Why You Should Consider a Variable Speed Furnace

If you’re shopping for a new furnace for your Vancouver, WA, home, you have plenty to choose from. Among your choices, you’ll encounter no shortage of high-efficiency furnace models. Many achieve their high efficiency in part by offering variable speed operation. That’s not a feature most homeowners have much experience with.

And since the functionality comes at a price premium, it’s easy to write it off as an unnecessary luxury. Before you make that decision, however, consider the following reasons for purchasing a variable-speed furnace.

What Is a Variable Speed Furnace?

A variable-speed furnace has an electrically commutated blower motor, a type of DC motor that speeds up or slows down based on the voltage applied. This is in contrast to standard furnaces, which typically feature a single-speed blower motor. A variable-speed motor allows a furnace to scale up or down its heating capacity as needed.

That results in more efficient operation since it avoids wasting fuel while producing unneeded heat.

What Are the Advantages of Variable Speed Furnaces?

As you might expect, there are some definite advantages to having a furnace capable of operating at various speeds. The following are the most important advantages.

Quieter Operation

A variable-speed furnace will run at reduced speeds for most of its operational time. That’s how they maintain the set temperature in your home. As a result, they run quieter than the average conventional furnace. At their lowest speeds, it isn’t easy to hear most variable-speed furnaces running.

More Even Heating

If you’re used to single-speed furnaces, you’re probably used to your home having hot and cold spots. That happens because they depend on their return air vents to create enough airflow to distribute heated air. The trouble is that single-speed furnaces typically have short cycle times. That results in the bulk of heated air remaining in the areas immediately adjacent to supply vents.

That leaves the other parts of your home significantly colder. A variable-speed furnace solves that problem with longer run times at lower speeds, promoting more consistent airflow through your house and more even heating.

Improved Indoor Air Quality

Variable-speed furnaces also do a better job of keeping the air in your home clean. The reason is their tendency to run for long stretches at low speeds. That creates continuous air circulation and more contact with the furnace’s air filter. That equals more dust, dirt, and allergens removed from your home’s air.

You may even notice a visible difference, as the continual airflow prevents dust from settling on hard surfaces.

Increased Energy Efficiency

Perhaps the most significant advantage of variable-speed furnaces is their efficiency. By scaling up or down their heating capacity as needed, variable-speed furnaces save energy. They deliver only the minimum heat necessary at any given time to maintain your set temperature. Cycling on and off at full power instead is wasteful.

Some variable-speed furnaces also have modulating burners. These let them burn as much fuel as necessary to match their blower fan speed, producing even more significant energy savings during the heating season. If your home also has central AC, it will also gain efficiency using your furnace’s blower motor.

Using a variable speed blower motor adds the equivalent of 1 SEER rating to an AC by some estimates.

Automatic Adjustment To Closed Vents

You may not realize that closing vents in your home only makes your furnace work harder. Doing so increases the static pressure in your ductwork, which creates a force that pushes back against your blower motor. A variable-speed furnace can sense the added pressure and lower its speed to compensate. So, you can fine-tune your home’s temperature without wasting any energy.

Works Well With Zoning Systems

You can pair a variable-speed furnace with a zoning system for even more precise control over your home’s temperature. A zoning system breaks your house into multiple heating zones, each with its own thermostat. A variable-speed furnace is the perfect complement to such systems. When a single zone calls for heat, and another doesn’t, a variable-speed furnace will run at a lower speed.

That delivers exactly the heat required without creating additional ductwork resistance. It also maximizes the efficiency gains that zoning systems typically create.

Better Humidity Control

Our area gets plenty of precipitation during the average heating season, which means indoor humidity is an issue for homes in the winter. The good news is that variable-speed furnaces better control humidity than single-speed models. If you currently rely on a dehumidifier in your home, a variable-speed furnace may eliminate its need.

Longer Lifespan

Finally, variable-speed furnaces also tend to last longer than their single-speed counterparts. Part of the reason is that they avoid excess wear and tear by running continuously at low speeds. The start-and-stop process typical of a conventional furnace is punishing its internal components. By avoiding that, a variable-speed model should suffer fewer breakdowns and work reliably for longer.

Are There Downsides To Variable Speed Furnaces?

Although variable speed furnaces have much to offer, they have disadvantages. The most notable of those is their price. On average, you can expect to pay anywhere from $1,000 to $4,000 more for a variable-speed furnace. Of course, the energy savings you can realize by using one means you’ll recoup that money over time. In most homes, the payback period for a variable-speed furnace is between four and five years.

Additionally, electronically commutated motors are more expensive than their single-speed analogs. So, if your variable-speed furnace ever suffers a motor failure, it’ll be more costly to repair. The same goes for the control circuitry in a variable-speed furnace. It’s more complex and, therefore, more expensive to replace when necessary. Variable-speed furnaces use more advanced technology than single-speed models, which means they might need a little extra maintenance, especially for their control systems.

However, both types must be inspected, and tune-ups should be performed once a year to keep them running well and avoid costly repairs later on. It’s also worth noting that variable-speed furnaces work best in well-insulated homes. If your home is drafty, your furnace will run at higher speeds more often, negating its advantages. So, you may need an efficiency evaluation and upgrades to make the most of a variable-speed furnace purchase.

Your Local Heating Experts

If you’re unsure whether a variable-speed furnace is right for your Vancouver home, Revival Heating & Cooling can help. We specialize in efficient heating options, including variable-speed furnaces. We’ve served local homeowners for over 20 years and understand the heating needs imposed by our climate. We offer complete HVAC installation, repair, and maintenance services.

We also offer efficiency upgrade services and efficiency evaluations and estimates. Our team of experienced HVAC technicians provides quality services. We also offer financing options on approved credit if you need help paying for a new furnace. We’re even BBB-accredited with an A+ rating and have countless five-star customer reviews. So, if you want a variable-speed furnace in Vancouver, call Revival Heating & Cooling today.