Is variable speed equipment superior and/or necessary?
Variable speed refers to a furnace’s or air handler’s indoor blower motor. Different speeds control the flow of air throughout the home. Variable speed motors can save energy. Variable speed motors are excellent for zoning which allows customizing comfort in different areas of the home. A variable speed motor can also help clean the air and control the humidity. A variable speed fan allows continuous movement of air capturing more contaminants in the filtering system and giving more precision to humidity control. To better regulate temperatures, today’s furnaces move more air over the heat exchanger than older furnaces. These furnaces are also designed to integrate better with high-efficiency air conditioners requiring that furnace blower be more powerful to accommodate the heavier cold air. Hence, another advantage of variable speed blowers which automatically change speeds to meet the airflow needs of both heating and cooling cycles.
