Air Handlers Vs. Gas Furnaces: 10 things you should know about these two indoor units
Did you know that air handlers and gas furnaces can look similar, but do VERY different things? Do you know what’s in your home? As we’ve discussed before, knowing which system you have can influence how you heat and cool your home, how high your utility expenses are, how you go about routine maintenance, etc. And it so happens, that if you are in a cold area – knowing the difference is a big deal.
Both air handlers and gas furnaces pair with your air conditioner or heat pump, and are located in either a closet, attic or basement. This is why it can be confusing to tell the difference between the two. In fact, the two systems can look so similar you may think you have an “electric furnace” when in actuality, you have an air handler.
If you have a heat pump, remember, if temperatures frequently drop below freezing it is a good idea to pair your heat pump with a gas furnace – not an air handler. This is so you prevent your heat pump from frequently switching over to emergency heat mode. This is when backup heat, usually in the form of strips, kicks on – using electricity to create original heat. Generally, this is the least monetarily-savvy way to heat your home (when compared to electric heat transfer or original heat from gas).
There are only a few places around the country where an air conditioner is going to be paired with only an air handler. This includes the most southern parts of Florida and Texas – places that rarely see temperatures shy of 60F. With heat pumps,there may be many places in the South that you can get away with having a heat pump paired with an air handler. Again, these are places that generally don’t see temperatures south of freezing. For the rest of the country, if you have a split system, you most likely have some form of a furnace – whether that is gas, electric or oil-powered.
Still don’t know which type of system you have? You can talk to your local heating and cooling contractor. If it seems like maybe the wrong type of system is in your home (i.e. you need the power of gas heating) you can also talk to your local heating and air contractor.
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Five things you will love about high-efficiency furnaces
Happy “nearly” Valentine’s Day everyone! Whether you’re looking to cozy up with your sweethearts at home, or are going out for a romantic dinner for two – having a warm environment is going to play a big part in making the night enjoyable (even if it’s not the first thing on your mind). If you’re out shopping for a new gas furnace and are having a hard time making a decision, we’re here to help.
Here are five reasons why you should choose a high-efficiency furnace for keeping you and your loved ones warm this winter.
- Even a standard-efficiency upgrade can be a great way to save money on heating costs. Now, imagine the savings if you shoot for more than standard-efficiency! Furnaces today reach nearly 100% efficiency.
- High-efficiency furnaces often come with home comfort features that can add additional comfort to your home! For example, variable-speed operation can lead to more even temperatures. Say goodbye to cold spots.
- While a fireplace may be romantic, it can actually be a major source of heat loss. So, while the area immediately around your fire could be warm, the rest of your house may be cooler. While we don’t discourage using the fireplace completely (if you have one) just make sure you don’t forget to close the damper after each use. Then, your high-efficiency furnace should be able to get the rest of the house back to temperature quickly and efficiently.
- With a high-efficiency furnace, you are also reducing your environmental impact. After all, you are going to be using less energy to heat your home during the winter.
- And, at the end of the day, you will have more money to spoil yourself, or your sweetheart, this Valentine’s Day! More flowers and chocolate for everyone!
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10 things you should know about operating a heat pump in winter
Heat pumps can be a great option for any homeowner, pretty much anywhere! They are the most cost-effective option (when compared to other electric heating methods that create original heat), and they can be a great way to optimize your year-round heating and cooling costs. However, even with all these benefits, homeowners may still be hesitant to choose a heat pump. The main hang-up being winter heat pump operation.
I mean, how can a heat pump possibly pull heat out of the air when it is SO COLD outside? Well, here are 10 things you should know about operating your heat pump in winter that may be your final push towards having one installed in your home.
- Your heat pump can always pull heat out of the air. Fingers crossed that it never reaches absolute zero on Earth! The question is efficiency. When does it become less efficient for your heat pump to pull heat out of the cold air? The answer? Well, a good rule of thumb is below freezing (or approximately 32°F).
- Defrost mode can be alarming! But, it’s crucial for heat pump operation in winter. Ice may begin to form on your outdoor components when the temperature drops below freezing. So, your heat pump will reverse operation to defrost those components. But, this will only be for a short while and is completely normal.
- But, if it seems like defrost mode may be kicking on too frequently or lasting too long… make sure you call a local heating and air contractor. While defrost mode is a normal part of operation, anything that seems excessive or out of the ordinary, should be looked into by a professional.
- It can be a good idea to pair your heat pump with a gas furnace (a.k.a. dual-fuel) – especially if you live in an area that drops below-freezing frequently. This way, you can get electric heating down to a certain point, and then switch over to gas heating (which may become the more efficient heating method).
