An
air handler, or
air handling unit (often abbreviated to
AHU), is a device used to condition and circulate air as part of a heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (
HVAC) system. An air handler is usually a large metal box containing a
blower, heating or cooling elements,
filter racks or chambers, sound attenuators, and
dampers. Air handlers usually connect to
ductwork that distributes the conditioned air through the building and returns it to the AHU. Sometimes AHUs discharge (
supply) and admit (
return) air directly to and from the space served without ductwork.
