Video · Heat Pumps and Heat Strips
Heat Strip Replacement in an Air Handler, Tested Before and After
Heat strip replacement starts with a meter, not a wrench. A tech confirms the old electric heat strip has failed with a clamp meter, then installs the new coil assembly and rewires the control panel.
Job footageSwiftPro
- Topic
- Heat Pumps and Heat Strips
- Length
- 0:39
- Posted
- September 10, 2026
- Shot by
- The SwiftPro crew, Northern Virginia
What you’re seeing in this video
A young tech in a navy work jacket opens up an air handler and clamps a meter around the heat strip wiring. A clamp meter reads current, so it shows whether each heating element is actually drawing power when it's called on.
With the failure confirmed, he unboxes the replacement heat strip, a frame of coiled resistance wire that slides into the air handler. Then he works through the control panel, landing each wire back where it belongs.
Why it matters in your house
- Signs of a failing air handler heat strip: cool air from the vents on cold mornings, backup heat that never seems to warm the house, or a breaker that keeps tripping.
- Power gets shut off at the breaker before anyone reaches in. Heat strips run on high voltage and can draw as much current as an electric range.
- The replacement has to be the kit approved for your air handler model. A strip that doesn't match can overheat, trip limits or overload the wiring.
How do I know if my heat strips are bad?
On a cold day, switch the thermostat to emergency heat. If the air from the vents stays cool or lukewarm, a strip, sequencer, relay or limit switch may have failed. A burning smell or a breaker that trips is another clue. A tech checks each element with a meter to find which part is out.
Want it done at your place? See Heat Pumps and Heat Strips at SwiftPro or call (703) 997-9757.
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