What is the difference between the air handler and the condensing unit?
Basically, it’s a split-system air conditioner with the cold part inside in the house (the air handler) and the hot side on the outside (the condensing unit). The air handler takes the place of a furnace inside the home, usually in the attic, and consists of an evaporator coil and air conditioning refrigerant. The air handler blows air through the evaporator coil and then transfers it throughout the home or building using the ductwork to ensure every room is getting the end result – air conditioning and cold air. The condensing unit in located outside the home or building and does the same thing, only it uses hot air from the outside and transfers it to the inside of the home using a condenser coil.
Central air conditioning usually utilizes a split-system, which means part of the air conditioner that produces cold air (the air handler) is inside in the house, while the part that collects the hot air (the condenser) resides on the outside of the house. The air handler takes the place of a furnace inside the home, usually in the attic, and consists of an evaporator coil (air conditioning coils) and air conditioning refrigerant. The air handler blows air through the evaporator coil and then transfers it throughout the home or building using the ducts to ensure every room is receiving cold air. The condensing unit is located outside the home or building and does the same thing, but in reverse: it removes hot air from the system and transfers it through a coil so that the refrigeration cycle can begin again.
