If the heating,ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) system in your Twin Cities-area home is fitted with a conventional, one-speed fan blower-motor for air distribution, consider this: replacing that single-speed fan with a variable-speed, electronically commutated motor (ECM) can deliver a long list of benefits of which you may not be aware, including:
- Lower operating costs
- Less energy consumption
- More even heating and cooling throughout your home, with fewer hot spots or cold spots
- Quieter fan operation
- Optimal airflow at all times
- Higher quality breathing air
- Less indoor summertime humidity
An electronically commutated motor, which is a DC-powered unit, contains neither the brushes nor copper windings found in AC-powered electric motors. It’s actually driven by magnetic fields and, by utilizing a built-in inverter and rectifier, can operate off of 110v or 220v power. ECMs are very efficient and depending upon how much the fan motor is operated, can save as much as 25-75 percent in operating costs. Some users opt to run their fans around the clock, which provides more even heating or cooling of their homes and also a higher level of air quality, as air is continually moving through the furnace filter.
Conventional furnace fans are designed to run at one speed only, operating at full power regardless of the actual amount of heating or cooling required at any specific moment. An electronically commutated motor operates its attached fan at variable speeds, determined by how much airflow is needed. It works somewhat like the cruise control in an automobile. When set to keep the vehicle at a particular speed, it will increase or decrease engine RPM when going up or down hills to maintain an even vehicle speed. With an ECM, the unit is set to provide a specific amount of airflow and motor RPM will increase or decrease in response to this.
Contact Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning for information or advice regarding the installation of an electronically commutated motor today. We’ve provided the Twin Cities metro area with the highest quality heating and cooling services since 1974. Our family owned and operated business continues its tradition to be the best in HVAC sales and service.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about electronically commutated motors and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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