There are two types of air handlers: single speed and variable speed. A variable speed air handler operates similarly to a standard air handler except that it has a variable speed blower. This additional feature allows the air handler to heat or cool your home or business with a varying air flow, rather than a constant strong on or off air flow.
The fan motor inside a variable speed unit is able to run at a wide range of speeds to precisely heat or cool the air. This makes variable speed air handlers much more energy efficient because they typically run at a much lower speed than a single speed air handler that simply has an “On” and “Off” mode. On at 100% and off at 0%. No in-betweens. The other nice thing about a variable speed blower is that it gradually ramps up into a high speed. Unlike the single speed blowers that simply blast on, a variable speed air handler’s transition is often so smooth that it can be difficult to even tell when the unit turns on.
There are numerous advantages to using a variable speed air handler:
- They make living and working spaces more comfortable by reducing uneven space/room temperatures
- They are more quiet since they often run at a low speed
- They can save you money on your electric bill, by once again, often running at lower speeds and simply increasing air conditioning efficiency
- They are very good at removing humidity
- They allow for higher efficiency filtration systems