chironian
10-09-2005, 11:42 PM
Greetings,
I've been running my furnace blower continuously since it was installed in 1992, because I like to run the Honeywell electrostatic air cleaner all the time (dust/mold allergies have pretty much disappeared since I started doing this). It also reduces some of the temperature differential between upper and lower floors of the house (single zone).
Now that these fancy variable-speed air-handlers are available, with the new efficient ECM motors, I'm feeling efficiency-envy, yet replacing the furnace is not in the cards just yet. I'd like to replace the blower in my furnace in order to reduce electricity usage. I've read a study or two that indicates a 2-year payback, possibly less if you run the fan all the time like I do. Here are a couple references:
http://repositories.cdlib.org/lbnl/LBNL-54760/
http://www.aceee.org/pubs/a033full.pdf
In particular, I'd like for the blower to run at a reduced speed when not heating; This would reduce noise level a bit, perhaps improve the wind-chill factor, but especially it will save electricity (some are saying 70-90% less, if you go with lower fan speeds). Guess I'm wondering if the furnace blower controls will support this mode of operation.
Any advice on this little project? If you were a contractor in my area (Portland, OR), would you be willing to do it?
The first paper listed above indicates the importance of matching the motor to the blower wheel and its housing. Where would one go to find such a thing?
Thanks for any info/advice you can provide.
I've been running my furnace blower continuously since it was installed in 1992, because I like to run the Honeywell electrostatic air cleaner all the time (dust/mold allergies have pretty much disappeared since I started doing this). It also reduces some of the temperature differential between upper and lower floors of the house (single zone).
Now that these fancy variable-speed air-handlers are available, with the new efficient ECM motors, I'm feeling efficiency-envy, yet replacing the furnace is not in the cards just yet. I'd like to replace the blower in my furnace in order to reduce electricity usage. I've read a study or two that indicates a 2-year payback, possibly less if you run the fan all the time like I do. Here are a couple references:
http://repositories.cdlib.org/lbnl/LBNL-54760/
http://www.aceee.org/pubs/a033full.pdf
In particular, I'd like for the blower to run at a reduced speed when not heating; This would reduce noise level a bit, perhaps improve the wind-chill factor, but especially it will save electricity (some are saying 70-90% less, if you go with lower fan speeds). Guess I'm wondering if the furnace blower controls will support this mode of operation.
Any advice on this little project? If you were a contractor in my area (Portland, OR), would you be willing to do it?
The first paper listed above indicates the importance of matching the motor to the blower wheel and its housing. Where would one go to find such a thing?
Thanks for any info/advice you can provide.