How Do I Determine If an Air Handler Is Potable Rated?

Air handlers process the air through the air conditioner or furnace unit. It circulates the heated or cooled air throughout the rooms of your house. You connect a water line to the units from the boiler or other hot water heater. The hot water heater has to be rated potable with your main water line. This means it must have the appropriate connections to prevent the contamination of the drinking water going through the same line.

Copper pipes
Thermostatic mixing valve
Pipe wrench, #8

Instructions

- 1
  Check the lines leading to the air handler and furnace. If the lines are white, gray or black PVC pipe, they are not potable rated due to the plastic taste left in the water -- a result of the water sitting in the line or flowing back into the water heater unit or boiler. Replace PVC pipes with copper pipes.
- 2
  Inspect the pipe for a water temperature valve that limits the water temperature to 140 degrees so that no scalding water flows back into pipes leading to the home's faucets. Evaluate and determine whether the valve is in good working order with hot and cold water ports.
- 3
  Install a thermostatic mixing valve on the line if it is without one. Place the threaded end of the pipe into hot and cold water ports. Tighten the connection with a pipe wrench.

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