---
title: How Do Fan Coil Units Work?
description: A fan coil unit is a device that uses a fan and a coil to heat or cool the air in a space.
image: https://blog.priceindustries.com/hubfs/How%20Do%20Fan%20Coils%20Work_frame_crop_fi.jpg
---

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## The Science of Comfort

Your Premier Source for All Things HVAC

# How Do Fan Coil Units Work?

Posted by [Braydon Whittington](https://blog.priceindustries.com/author/braydon-whittington) on April 2, 2025 at 9:00 AM

![Braydon Whittington](https://blog.priceindustries.com/hubfs/Braydon%20Whittington_crop.jpg)

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## The Energy-Efficient Workhorse of Your HVAC System

Fan coil units, or FCUs, are a quiet but crucial part of many HVAC systems, helping to maintain comfortable temperatures in buildings of all sizes.

So, what exactly *is* a fan coil unit?

| ![Price’s Horizontal High-Performance Fan Coil with a diverter pan](https://blog.priceindustries.com/hs-fs/hubfs/How%20Do%20Fan%20Coils%20Work_frame_crop.jpg?width=1800&height=1080&name=How%20Do%20Fan%20Coils%20Work_frame_crop.jpg) |
| --- |
| Price’s [Horizontal High-Performance Fan Coil (FCHG)](https://bit.ly/3XDyVX4), shown here with a diverter pan |

A [fan coil unit](https://blog.priceindustries.com/tag/fan-coils) is a simple device that, unsurprisingly, uses a **fan** and a **coil** to heat or cool the air in a space. Inside the unit, the fan draws in air from the room, passes it through a [**filter** to catch dust and debris](https://blog.priceindustries.com/basics-of-air-filtration), and then pushes the air across a temperature-controlled coil. That air is then delivered back into the room – either warmer or cooler, depending on what’s needed.

The coil is connected to either a hot or cold water supply. In winter, hot water flows through the coil, heating the air. In summer, cold water cools the air instead. All of this is typically [managed by a **thermostat**](https://blog.priceindustries.com/what-is-a-7-day-programmable-thermostat), which tells the unit when to turn on or off to maintain the desired [room temperature](https://blog.priceindustries.com/what-is-room-temperature).

|  |
| --- |
| Watch the video to learn more about how fan coils work! |

Fan coil units are a popular choice because they’re **energy-efficient**, **compact** and **customizable**. They’re ideal for applications such as offices, hotels and retrofit projects, where both space and budgets can be tight.

While they may seem simple, fan coil units are workhorses that unobtrusively contribute to indoor comfort every day.

Have questions about fan coils or HVAC systems? Reach out to a [Price engineer](https://bit.ly/444fcUo) or email us at [airmovement@priceindustries.com](mailto:airmovement@priceindustries.com) – we’re here to help.

 

| ![Braydon Whittington_crop](https://blog.priceindustries.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Braydon%20Whittington_crop.jpg?width=135&height=135&name=Braydon%20Whittington_crop.jpg) | Braydon Whittington is Project Engineering Manager for Fan Coils and Terminals. He is based out of Price’s headquarters in Winnipeg, MB. Click [here](https://www.linkedin.com/in/braydon-whittington-6a759b124/?originalSubdomain=ca) to connect with him on LinkedIn. |
| --- | --- |

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 Topics: [Fan Coils](https://blog.priceindustries.com/tag/fan-coils), [Controls](https://blog.priceindustries.com/tag/controls), [Thermal Comfort](https://blog.priceindustries.com/tag/thermal-comfort), [HVAC Fundamentals](https://blog.priceindustries.com/tag/hvac-fundamentals), [HVAC](https://blog.priceindustries.com/tag/hvac), [Engineering](https://blog.priceindustries.com/tag/engineering), [Design Engineering](https://blog.priceindustries.com/tag/design-engineering), [Filtration](https://blog.priceindustries.com/tag/filtration)

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