Your air handler is the indoor half of your heat pump or central air system, and it moves every bit of air in the house. Robert B. Payne repairs air handlers of every brand across Fredericksburg, Stafford, Spotsylvania and Caroline County, with upfront pricing before any work begins.
- All brands serviced
- 24/7 emergency service
- Upfront pricing
- 100% satisfaction guarantee on repairs
Problem with the outdoor unit? See AC repair or all air conditioning services.
What an Air Handler Does
The air handler is the cabinet in your attic, basement, closet or crawlspace that connects to your ductwork. Its blower pulls air in through the return, pushes it across the indoor coil, and sends it back out through the supply ducts.
In summer the coil pulls heat and moisture out of that air, and the water drips into a pan and drains away. On a heat pump system the same coil carries heat into the house in winter, with electric heat strips in the cabinet as backup.
- Blower motor and fan wheel
- Indoor evaporator coil
- Air filter rack
- Condensate drain pan, line and safety switch
- Control board, capacitor and wiring
- Electric heat strips on many heat pump systems
Air Handler or Furnace?
Homes with a heat pump or all-electric heat usually have an air handler. Homes with a gas or oil furnace use the furnace’s blower to move air, with the AC coil sitting on top of the furnace. Both do the same job of moving air through your ducts, and many of the repairs on this page apply to either.
If your system has a furnace, see furnace repair. For heating problems on a heat pump, see heat pump repair. Ductless systems have their own indoor heads, covered on our ductless mini-split page.
Signs Your Air Handler Needs Repair
- Weak airflow from the vents even with a clean filter
- The outdoor unit runs but no air comes out inside
- Water in the drain pan, on the floor or staining the ceiling below
- Ice on the indoor coil or the copper line leaving the cabinet
- Squealing, grinding, humming or a rattle that starts with the fan
- A musty smell when the system turns on
- The system shuts off on its own and won’t restart
Air Handler Leaking Water?
An air handler in cooling mode pulls a lot of water out of the air on a hot, humid day. When water shows up where it shouldn’t, the cause is usually one of these:
- A drain line clogged with algae or sludge
- A cracked or rusted drain pan
- A frozen coil that drips as it thaws
- A disconnected drain fitting or failed condensate pump
Turn the system off at the thermostat, and at the breaker if water is near the cabinet’s wiring. Catch or wipe up the water and call us. In an attic unit, a leak can soak drywall and insulation fast.
Common Air Handler Repairs
| Part | What you notice | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| Blower motor | No airflow, humming, burning smell | Test and replace the motor or fan wheel |
| Capacitor | Blower hums but won’t spin, or starts slowly | Replace the run capacitor |
| Drain pan or line | Water leaks, system shut off by float switch | Clear the line, replace the pan or pump |
| Evaporator coil | Ice, poor cooling, refrigerant leak | Clean, repair or replace the coil |
| Control board | Fan won’t start or runs nonstop | Diagnose and replace the board or relay |
| Heat strips | Cool air in backup heat, burning dust smell | Test elements, sequencers and limits |
Our technicians train every year, and you’ll know the price before we start. If the problem is in the outdoor unit or the refrigerant circuit, see AC repair.
Airflow, Ductwork and Indoor Air
An air handler can only move what the ducts let through. Crushed, leaky or undersized ducts make the blower work harder and leave rooms uneven. A dirty coil or blower wheel can also spread dust and musty odors through the house.
When we find the trouble is past the cabinet, we’ll point you to ductwork services or indoor air quality options. Read how your system handles moisture in do air conditioners dehumidify?
Dominion Energy Virginia offers no-cost AC tune-ups, heat pump tune-ups, duct sealing and air sealing for customers who qualify by income, or by age 60+ within income limits.
Source: Dominion EnergyRepair or Replace Your Air Handler?
A quick rule of thumb: multiply the system’s age by the repair estimate. If the result is over $4,000, replacement is usually worth pricing. An air handler should also match its outdoor unit, so if both are aging, replacing them together often makes more sense. See AC installation and financing.
Regular tune-ups keep the coil, blower and drain clean. Our Energy Savings Agreement includes yearly heating and AC tune-ups, 15% off parts, labor and overtime, and priority service.
Air Handler Repair Near You
Air Handler Service Reviews
Your team saved our lives. They found a fire hazard in my air handler. And saved me thousands because another company said I needed to replace my whole system, I just needed an honest company and a thorough cleaning. I love this company and will tell my neighbors this story. …
Our service technician inspected, cleaned, and made certain we were at peak performance. He answered our questions, removed a bunch of leaves from the air handler, and showed up exactly on time. We are so thankful for the courteous, knowledgeable, and professional folks at Robert B. Payne.
Logan arrived earlier than expected and was through and methodical trying to find the problem, it was a clogged drain which he cleaned and then checked the unit outside and performed a cleaning of the coil , He checked to see if unit was coming up to temp and made sure all components were in working order. …
Five-star reviews from our Google Business Profile.
Air Handler Repair FAQs
What’s the difference between an air handler and a furnace?
Both have a blower that moves air through your ducts. A furnace also burns gas or oil to make heat. An air handler holds the indoor coil for a heat pump or AC and may have electric heat strips for backup, but it doesn’t burn fuel.
Why is there ice on my indoor coil?
Usually the coil isn’t getting enough warm air across it, from a dirty filter, a weak blower or blocked returns, or the system is low on refrigerant. Turn cooling off and run the fan alone to thaw it, replace the filter, and call us if it freezes again.
Can I replace just the air handler and keep my outdoor unit?
Sometimes. The indoor and outdoor units are designed as a matched pair, so a new air handler has to be compatible with your outdoor unit and refrigerant. If the outdoor unit is near the end of its life, replacing both is usually the better value.
Why does my air handler smell musty?
Moisture on the coil, in the drain pan or inside the cabinet can grow mold and mildew. A cleaning of the coil, pan and drain usually fixes it. Ongoing odors may point to duct or indoor air quality issues.
Can Dominion Energy customers in the Fredericksburg area get duct sealing at no cost?
Some can. Dominion Energy Virginia offers no-cost duct sealing, air sealing and AC tune-ups to customers who qualify by income, or by age 60+ within income limits. Check eligibility with Dominion directly.
All Air Conditioning Services
Need Air Handler Repair in Fredericksburg?
Call Robert B. Payne to get air moving through your home again, day or night.
