How to Install an Air Handler?

Air handlers are a common electrical gadget that is used for circulating warm or cold air throughout the rooms. In most of the cases, people tend to combine it with an air conditioner unit to effectively bring down the room temperature but apart from this, it can also be used with a pump to supply heat in the cold countries. For the first time users, below is a precise step by step air handler installation guide for your reference:

      1)-      Try to position the handler centrally so as to reduce the overall length of the copper duct required for refrigerant tubing. Please go through the user manual thoroughly and ensure that you obey the safety precautions listed in the manual including complying with the proposed clearance space from the combustible elements. Also, leave at least 25 inch clearance right in front of your cabinet for easy access.

       2)-      Next, install both supply and return air ductwork in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s suggestion.

       3)-      Using an aviation snip, make a small cut near the lower end of the cabinet to make way for the return duct to get connected with the handler for proper upflow installation.

      4)-      Make a hole in the floor or wall. Tightly fix the return air grilles using screws. Next, fix the return air partition and carefully terminate the rectangular duct horizontally to bring in fresh air. Connect this duct to the cabinet opening.

      5)-      Make an L-shaped cut at the end of the horizontal duct and connect the air filter rack with the return air partition made in step 3. Interconnect this L-cut to the rack. Affix the ducts starting from the topmost elbow to the one immediately below.

      6)-      Fix a metal plenum just over the handler blower compartment. Make a small incision in the body of the plenum for proper take off.

      7)-      Hold the inner side of the duct and carefully install a tab at the end of the duct. Next, place three screws at approximately equal distances from each other. The installation of the take off shall enable you to connect a bigger extended plenum having multiple rectangular ducts. This way, try to cover the total service area.

      8)-      Attach the round shaped ducts to this extended plenum which in turn will help in supplying conditioned air to all parts of the room. Make a few small holes in this plenum and install a few collars similar to the way takeoffs were installed earlier. Next, cut another small hole either in the wall or floor to install a register. Finally, join all the connections using a foil-backed tape.

      9)-      Get the refrigerant lines connected.

      10)-   Following the national, state as well as local electrical codes, install an electrical circuit breaker.

      11)-   Fix a thermostat equipped with digital or programmable capabilities depending on the required specifications. The thermostat should preferably be placed in a closed area away from direct sunlight, doors and windows.

      12)-   Connect the thermostat to the air handler using a low voltage copper wiring.

      13)-   Install tubing at the drain pan and carefully get it routed to the handler floor drain. Pitch the line .25 inches per foot for proper drainage.

      14)-   Finally, make the necessary adjustments to the thermostat and control panel and conduct a trial run of the air handler.