HVAC Basics: Heat pump + air handler matched systems
By Anne Fonda
A heat pump works together with your air handler to provide energy-efficient heating and air conditioning for your home. These heat pump systems are best suited for homes with mild winters.
"For homes in regions with mild winters, a heat pump and air handler pair offers an all-electric way to heat and cool your home. It brings together efficiency, reliability, and the dependable comfort homeowners expect from Trane."
- Chelsea Hudson, Product Manager, Heat Pumps
What does a heat pump do?
Unlike a furnace, an electric heat pump doesn’t burn fuel to make heat. It simply uses electricity to move heat from one place to another. A heat pump is an energy-efficient and climate-friendly way to cool your home in the summer and heat it in the winter.
It uses the refrigeration cycle to transfer heat from the inside to the outside during cooling, and from the air outside to the inside during heating. The cycle runs in one direction during cooling, and the reversing valve reverses the cycle during heating.
WHAT DOES AN AIR HANDLER DO?
Air handlers circulate conditioned air throughout your home
Matched in capacity and efficiency performance with the heat pump, air handlers circulate conditioned air throughout your home. An air handler contains an inside coil and a blower fan, with additional recommended electric heat strips for auxiliary heat (backup heat) when the temperature drops below freezing.
Trane air handlers are available with multi-speed or variable-speed motors. Variable-speed models are known for soft starts, variable airflow capacity, and enhanced humidity control with the Comfort-R™ airflow system.
MONITOR YOUR INDOOR AIR QUALITY FOR COMFORT AND HEALTH
Enhance comfort and breathe easier with an indoor air quality monitor
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air can be 2-5 times more polluted than outdoor air. Common indoor pollutants can exacerbate allergy and asthma symptoms. High or low humidity reduces air quality and comfort. Improper ventilation can allow volatile organic compounds to build up and cause health problems.
That’s why we offer the Awair Element indoor air quality monitor. It shows you what is going on with your indoor air quality, and it integrates with your HVAC system. That means it can trigger a humidifier or dehumidifier to come on, trigger a whole-house cleaner to remove pollutants, or trigger a whole-house ventilation system to clear the air.
Anne Fonda, Content Writer
A Content Writer with Trane Technologies, Anne Fonda researches topics and writes for Trane® and associated residential HVAC brands. She works in collaboration with Trane Technologies subject matter experts, offering easy-to-understand, informative content on complex topics. Her goal is to help consumers make informed decisions on the products and services they need.
She has written for HVAC and other service provider websites for over 16 years. Before transitioning to web content writing, Anne had a 14-year stint as an award-winning journalist. She graduated cum laude from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism.
When she’s not working, Anne enjoys playing word games, reading, gardening, spending time with family, and visiting gardens and museums.
Expert review by Chelsea Hudson, Product Manager, Heat Pumps
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