Course Description

An Air Handling Unit is fundamentally a large metal box that conditions and distributes air throughout a building. Think of it as the lungs of the building. Unlike a packaged rooftop unit that sits outside exposed to weather, an AHU is typically installed inside a mechanical room, often in the basement or on a dedicated equipment floor. This indoor location allows for much larger sizes-some AHUs handle over one hundred thousand cubic feet per minute of airflow. The unit is highly customizable; you can add sections for filtration, heating, cooling, humidification, sound attenuation, and energy recovery, all in a modular fashion. AHUs serve medium to large commercial buildings such as offices, hospitals, schools, shopping malls, and airports. One important distinction is between draw-through and blow-through configurations. In a draw-through AHU, the fan is located after the coils, so air is pulled through the coils. In a blow-through unit, the fan sits before the coils, pushing air through them. Draw-through is more common because it provides more uniform airflow across the coil face, but blow-through can be advantageous when you need to avoid moisture carryover. Modern AHUs are almost always connected to a Building Management System, or BMS, which allows a single operator to monitor temperatures, pressures, valve positions, and fan speeds across dozens or even hundreds of units from a single computer screen. Understanding the AHU is therefore not just about hardware; it is about understanding how a building breathes.

What you'll learn in this course?

• You will learn to apply industry-standard rules of thumb for sizing filters, coils, fans, ducts, and dampers without performing complex calculations.

• You will develop the skills to diagnose common AHU performance issues using simple temperature, pressure, and airflow measurements.

• You will understand how to optimize energy efficiency through economizer cycles, variable frequency drives, and demand-based control strategies.

• You will be able to implement practical maintenance hacks that extend equipment life, improve indoor air quality, and reduce unexpected breakdowns.

• An Air Handling Unit is a large metal enclosure that conditions and distributes air throughout a building’s ductwork system.

• Unlike packaged units, AHUs are typically installed indoors (mechanical rooms) and can be customized with various sections for filtration, heating, cooling, humidification, and mixing.

• AHUs serve medium to large commercial buildings such as offices, hospitals, schools, and shopping malls.

• The primary function of an AHU is to maintain indoor temperature, humidity, and air quality within design specifications.

• AHUs can be draw-through (fan after coils) or blow-through (fan before coils), each affecting fan performance and coil drainage differently.

• Modern AHUs are often connected to Building Management Systems (BMS) for centralized monitoring and control. Wiscademy | HVAC Hacks - Module 6 Climate Control with Air Handling Units - Essential Tips & Rules of Thumb 2

Prerequisites

• Basic engineering knowledge and familiarity with HVAC systems and engineering units