If there’s one part of a heating and cooling system that causes nonstop confusion, it’s the coil.
I hear it every week:
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“Is this the furnace AC coil?”
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“Where is my furnace coil location?”
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“Do I have a furnace and evaporator coil, or are they the same thing?”
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“Is this a gas furnace with AC coil, or something else?”
Most homeowners know their system heats in winter and cools in summer—but once coils enter the conversation, things get muddy fast.
So today, I want to clear that up. We’re going to talk honestly about furnace coils, air conditioner furnace coils, and how the Goodman MBVK electric furnace fits into a modern heating-and-cooling setup without adding unnecessary complexity.
No jargon. No sales talk. Just straight explanations from someone who’s worked on these systems for decades.
What People Mean When They Say “Furnace AC Coil”
Let’s start with the most common phrase: furnace AC coil.
Technically speaking, a furnace does not cool your home. The coil that cools your home is the evaporator coil, and it belongs to the air conditioning system—not the furnace itself.
But because the coil is almost always installed on top of or near the furnace, people naturally combine the terms.
So when someone says furnace AC coil, they usually mean:
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The evaporator coil installed with the furnace
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The indoor coil connected to the outdoor AC condenser
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The cooling coil that shares airflow with the furnace blower
In systems using the Goodman MBVK electric furnace, this setup is clean, logical, and easy to understand.
Furnace Coil vs. Evaporator Coil: Are They the Same?
Short answer: no—but they work together.
A furnace coil is a vague term that can mean different things depending on the system:
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In electric furnaces, it may refer to heating elements
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In cooling systems, it often refers to the evaporator coil
The furnace and evaporator coil combination is what allows a single duct system to handle both heating and cooling.
The MBVK acts as the air-moving and heating component, while the evaporator coil handles cooling.
Furnace and Evaporator Coil: How the System Actually Works
Here’s how a typical setup works with the Goodman MBVK:
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Cooling Mode
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The outdoor AC unit runs
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Refrigerant flows to the indoor evaporator coil
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Warm air passes over the coil
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Heat is removed from the air
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The MBVK blower pushes cool air through the home
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Heating Mode
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The evaporator coil sits idle
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Electric heating elements inside the MBVK energize
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Air passes over the heating elements
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Warm air flows through the same ductwork
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Same airflow. Same ducts. Different components doing different jobs.
This is why homeowners think of it as one system—even though it’s technically two.
Furnace Coil Location: Where Homeowners Get Lost
One of the most searched questions I see is about furnace coil location.
Here’s the general rule:
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The evaporator coil is installed above or adjacent to the furnace
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It sits in the airflow path, downstream of the blower
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It’s housed in its own cabinet or plenum
In MBVK installations, the layout is straightforward and accessible, which matters for maintenance and service.
Poor coil placement causes:
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Airflow problems
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Reduced efficiency
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Moisture issues
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Premature failure
Goodman designs the MBVK to integrate cleanly with standard coil cabinets, reducing those risks.
Furnace Condenser Coil: A Common Misunderstanding
I hear this phrase all the time: furnace condenser coil.
Here’s the truth:
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There is no condenser coil inside a furnace
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The condenser coil lives in the outdoor AC unit
When people use this term, they’re usually mixing up indoor and outdoor components.
The indoor coil is the evaporator coil.
The outdoor coil is the condenser coil.
The MBVK doesn’t contain either—it simply moves air across whichever coil is active.
Superior Home Supplies explains this indoor/outdoor coil relationship clearly when outlining how split HVAC systems operate.
Gas Furnace With AC Coil vs. Electric Furnace With AC Coil
Another big comparison homeowners make is between a gas furnace with AC coil and an electric furnace setup like the MBVK.
From an airflow standpoint, they’re very similar:
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Furnace below
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Coil above
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Shared blower
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Shared ducts
The difference is how heat is produced.
