The air handler is a critical component of the central HVAC system in your Greenwood, Virginia home. It circulates conditioned air throughout the home via supply ducts and draws air back to the AC or furnace through return ducts. The single-speed, on/off blower motor incorporated in a conventional air handler accounts for a substantial percentage of the electrical consumption and costs of operating the system, typically consuming about 550 watts in cooling mode and 500 watts in “fan only” mode. A variable-speed air handler, available as an option on new systems or as a retrofit to existing units, brings higher technology, improved performance and lower energy consumption to cooling and heating your home.
In conventional air handlers, when the blower is energized, full air volume blasts into rooms. When the thermostat signals the system to shut off, air circulation abruptly plummets to zero. The result will be acute temperature swings, with temperatures bouncing as much as 10 degrees above or below the desired thermostat setting as the blower continuously cycles on and off.
A variable-speed air handler offers superior efficiency and more consistent cooling throughout your home. The variable-speed blower incorporates electronically commutated motor (ECM) technology that operates across a wide range of speeds and output. In programmed operation, the motor starts up at a higher speed to provide immediate comfort control, and then gradually reduces output as the cooling and heating demands of the home are reduced.
The blower runs continuously at lower output. This means whisper-quiet, gentle circulation of conditioned air without drastic on/off temperature swings, as well as continuous filtration for better indoor air quality and more efficient humidity control.
The brushless DC motor utilized in an ECM system also consumes up to 80 percent less electricity than the old-school permanent split capacitor motor in a conventional air handler, resulting in reduced operating costs.
To learn more about the variable-speed air handler, as well as W.E. Brown’s air conditioning solutions call us today at (434) 295-1177.