- DO NOT rely on emergency heat for really cold days. This can really drive up utility bills, and is most definitely not the most efficient allocation of heating energy. If your heat pump isn’t cutting it, consider adding a gas furnace. Even your heat pump running in normal heating mode will be a better use of energy.
- Make things programmable. This way you don’t have to worry about constantly monitoring your thermostat. When you have your new heat pump installed, ask your contractor about a programmable thermostat.
- Like all other systems, make sure that you are paying attention to your filter. This will make sure that the air you are receiving from your heat pump during the winter is premium quality.
- Have your heat and cooling contractor explain best practices for operating a heat pump in your area during winter. They will know best practices for homes in your area.
- Make sure you schedule a tune-up at least once a year to make sure that your heat pump is in peak condition for the heating and cooling season. Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
- Lastly, clear winter debris from around your heat pump to prevent blocked airflow. Decreased airflow means decreased efficiency.
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What does an air handler do?
If you have a split-system air conditioner or heat pump, you’re probably familiar with an air handler – even if you ended up going with a gas furnace. This is one of the indoor systems that can be paired with your heat pump or air conditioner to make a complete HVAC system.
But, what exactly does an air handler do and how does it differ from a gas furnace?
Well, unlike a gas furnace, an air handler doesn’t heat on its own or use natural gas. Instead, it is powered by electricity (often being mistaken for an “electric furnace”). Air handlers also help provide heat when necessary through electric backup heat strips or, can facilitate heat creation when paired with a heat pump. However, backup heat strips should be used sparingly as they use electricity to create original heat (which can be much costlier than the heat transfer process employed by a heat pump or the heat creation process using natural gas).
Basically, an air handler houses your indoor, evaporator coil and parts of your air distribution system. It is generally housed in a closet, attic or basement and connects to your air distribution network (i.e. ductwork). This is also one of the places your filter could be located. These systems can be great options for homeowners who only need the heating and cooling power of a heat pump. Or, if you can meet your year-round HVAC needs with an air conditioner.
Did you know that your air handler and your air conditioner (or heat pump) must be properly matched in order to provide expected efficiency and performance levels? That is why it is critical that you replace both your outdoor and indoor equipment when buying a new system.
As always, if something seems off with your air handler, call a professional heating and air contractor. They will be able to let you know if something is wrong.
Did you already know this about air handlers? What else do you want to know about air handlers?
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Where is my furnace filter?
The weather has been more than a little bit frightful around certain areas of the country lately. Have you found yourself spending more time indoors than usual? Hopefully you’ve taken the steps to make sure that your indoor air is as fresh as possible – mainly by making sure your filter is fresh. There are a number of things that can be indicators for a dirty filter. These include, more dust accumulation than usual, higher utility bills, systems that run longer than necessary, and more! For some people, it can be tricky to actually locate the filter and change it, but it doesn’t have to be.So, where is your furnace filter located?
Well, there are several places that your furnace filter can be located. Here are a few:- Between your equipment and your ductwork.
- Inside of your ductwork.
- In a return grate in your home.
- In multiple return grates in your home.
- Inside the cabinet of your gas furnace or air handler.
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How does my home benefit from a filter change?
We’ve stressed, and then stressed again, the importance of regular filter changes. But, how exactly does your home benefit from a filter change? Well, let’s start off with a kind of scary fact – indoor air is often more polluted than your outdoor air. So, while air quality may be low outside, there could be a red level emergency right inside your home! That’s definitely not something you want to be up against, especially during the long winter months when people spend way more time indoors.
Here are a few things that can happen if you haven’t changed your filter in a while.
- A dirty filter can lead to dust accumulation inside your home. It’s hard enough keeping the home clean when you’re spending so much time indoors; don’t make your job harder!
- A dirty filter may not filter out allergy-inducing particles from your indoor air. So, if you suffer from allergies, a dirty filter will aggravate any symptoms.
- A dirty filter can lower the quality of your indoor air and lead to poor health or headaches.
- A dirty filter may cause HVAC system damage! Restricted airflow (from a dirty filter) can lead to inefficient performance, less than desirable comfort levels and potential system issues.
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Changing air handler filters: all you need to know
Indoor air quality is particularly important as we head into these long winter months. After all, we are spending a lot of time huddled up indoors, keeping out of the cold weather. This is why we stress the importance of regularly changing your furnace filter.
Filter changes are important year round – particularly if you have pets, a lot of people in your home or suffer from allergies. In fact, if you have an older heating and air system, or if you have any of the above-mentioned situations, it can be a good idea to change your filter monthly. If not, you may only need to change your filter twice a year – once before the heating season and again before the cooling season. But, you are going to be the best judge of your filter changing needs.
