News Blog

By Cameron West

How do I know if my unit is right hand or left hand?

It can be confusing trying to determine if a terminal unit is right hand or left hand. Mainly because the terminal unit has an inlet and an outlet. So, which do you use as your point of reference? There are a few different ways to define the unit handing.

1. By looking into the unit inlet. If you are looking into the unit inlet and the damper shaft or control enclosure is on the left, then you have a left-hand unit. If you are looking into the unit inlet and the damper shaft or control enclosure is on the right, then you have a right-hand unit. 

2. By looking in the direction of airflow. If you are using the unit label to determine handing, identify the airflow direction arrow listed on the unit. Consider the orientation of this arrow direction and place yourself looking downstream. If you are looking into the unit inlet and the damper shaft or control enclosure is on the right, then you have a right-hand unit.

3. As if the air is hitting you in the back of the head. Try to imagine yourself in the actual line of air. If the incoming airstream is hitting you in the back of the head while looking at the inlet of the unit, and the damper shaft or control enclosure is on the right, then you have a right-hand unit. 

Trying to verify handing on a dual duct unit can be more challenging as there are two inlets instead of one, as is the case for single duct and fan powered terminal units. In identifying the unit handing we still use the methods listed above. However, the handing is determined by using the cold inlet. So, by looking into the dual duct unit inlets and the cold inlet in on the right, then that unit will be a right-hand unit. 

We have listed some examples of unit handing below: