Schedule a preventative maintenance checkup for your air handler with your local dealer at least once a year. Your air handler is responsible for evenly distributing cool and warm air throughout your house.
Every two months, remove all the AHU's filters, clean the filter racks, and replace the filters (as recommended by the US Environmental Protection Agency), checking for contamination, damage, and odours. Every six months: Check the outdoor air inlets for damage and contamination. Check the air ducts for damage.
How often should AHU maintenance be performed? Maintenance frequency can vary but is typically recommended at least twice a year, ideally before the start of heating and cooling seasons.
Air handler preventative maintenance keeps your system working in peak condition longer. Common preventative maintenance tasks include making sure filters and coils are clean and dampers and ducts are efficient.
The U.S. Department of Energy recommends that homeowners replace their HVAC system every 10 to 15 years. Although heating and cooling systems are meant to endure heavy usage, their components will start to wear out after 10 years.
Clean or change the air handler filter at least once a year — more if you have pets or seasonal allergies or asthma. Listen for excessive noise or vibrations. Be aware of odors coming from the air. Musty smells could be mold build up while burning smells may indicate an electrical problem with the motor.
Your typical central air conditioning connected to an air handler and using ductwork can last as long as 30 years with good luck and maintenance but will generally need to be replaced somewhere between 10 and 20 years.
Air handler/blower motors last about 10-15 years with regular air conditioner maintenance. Without regular maintenance, the motor may give out sooner. A professional HVAC technician can repair or replace a broken motor, getting your fan up and running.
Use a Vacuum or Brush to Remove Dust and Debris from the Air Handler Components. The first step in maintaining your air handler unit is to regularly clean its components. Over time, dust and debris can accumulate on the various parts of the system, hindering its efficiency.
Condenser coil cleaning, the one located outside your home, happens during your annual AC tuneup for $75 to $200. As a separate service, duct cleaning costs $250 to $500 and covers the evaporator coil, located in the air handler inside your home.
What maintenance does an air handling unit need? When this maintenance is factored in, an air handling unit will last for 25 years plus. Without any maintenance the estimate would be 1-5 year lifespan.
Blower motors are designed to last just as long as your furnace itself, anywhere from 10 to 20 years. Just as with any HVAC system, the better maintained and serviced your equipment is by experienced HVAC technicians the longer it will last and the fewer repairs you'll face.
HVAC maintenance should be done by a professional twice per year to keep it operating effectively and efficiently. This not only helps you stay cooler and comfortable in your home, it also reduces your energy costs.
Predictive Maintenance HVAC:
This proactive approach allows maintenance to be scheduled at the optimal time – not too early that useful life is wasted and not too late that failure causes system downtime.
To put it simply, the heating, ventilating and air conditioning system or HVAC is the complete system, to which the air handling unit, or AHU, is an integral part.
Routine Maintenance Tasks for AHUs
Below are key tasks: Filter Replacement - Replace filters every 1-3 months to maintain air quality and ensure that airflow is not restricted. Coil Cleaning - Clean cooling and heating coils every six months to avoid dust buildup, which reduces energy efficiency.
Common preventive maintenance tasks for air handlers includes making sure filters and coils are clean and dampers and ducts are efficient. Beyond a quick visual daily inspection, most air handler maintenance tasks can be performed monthly or annually.
Keeping the fan on creates a more even distribution of heating and cooling, circulating the air if you have cold or hot spots in your house, like a bedroom above a garage. Less frequent starts and stops of the fan can reduce the stress from startup, and potentially help extend it's lifespan.
Even without noticeable defects, we recommend getting an air conditioner checked at least once a year to ensure it's performing at its best. Here are the signs to be on the lookout for that may indicate an air conditioner needs immediate maintenance. If your unit makes more noise than usual, the filters may be clogged.
Thermostat: 5-10 years; smart thermostats need sensor replacements in 2-3 years. Heat Exchangers: 15-25 years made with modern materials; 30+ with cast iron. Commercial air handler: 15-20 years.
In most cases, you can get away with cleaning your coils once a year with a seasonal tune-up. However, you should consider where your unit is located. If you're in a big city with heavy air pollution, you may want to have the coils cleaned two times a year.
If some rooms remain too hot while others are too cold, it could be a sign that your air handler is not distributing conditioned air evenly. This issue may stem from problems with the blower motor, ductwork, or even a malfunctioning thermostat.
An air handler costs $1,500 to $3,400 to replace, depending on the ton size, brand, and type. Air handler prices are $700 to $1,600 for the unit alone, plus $800 to $1,800 for replacement labor. Air handler fan coil units from top brands like Trane, Carrier, and Lennox cost the most.
The process is complex, and you risk damaging your HVAC system. HVAC professionals have the expertise, experience, and proper tools to ensure safe and efficient relocation.
Heating and air conditioning systems often use high-voltage equipment, so live exposed wires and similar electrocution hazards pose a serious threat. Injuries resulting from these risks cause roughly 1,000 deaths annually and account for 5% of burn ward admissions.