The air handler is a crucial component of any central HVAC system. It performs two vital functions: first, it extracts heat from your indoor air through a specialized coil, and second, it contains a blower that delivers conditioned air to the various rooms in your home. For many years, only one type of air handler was available, a single-speed unit. However, you can now get a variable-speed air handler, which may be a better choice under certain circumstances.
The airflow rate of a single-speed handler is always the same, which enables it to heat or cool your home fairly quickly but also tends to cause higher rates of energy consumption over the long run. This is because you can’t reduce the airflow rate once your home has been heated or cooled to the desired level. A variable-speed handler, on the other hand, offers two or more distinct airflow delivery speeds, which provides you precision control over the rate at which conditioned air is delivered. This can help you save energy, as you can reduce the airflow speed to a lower rate once your home is warm enough or cool enough without compromising your indoor comfort level.
In addition to energy savings, variable-speed air handlers help reduce humidity, make less noise when at the lower speeds, and help you maintain a higher level of indoor air quality. They can also help you maintain a higher level of indoor comfort.
If you need help deciding whether you’d be better off with a single-speed or variable-speed handler, don’t hesitate to contact us at Ace Hardware Home Services, Inc. We’re a leading provider of heating, air conditioning and indoor air quality services to customers in the Dayton area, and we’d be pleased to assist you in any way we can.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information, click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Ace Hardware Home Services services the Ohio’s Miami Valley. To get started, check out our website or request an appointment.
