Recently, we’ve written a couple of articles about HVAC accessories we believe homeowners should consider installing on their units to get the maximum lifespan out of them. If you’d like to check those out, click here to learn about Safe-t Float Switches and here for Hard Start Kits.
The topic today is an offshoot or slight deviation from these previous articles. The reason is, getting a Blower Wheel cleaning isn’t an accessory. It’s a process. A process that increases the efficiency of your system.
Now let’s get into it!
Your Blower Wheel is located inside your Furnace (indoor unit). It’s VERY important. Here’s why: Some parts of your HVAC system only turn on during summer (when you set your thermostat to a cold temperature); others only turn on during winter (when you set your thermostat to a cold temperature). However, your Blower Wheel works during summer and winter.
What’s it do?
In short, it spins really fast and produces airflow or “wind”, just like a regular box fan. This air goes and picks up heat (produced by gas) or cold (produced by refrigerant), then pushes it into your home via your ducts and vents. No Blower Wheel, no comfort!
Over time, a very thick layer of dust can build up on the blades of your Blower Wheel. So thick that you wouldn’t be able to see the metal of the blades anymore. With this build-up comes some issues: shortened lifespan of your Blower Motor (the thing that makes your Blower Wheel spin), decreased efficiency, and the risk of a potential shutdown.
Quickly, just imagine putting small weights on the blades of a box fan. Here’s what would happen: The blades would spin slower because they’re weighed down; Slower blades mean less airflow; Less airflow means less comfort from the heat. Also, electrically speaking, your box fan would have to use more electricity to compensate for the extra weight/resistance it has to deal with. This means your electric bill would go up. A box fan under all these conditions would break down sooner than one without weights. And the breakdown would require repairing or replacing the fan.
All the above about the box fan applies to Blower Wheels too. Because, at the end of the day, a Blower Wheel and its motor are just really powerful fans. And the dirt that builds up on its blades acts like a set of weights.
So when you ask an HVAC technician to clean your Blower Wheel, you’ll reap several benefits: increased lifespan of your Blower Motor, greater efficiency, more comfort, you may see a decrease in your electric bill, and avoidance of a potential shutdown. And who doesn’t feel good knowing that a part of their home is now much cleaner?
If you need to have your Blower Wheel cleaned, call a professional HVAC company to do it for you. Better yet, contact Absolute Heat & Air! Get ahold of us by clicking here.