So, where to start? Well, you need to determine whether you have a permanent or disposable filter.
- Disposable filters: If you’ve ever gone to a hardware store (or maybe even a grocery store) you’ve probably seen them. These are, as the name suggests, disposable. You will be able to remove them from your system and replace them with another store-bought variation.
- Permanent filters: These can also be called “washable” filters. And, like the name suggests, these filters can be removed from your equipment and machine washed. These are good if you need extra-fine air filtration power, but can be messy to clean and expensive to install.
- Know which size you have. This way you can run to the hardware store and purchase the appropriate replacement.
- Know where your filter is located in your system. This may be your last step if it is located inside your air handler or furnace cabinet. You don’t want to start taking things apart to find the filter. Filters are often located in a return duct attached to the side or top of an air handler. It can be in a return on your wall or could be in multiple places. If you can’t find it, it may be time to call a contractor.
- Remove the old filter and replace it with the new one, making sure that it is the correct way. It’s as simple as that!
- Dispose of your old filter in the proper way. Call your local recycling center and see if they accept old air filters.
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How to keep your indoor air fresh: understanding air handler filters
We already discussed a couple of key components of an air handler. But, the component that we haven’t discussed yet is your filter. Before your conditioned or heated air enters your ductwork, it must pass through a filter to make sure it is the highest quality possible.
Here are five things you should know about air handler filters:
- Filters can be either permanent or disposable. With a permanent filter, you are going to have to remove it and take it outside to clean it. With a disposable filter, you will just buy the right size filter and substitute one for another when the old filter becomes too dirty.
- Air filters heavily impact the quality of your indoor air. A dirty air filter will lower the quality of your indoor air – it can even lead to an increase of dust throughout your home.
- The filter in your air handler must be changed regularly – at the very least once before the heating season and again before the cooling season. However, there are many factors that may necessitate the need for changes more frequently. For example, if you have pets, you’ll have to change your filter more frequently.
- Filters come in different sizes and filtration powers. The greater the filtration power, the more particles the filter is going to be able to remove from your indoor air.
- Some filters are going to be harder to change than others. For example, if your filter is actually located inside of your air handler, you may want to consider calling a contractor instead of changing/cleaning the filter yourself.
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What is an air handler?
If you’ve decided that you don’t need to pair your air conditioner with a gas furnace, but you’re still interested in a split-system configuration, you’ll need to pair your equipment with an air handler. But, what exactly is an air handler you ask? Well, let us tell you.
You may have heard an air handler referred to as an “electric furnace.” But, this would be misleading. Air handlers can have backup heating operation (in the form of heat strips) that DO run on electricity. But, if you need powerful winter heating – the electric heat strips in your air handler are not going to be the most cost effective heating method.
An air handler is a great option for homeowners in more mild climates that don’t need as much heating power. These units pair with your air conditioner or heat pump and help with heat transfer. Heat pumps paired with air handlers are ideal for homes in the South (i.e. Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, etc.) And, air conditioners paired with heat pumps can be great options for homeowners in the southern tip of Florida or even Texas. You should discuss your home heating and cooling system options with your contractor before you settle on your components.
So, what are the basic components of your air handler?
- The most important thing your air handler contains is your indoor evaporator coil. In an air conditioner, this is where refrigerant absorbs heat (and evaporates) leaving cool air to be distributed through your home. Same with your heat pump, but it also is able to do the opposite (transferring heat into the indoor air/condensing operation).
- Your air handler also contains a blower/air distribution system that hooks up to your ductwork. Conditioned or heated air has to enter your home somewhere, and your blower is where it all starts.
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Furnace Efficiency Ratings – Understanding AFUE
If you’re looking for a way to predict just how much your efficient gas furnace can save you, you need to understand efficiency ratings. The main efficiency ratings for all heating and air equipment are SEER, EER, HSPF, and AFUE. For furnaces, we’ll focus on AFUE.
AFUE, or the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, is a percentage that measures just how much of the energy that is put into a gas furnace is useful heating power – the greater the percentage, the better. Currently, minimum efficiency requirements for AFUE are 80%. But, gas furnaces can reach much higher levels of efficiency – even approaching 100% AFUE! So, say a gas furnace is 97% AFUE. That means that 97% of the energy (natural gas) that is put into the system is returned in heating power.
Just make sure if you make that investment in a furnace that is nearly 100% efficient, you are taking 
steps to ensure you are getting your money’s worth. Keep up with regular maintenance, register your warranty and get the home comfort additions to support high-efficiency operation (like a programmable thermostat or a zoning system).
Have you done your research on high-efficiency furnaces? If you’re thinking of purchasing one, make sure you get in tough with your local gas furnace contractor.