC technician to upgrade your air handler to one that might be better insulated. She has to replace her 16 yo unit now. The air handler is in the attic and about two months after installation, we saw water damage in the ceiling. Might just be hooked up to only serve cool air from an AC, utilizing only the blower rather than the furnace. But as has long been attested by many homeowners, the most recognizable challenges that hinder the full maximization of this space is air conditioning. That's not all; also included in most air handlers are filter racks or a filter chamber. Same dew point but higher relative humidity. Air handler in the attic. The insulation inside the air handler should also be enough to prevent major heat loss in winter months. 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