Out of all of the features that are available in today’s high-efficiency and high-performance furnaces, a variable speed blower is one of the most beneficial. Today we’re going to take a look at how a variable speed blower works and some of the best advantages of installing a variable speed furnace in your St. Louis area home!
How does a variable speed furnace work differently than a single-speed furnace?
In low-efficiency furnaces, the blower motor only operates at one speed that is programmed before the furnace is installed. That means that if two homes were to install the same model of furnace, their air handlers would operate at the same high speed even if their airflow requirements were dramatically different.
A variable speed furnace, on the other hand, operates at multiple different speeds and can adapt to the airflow requirements of a home at any given time. The blower will always operate at the lowest required speed and adjust to a higher speed when more airflow is needed (such as when your air filter starts to get clogged).
Advantages of a variable speed furnace that make it a smart investment
- Lower operating costs. Because a variable speed furnace’s blower always operates at the lowest required speed, it consumes less energy than a single-speed furnace. This leads to lower operating costs throughout your furnace’s lifetime.
- Better humidity control. A variable-speed blower operates more consistently and more often than a single-speed blower. This allows your home’s air to cycle through your humidifier more often, which leads to better indoor humidity control.
- Lower chance of breakdowns. A furnace with a variable speed blower does not cycle on and off as often as a furnace with a single-speed blower. This puts less stress on your system, which helps decrease the chance of breakdowns.
- Longer system operating life. In addition to experiencing fewer breakdowns than a single speed furnace, a variable speed furnace will last longer because it goes through less wear-and-tear every heating season.
If you have any questions about the advantages of a variable speed furnace, or if you’d like a heating system serviced or installed in your home, contact Jerry Kelly Heating & Air Conditioning, your St. Louis area heating and cooling contractor. We service the St. Louis area, including towns like Maryland Heights, O’Fallon, and St. Charles.
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