How To Look At A House
McGarry and Madsen's home inspection blog for buyers of
site-built, mobile/manufactured and modular homes
What is the difference between a fan coil unit (FCU) and an air handling unit (AHU)?
Thursday, August 26, 2021
A fan coil unit (FCU, shown above) is simple and self-contained, and consists of just a coil and fan. Although most often seen as part of a commercial refrigeration system, we occasionally find a horizontal FCU installed in the ceilling of the hallway in a small condo or apartment as the indoor unit of an air conditioning/heating system. They usually don’t use ductwork, and only recirculate the indoor air.
An air handler unit (AHU, shown above) is larger, more complex, with several components, and serves as the indoor part of a central HVAC system with ducts for air distribution.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
To learn more about heating and air conditioning systems, see these other blog posts:
• What is the difference between an upflow, downflow, and horizontal air handler or furnace?
• How can I find out the SEER of my air conditioner?
• My air conditioner won't turn on. What's wrong?
• How can I find out the size of my air conditioner?
• How can I tell whether the condenser (outdoor unit) is an air conditioner or heat pump?
• Where is the air filter for my central air conditioner and furnace? I can’t find it?
• Does an old air conditioner use more electricity as it ages?
• How did homes stay cool in Florida before air conditioning?
• What is wrong with an air conditioner when the air flow out of the vents is low?
• Why has the thermostat screen gone blank?
• Why does it take so long to cool a house when an air conditioner has been off for a while?
• Why is my air conditioner not cooling enough?
• What are the most common problems with wall/window air conditioners?
• Will closing doors reduce my heating and cooling costs?
Visit our HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.
Click Below
for Links
to Collections
of Blog Posts
by Subject
Top 5 results given instantly.
Click on magnifying glass
for all search results.
Search
This
Site
Buying a home in North/Central Florida? Check our price for a team inspection by two FL-licensed contractors and inspectors. Over 8,500 inspections completed in 20+ years. In a hurry? We will get it done for you.
