What are the advantages of a variable-speed air handler?
Variable-speed air handlers make your home healthier and more comfortable. They also emit less carbon dioxide.
Variable-speed Air Handler Benefits
- decrease energy consumption
- minimize room-to-room temperature inconsistencies.
- lower humidity
- improve indoor air quality
- reduce noise
They also reduce carbon emissions so they're better for our environment!
What Does the Air Handler Do?
Within your Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system, the air handler circulates conditioned air throughout your home, using a fan controlled by a motor.
How Does a Single-Speed Air Handler Work?
If you're cooling your home with a traditional single-speed air handler within your HVAC unit, we're guessing you have an "off and on" relationship. As the temperature in your home climbs, your air conditioner (or heater) turns on at full speed. Once your thermostat registers the desired temperature, your system turns off abruptly. Your AC unit repeats this cycle all day, contributing to excess noise, high energy use, and inconsistent temperatures from room to room. The alternative? A variable-speed air handler.
How Does a Variable-Speed Air Handler Work?
What "varies" in variable-speed air handlers is the speed of the motor that is controlling the fan. A variable-speed air handler motor runs the fan from 30% to 100% capacity, adjusting to maintain the target temperature.
A variable-speed handler may sometimes operate the fan at maximum capacity to cool your home but usually can maintain the desired temperature using a lower and more energy-efficient fan speed. The handler reduces fan speed each time your unit reaches the temperature target. On milder days and as the sun sets, your air handler's motor may operate only at low speeds, adjusting incrementally.
Reasons Why a Variable-Speed Air Handler Is Best
Lower Electric Bills
It may seem counterintuitive that an air conditioner, running steadily, uses less energy than one that turns on and off — but it's the initial burst of electricity needed to turn on the unit that requires the most energy in the entire cooling process. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that a variable-speed motor running continuously at half-speed uses 25 percent of the power to move the same amount of air as a single-speed air handler.
Room to Room Consistency
Your thermostat registers the temperature near your thermostat and not throughout your home. By the time the thermostat signals that it is time to turn on or off your heating and cooling system, some rooms may be several degrees above or below your target temperature. Variable-speed air handlers minimize room-to-room temperature variations by delivering conditioned air more steadily. The gentler, more consistent airflow also helps you avoid those sudden blasts of cold air in the summertime that send you looking for a sweater.
Lower Humidity
Variable-speed air handlers circulate air more frequently, lowering indoor humidity. A humidity level of 30% to 50% in your home reduces bacteria, viruses, dust, and mold. Controlling indoor humidity is especially important in areas where hot temperatures are often accompanied by rain.
Reducing Humidity Further Lowers Energy Usage
A less humid home feels cooler, letting you set your thermostat higher while still feeling comfortable. Nudging your thermostat higher in the summer will add to your energy savings.
Improved Air Quality
We can't overemphasize the importance of air filters, which remove pollen and dust from your home. With a variable-speed motor, the fan will increase circulation, causing more air to pass through your air filter each day. The air will also pass more frequently through your whole-home dehumidifier if you have one.
Quieter than Traditional Systems
Your air handler is loudest when it powers on and off. However, because a variable-speed air handler is running consistently, you avoid those frequent starts and stops. Plus, because they run at slower speeds, they're quieter during operation as well.
Less Pollution
Air conditioners use about 6% of all the electricity produced in the United States. That leads to roughly 117 million metric tons of carbon dioxide being released into the air each year. So, upgrading your heating and cooling system to one with a variable-speed air handler is one way to think globally and act locally.
Contact Us with Your Heating and Cooling Questions
Charlottesville area residents can call us at 434-296-9980 or use our Contact Form to schedule an appointment with one of Fitch Services' licensed, bonded, and insured technicians. We can answer all of your questions about upgrading to a variable-speed air handler.
Photo by iStock/Samiylenko
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Real Reviews from Your Charlottesville Neighbors
See All ReviewsJulie D. (Charlottesville, VA)I can’t say enough good things!! We had an emergency, no AC during the 113+ heat wave on a Friday holiday afternoon (worst timing!!!). I called multiple companies and only Fitch called me back.
Larry was fantastic!! He kept me informed as to when he anticipated getting to us, and called when on his way, and showed up when he said he would.
He was, again, fantastic! Explained the issue and promptly fixed it. Our house was literally 98 degrees. Everything is running smoothly!
And, for an emergency call late on a Friday afternoon, the cost was incredibly reasonable.
I highly HIGHLY recommend their services. We now have them on speed dial and will absolutely be using them again for our needs, even for other services they offer we have yet to use.
Again, thank you Larry & Fitch Services from us and our pups - for being there when we needed you most and delivering exceptional customer service. 5 stars for sure!
Barbara M. (Charlottesville, VA)I am proud to say I have been a client of Fitch Services since they began. My family has always received courteous and timely service for plumbing, heating and air conditioning, and electrical issues. They have installed and maintain a whole house generator. That was a fantastic decision. I use their annual maintenance plans for all of my systems. I personally recommend Fitch Services.
John K. (Charlottesville, VA)I knew of Fitch Services and their technicians via my place of employment. The technician's honest and forthright approach to their work was very much appreciated... They were initially contacted to come to our residence to address a clogged kitchen sink drain line. It was suggested to us we replace the drain line instead of snaking it. When the old drain line was cut out and shown to me, it was amazing anything had gotten through that line! Glad we chose to replace it... We also inquired about replacing/updating all the galvanized supply lines in our home. The scope of the work needed and how it would be done was discussed to make sure we understood... We appreciated the honest assessment of how the project might or would go. While the technicians were on our project, they kept us updated with daily conversations towards the end of their working day. The finished project has been great! We were excited to finally have full flow of the hot water! Fitch is now our 'go to' plumber.
Tom P. (Charlottesville, VA)I've used Fitch for a few years now for both electrical and plumbing work. They are professional and do a great job on things both big and small. Twice we have had pretty huge jobs and they have come in under budget. Plus, the service technicians are friendly and work hard and the office staff communicates very well. Definitely recommend!
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