Understanding the Link Between Heat Pumps and Air Handlers

The air handler and outdoor unit of a typical split system are connected by refrigerant lines. In heating mode, the air handler functions like a heat pump, drawing in cold air from the house, passing it through the hot evaporator coil, and then expelling the warm air throughout the house. The cooled refrigerant then travels to the outdoor heat pump, which reheats it using external heat. If your air conditioning system has a single or multi-speed fan, it utilizes a permanent split capacitor (PSC) motor and the fan is set to a certain speed at the time of installation.