Gas Furnace with AC Coil
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Burns fuel
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Uses a heat exchanger
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Requires venting
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Adds combustion safety concerns
Goodman MBVK Electric Furnace with AC Coil
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Uses electric heating elements
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No combustion
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No exhaust
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Simpler mechanical design
That simplicity doesn’t change how the AC coil works—but it does change reliability and maintenance needs.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has long emphasized that removing combustion removes an entire category of household risk.
Air Conditioner Furnace Coil: Why the Name Stuck
The phrase air conditioner furnace coil exists because homeowners experience the system as one unit.
You turn the thermostat down—cool air comes out.
You turn it up—warm air comes out.
From the user’s perspective, it’s all one machine.
Behind the scenes, the MBVK and the evaporator coil simply take turns doing their jobs.
Why Coil Quality Matters More Than Brand Names
I’ve replaced a lot of coils in my career, and I’ll tell you this: coil quality matters more than most people realize.
A poorly designed or installed evaporator coil can cause:
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Reduced cooling capacity
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Frozen coils
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Water damage
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Airflow restrictions
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Shortened system life
The MBVK’s strong, consistent airflow helps prevent many of these problems by ensuring proper heat transfer across the coil.
ASHRAE has repeatedly documented that airflow consistency is one of the most critical factors in evaporator coil performance.
Maintenance: The Coil Is Not Set-and-Forget
Whether you have a gas furnace or an electric one like the MBVK, the furnace AC coil needs attention.
Basic maintenance includes:
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Regular filter changes
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Coil inspections
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Drain line cleaning
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Airflow verification
Because the MBVK has fewer combustion-related components, service technicians can focus more on airflow and coil health instead of chasing ignition issues.
That’s a win for homeowners.
Coil Access and Serviceability
One thing I appreciate about MBVK installations is accessibility.
When a coil needs:
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Cleaning
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Inspection
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Replacement
It’s usually easier to reach than in older, cramped furnace setups.
That translates to:
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Lower labor costs
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Faster service
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Less disruption
Which brings us to an uncomfortable truth…
When Coils Fail, It’s Usually Not the Furnace’s Fault
I’ve seen homeowners blame the furnace when the real issue was:
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A dirty evaporator coil
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Poor airflow
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Improper installation
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Oversized equipment
The MBVK gets blamed sometimes simply because it’s the visible indoor unit.
In reality, it’s often doing exactly what it’s supposed to do—moving air—while the coil struggles due to external factors.
Matching the Right Coil to the MBVK
System matching matters.
The evaporator coil must be:
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Properly sized
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Correctly oriented
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Matched to the outdoor unit
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Compatible with airflow requirements
Goodman publishes detailed compatibility data to ensure the MBVK pairs correctly with approved coils and condensers, which helps avoid performance issues.
Electric Furnaces and Coil Condensation Control
One advantage electric furnaces have over gas units is temperature control during cooling.
Gas furnaces can sometimes reheat air unintentionally during cooling cycles due to heat exchanger mass.
The MBVK avoids this, allowing the evaporator coil to operate more efficiently and improving humidity control in summer.
The Environmental Protection Agency notes that proper indoor humidity control is just as important as temperature for comfort and air quality.
Who Should Care Most About Furnace Coil Design?
You should pay close attention to coil design and placement if:
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You’ve had repeated cooling issues
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Your system freezes up
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You experience uneven temperatures
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Your energy bills are climbing
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You’re replacing older equipment
In many cases, upgrading to a modern electric furnace like the MBVK—paired with the right coil—resolves problems that plagued older systems for years.
Final Thoughts from Tony Marino
Coils don’t get much attention until something goes wrong. But understanding the relationship between the furnace AC coil, the furnace and evaporator coil, and the indoor unit itself makes a big difference in how homeowners experience comfort.
The Goodman MBVK electric furnace doesn’t complicate things. It does what it’s supposed to do:
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Move air
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Deliver heat
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Support cooling equipment
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Stay out of the way
When paired with a properly sized and installed evaporator coil, the result is a system that feels simple, reliable, and predictable.
And after decades in this industry, I can tell you this:
The best HVAC systems are the ones you don’t have to think about.
That’s exactly where the MBVK fits in.
