Upgrading your Air Conditioner? – Choose One with a Variable-Speed Air Handler

Most of the benefits of advancing technology in the HVAC industry are directly related to enhancing energy efficiency. There’s no better example than the variable-speed air handler, which is increasingly incorporated into forced-air cooling and heating systems. Variable-speed air handlers and multi-stage compressors allow your air conditioner or heat pump to adapt its running speed and output to conditions in your home rather than simply operating at 100 percent.

Forced-air HVAC systems have two primary components: the equipment that heats or cools the air, and the motors and fans that distribute conditioned air throughout the home. A/Cs and heat pumps have some overlap because an air handler blows air across the evaporator coil to remove heat energy and humidity from the air before circulating it. A standard air handler uses a motor that can run at one speed only. This means it’s frequently cycling off after achieving the desired thermostat setting. Variable-speed technology, however, allows the cooling or heating system to adjust its output to temperature needs; when it kicks on, it will usually operate full blast until it reaches the desired temperature, then settle into lower-speed continuous operation. Advantages of Variable-Speed Technology

• Energy efficiency: When the system is running continuously at a lower speed, it uses less energy than when it’s gobbling up power during frequent start-ups and full-bore operation. The technology in a variable-speed air handler is inherently more energy efficient than standard motors.
• Air circulation: The continuous operation does a better job of evenly distributing conditioned air throughout the house.
• Air filtration and humidity control: Continuous operation means that household air is running through the cooling or heating system more often than in a system that’s cycling on and off. This translates into more opportunities to filter and remove moisture from the air.
• Quieter operation: An HVAC system that’s frequently kicking into full operation during the day makes quite a racket.

To learn more about how a variable-speed air handler can benefit your northern Virginia or Maryland home, give us a call. About Modern Mechanical and One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning: Serving Loudoun, Fairfax, Northern Virginia and the entire Washington, D.C., region with prompt, punctual, friendly, technically superior home services since 2009, including HVAC repair and replacement, diagnoses and parts, and indoor air-quality analysis. Call One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning today at (571) 421-1888 or make an appointment at www.ModernMec.com. Please stay connected with One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning on our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/modernmec to keep up with how you can help us continue to help our community and our world. Learn more at https://modernmec.com/ or call us at (571) 421-1888