Variable speed furnaces are becoming standard in the HVAC industry for a number of reasons and today’s leading manufacturers are producing models that are simply unrivaled by more antiquated units that may still exist in homes today. These innovations are powered by electronically commutated motors (ECMs), which offer the furnace the ability to function at differing speeds, depending on your home’s need for heated airflow.
Today’s modern furnaces pair ECMs with smart sensors to create a furnace that’s intelligent enough to know when your home needs warm air, as well as how fast that heat needs to be produced to return your home to its desired temperature. The ECM makes adjustments automatically, which means using less electricity and minimizing the strain on your furnace. It’s truly an advanced system!
Many heating contractors in Polk County, TN recommend variable speed furnaces to customers looking to upgrade because of the numerous benefits they provide—especially to homes that may have a severely outdated unit currently providing their home with forced air. Some of these benefits include:
- Cleaner air: When your furnace’s blower is inactive but the fan is still in operate, the ECM of the unit will continue to function at a low speed, circulating air throughout your home. This means more air is filtered through your furnace more consistently, eliminating microbes and other particles that might be degrading your air quality.
- Furnace control: Variable speed furnaces offer a degree of control over the forced air in your home that’s simply unattainable by older models. Thanks to the integrated way smart thermostats can communicate with the ECM of your furnace, your furnace can accurately address temperature and air distribution, so as to remain efficient at all times.
- Quality function: We’re all probably familiar with the “kick” that precedes hot air being blown into your home—it’s the sound of a furnace clicking on. With a variable speed furnace, there’s no kick—just warm air being circulated noiselessly throughout your living spaces.
- High efficiency: Stated above, but absolutely worth mentioning again, are the efficiency benefits that come with variable speed furnaces. Instead of blasting air throughout your home at a single speed, at a degree that might not be warranted, a variable speed blower will monitor the needs of your home and respond in kind, by tailoring the speed and intensity of your furnace to meet those demands.
If your furnace is old, on the fritz or simple not a viable option for your home any longer, it might be time to consider an upgrade that’s truly worthwhile: a variable speed furnace with an ECM. Talk to your local heating contractors in Polk County, TN today about what can be done to make this necessary upgrade to your home or to learn more about the advantages that these units present.
Remember, even if you think your furnace is working just fine, its efficiency might pale in comparison to the newer units on the market today!