Why it matters to you
Across Greater Houston, air handlers usually sit in hot attics, closets or garages, where a clogged condensate drain can leak onto a ceiling and the cabinet's duct connections face attic heat. Heat pump homes often lean on the air handler's heat strips during the area's occasional hard freezes.
Practical guidance
Homeowners can change the filter, keep the area around the cabinet accessible and watch for water in the secondary drain pan. Opening the electrical compartment, servicing heat strips and blower work should be left to a licensed technician.