Do Air Handler Cabinets Should Be Sealed?

A central air conditioner air handler cabinet incorporates the blower, filter and evaporator coil. Warm household air pulled during the return duct is filtered, drawn through the cooling evaporator coil, subsequently driven under positive pressure into supply ducts and dispersed through the home. Since a typical 3-ton closed-loop residential air conditioner moves about 1,200 cubic feet of air per minute, leakage in a unsealed air handler cabinet may be the source of performance and efficacy problems.

Pressure Imbalance Raises Price

A central air conditioner is intended to circulate a balanced quantity of air through return and supply ducts to maintain impersonal air pressure in rooms. Leakage in the distribution side of the air handler cabinet means air volume flowing to rooms is below specifications. Since the blower continues to pull the specified quantity of air out of rooms via return ducts, negative pressure success. Unconditioned outdoor air flows in through moment structural gaps and cracks to equalize the pressure imbalance. The infiltration of warm atmosphere into a depressurized house makes the air conditioner operate more time to meet thermostat settings, increasing energy consumption and operating expenses.

Air Quality Suffers

Leaks on the return side of an air handler suck unconditioned air into the air handler cabinet itself, bypassing the filter. Depending on the positioning of the air handler, this unfiltered air may be contaminated by mold spores, bacteria, rodent droppings and other impurities. Tainted air drawn into a leaky air handler is circulated through the supply ducts into all living spaces, causing indoor air quality issues.