When it comes to comfort and efficiency, a variable-speed furnace surpasses the low-tech “on/off” models still installed in many homes. Even if your home has a gas-fired furnace, a substantial part of your heating costs shows up on your electric bill, instead. That’s because the conventional furnace blower typically consumes over 500 watts of electricity in heating mode. The old-school PSC (permanent split capacitor) motor utilized in these units is an energy hog that continuously cycles between full-blast and zero heat output. Here’s how the advanced technology in a variable-speed furnace makes single-speed blowers obsolete and saves energy in the process:
- Variable-speed furnaces incorporate ECM (electronically commutated motor) technology programmed to operate across a wide range of speeds—instead of just on and off. This enables the unit to run almost continuously, delivering warm air output adjusted to the heating requirements of the house.
- Because the unit isn’t repetitively cycling on and off, uncomfortable temperature swings associated with conventional blowers are eliminated and temperatures conform closely to the thermostat setting.
- The ECM technology in a variable-speed unit uses less than 100 watts of electricity, even though it runs almost non-stop at lower speeds. This cuts the furnace’s contribution to your electrical bill by over 75 percent.
- Every time a single-speed blower cycles off, system air circulation and air filtration also ceases. Indoor air quality suffers as airborne particulates, fumes and allergens accumulate. The ongoing low-output operation of a variable-speed furnace sustains continuous air filtration to support healthy indoor air quality.
- On and off blower operation increases noise level in the home as the volume of air rushing in the ducts alternates between full-blast and zero. A variable-speed furnace running continuously across a range of lower output produces far less noticeable sound.
- Lower speed operation produces less wear and tear on the motor and other blower components. An ECM blower can be expected to deliver about 90,000 hours of service while a standard PSC unit is rated for about 50,000 hours.
Contact the professionals at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning for more information about upgrading to a variable-speed furnace.
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, call us at 440-201-2959.
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Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area