If you use a forced-air system to heat and cool your home, an electronically commutated motor (ECM) can help you save a good deal of energy. Unlike a conventional motor, the ECMs (also called variable-speed motors) use much less electricity by virtue of their design and components. An ECM converts AC power to DC, which improves its energy efficiency. These motors provide a number of advantages compared to the more typical permanent split capacitor (PSC) motor normally used in HVAC equipment.
- Quiet operation. An ECM makes far less noise than a PSC motor. Anyone whose bedroom is located close to the blower will appreciate the ECM because it starts up and ends its cycle slowly. By their nature, the motor runs quietly, even at full operational speed.
- Energy efficiency. An ECM can save from 20 to 75 percent on the electric bill, compared to fan motors that run on the high speed setting. Some ECMs use as little as 80 watts of electricity an hour when running continuously. There are 1,000 watts in a kilowatt, so it takes many hours of operation to increase your bill noticeably.
- Better humidity removal in the summer. The slower and more continuous running speed helps the evaporator coil in the air conditioner extract more water vapor from your air, leaving you more comfortable.
- Improved air quality. Because an electronically commutated motor runs more slowly and continuously than a PSC motor, it offers better air filtration.
- Increased indoor comfort. The slower running speed helps your HVAC equipment distribute the air more evenly throughout your home. Rooms that aren’t as efficiently served by a fast running motor will feel warmer or cooler with an ECM. Some people run the fan continuously in the summer to keep the house more comfortable. Moving air feels cooler than stagnant air, and it may eliminate the need for fans in every room. In the winter, an ECM, with its continuous operation, will prevent warm air from collecting near the ceiling, and instead provide constant circulation.
If you’d like more information on the benefits of an electronically commutated motor in your system’s blower, please contact us at Ace Hardware Home Services, Inc. We’ve provided superior HVAC services to the Dayton area since 1978.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about energy savings and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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