A variety of innovations make today’s furnaces far more advanced than those from even just 10 years ago. One of these innovations is the variable speed blower motor. A regular furnace has two settings: “on” and “off,” with “on” being full go. A variable speed furnace, on the other hand, allows the air to circulate at different speeds. The ability to operate at lower speeds most of the time lets Lorain area homeowners enjoy three major advantages when they choose a variable speed furnace:
- Lower energy consumption: A variable speed furnace runs longer, but at a lower speed, so it consumes less energy than a furnace that only runs on high. It also takes less electrical energy to keep the furnace on longer than it does to power up and down frequently. Part of this is a result of these factors, but the technology – using an ECM (Electronically Commutated Motor) – is also intrinsically more energy efficient than a single-speed (PSC) motor.
- More comfort, less sound: Consider the way you keep yourself comfortable in the car. Multiple A/C or heating speed options let you maintain a much more constant, comfortable temperature. The same goes for a variable speed furnace. On start up, the fan motor operates on low to gradually warm the space. If it doesn’t reach the target temperature soon enough, it boosts to high speed. The blower returns to low again before turning off, which prevents the room from cooling off as quickly, and mixes hot and cold spots for a more even temperature. The lower fan speed also keeps you comfortable with less noise than a furnace operating on high at all times.
- Precise temperature control: Ordinary furnaces fluctuate a good three or four degrees one way or the other before cycling on and off. This is far less comfortable than a variable speed furnace that successfully keeps the room within a degree or two of the thermostat setting.
The best part about this type of furnace is that the variable speed blower motor also works with your air conditioner. That means you can enjoy these benefits from your cooling system in the summer as well.
To learn more about upgrading to a variable speed furnace, please contact the professionals at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning. Our 50 years of combined experience makes us a trusted source for HVAC services in Lorain, Erie and Cuyahoga counties.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about variable speed furnaces and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Image courtesy of Shutterstock
Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area