Here's the simple difference between AHU and HVAC:
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HVAC = Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning
It’s the whole system that controls temperature, humidity, and air quality in a building.
HVAC includes everything — chillers, boilers, air conditioners, ducts, fans, thermostats, controls, and more. -
AHU = Air Handling Unit
It’s one part of the HVAC system.
The AHU's job is mainly to move and condition air — meaning it takes in outside air, filters it, heats or cools it (often with the help of a coil heat exchanger), and then distributes it through the building.
Simple way to remember:
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HVAC = the entire system (like a full orchestra).
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AHU = one important player (like the violin section).
