In this mode the fan will cycle on and off with the cooling, but it will also kick-on automatically if there is an extended period … So, it’s smart to stay indoors when the air is bad. Outside temperature is high. All Rights Reserved © US Inspect Group, Inc. 2021. Pros to Keeping Fan Continuously Running: Keeping the fan on creates an evener distribution of heating and cooling, circulating the air if you have cold or hot spots in your house, like a bedroom above a garage. Although a constantly running air conditioner fan can help battle allergies by keeping the air filtered, it causes unnecessary wear on the motor and increased energy costs. A typical AC fan motor uses about 500 watts when it’s running. I leave my fan on to keep air circulating but I’ve heard lots of different answers, including ‘The AC pulls in air from the outside,’ but I don’t think that happens unless a door is open. In multi-story houses or town homes, hot air can rise up the stairs and overheat the upper floors. Both settings have drawbacks and benefits. s.prop3 = s.channel + "|Support Search"; When you set your fan to “ON,” you’re telling it to keep running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, regardless of the heating or cooling setting. The other answer I’ve heard is that ‘It costs just as much to run the fan on as it does when the AC is also running,’ but I thought fans require low power so that doesn’t seem to make sense to me, either.”. This 500-watt fan is basically equivalent to using around as much energy as a refrigerator over the span of a year. If you haven’t had your A/C serviced in a long time, you could have very dirty evaporator … Even if you’ve replaced your old central air or room air conditioner with a brand new model with an SEER … This happens occasionally. As a result, the temperature variation is reduced. When the fan is in the auto mode, the air conditioner moves air only when the cooling part is running. Schedule an annual air conditioner tune-up to keep your system operating at peak performance. Usually, the furnace fan in your home will run continuously because of the setting on your thermostat. But this isn’t a problem. Continuous fan operation will constantly recirculate the air throughout the house which will help even out temperatures from room to room or floor to floor. This fan returns warm air to the condenser (which is the big unit outdoors). The problem is when it is running continuously. If you’ve run the air conditioner in your car when passing by a fire—or a particularly fragrant cattle farm—it’s pretty obvious that the great outdoors can quickly contaminate the passenger compartment. In many systems, the fan of the air conditioner turns on before the heating, or the cooling begins. On models equipped with a Energy Saver or Cycle switch, the fan will cycle off with the compressor by placing the switch in the Energy Save or Fan Cycle position. s.events = "event16"; To be safe – unless you have a specific reason to keep the fan running constantly, just place your central air or furnace fan setting on auto. The average kWh in the US costs about $0.12 so it costs about $43 per month, or about $520 per year, to run a fan continuously. The truth is that your ducts are going to heat up when it gets really warm outside, and this is especially true if they are located in your attic or under your floor. The condenser fan motor is a part of the condensing system in your HVAC that turns the fan blades in order to blow air across the condenser coil. The thermostat reaches the desired temperature, the indoor unit shuts off, the air stops blowing, but the outdoor unit keeps on running. Let’s start by making sure we’re on the same page with regards to definitions: Let’s also assume we’re talking about a central air system with a blower motor (fan) located inside the home. It blows back into your home and your AC works hard to remove extra moisture from the air. A continuously running fan provides constant air flow in the area to be cooled, keeping the room at a more comfortable temperature. s.prop5 = s.prop4; It’s important to note that if you have your thermostat selected to the ‘on’ option, then your blower fan will run continuously. Many people ask if they should run their furnace fan continuously in fan on mode. But in the cooling mode, it could run forever unless you turn the breaker off. // Image call On the one hand, running your heating and cooling fan even when the AC isn’t in operation helps to circulate the cool air throughout your home. Bottom line – If you run the fan in AUTO mode, you’ll save about $300 per year. When the fan's in the on mode, the fan keeps running continuously, even when the cooling part is turned off. When the thermostat senses that the house has reached the setpoint, it shuts off both the cooling and the fan. If the HVAC system is not the right size, it will not run optimally. A continuously running fan provides constant air flow in the area to be cooled, keeping the room at a more comfortable temperature. Most thermostats have two fan settings: “Auto” and “On.” The “Auto” setting means your system will turn the fan on when it needs to circulate heated air, and “On” will force your fan to run … A/C condenser fan runs continuously There were several older threads on this topic and it was noted in one of them that some newer condenser units have a dpst contactor which has a buss bar across one side/pole, thus making that side always on. This feature is to provide increased circulation in your home. AC is too small for the property or can’t keep up with extreme temperatures. Moisture from the air will condense on the evaporator coil when the AC is running because the evaporator is so much cooler. In addition, it provides extra air filtration which may be helpful if health risks are a concern. For more information, please see Air Conditioner Energy Saver Switch. And in some buildings we may run the blower continuously for more even or better conditioned (heated or cooled) air distribution. Improve Air Quality By running the furnace fan all the time, you are also running air through your furnace filter constantly. Therefore, if you run the fan continuously for a 30-day month (720 hours), you would use 360,000 watt hours (720 x 500) or 360 kilowatt hours (kWh). Running the fan without the AC can also increase the humidity in your home, since the AC won’t be drying out the fresh air being drawn inside. If your furnace or AC fan is constantly running, call an HVAC professional as soon as possible. When you run the fan continuously, it causes the water to evaporate and puts it right back into your home. Trying to fix electrical problems on your own could cause more damage or even create a fire hazard. There are two types of fans – AC and DC voltage. Oversized evaporators will shut off after a short time, which leaves the condensed water on the coil. If you do want to run the fan continuously, there are a few important things you’ll need to consider…. Clogged air filter. Some HVAC technicians also state that it is better for the fan motor to run continuously instead of turning on and off with the furnace. The air is re-circulated from the condenser back to the furnace, where it is turned into cool air and disbursed through ducts and vents into the rooms. Your air conditioner's fan operates independently from the cooling unit, circulating air throughout your home. It’s also worth noting that constantly turning the fan on … Keeping your fan on consumes more energy than using it only when your HVAC system is active. We deliver the best home inspections in your neighborhood.Our reputation is built on decades of honesty, integrity and excellent service to customers during one of their most important life decisions – buying or selling a home. If we assume an average of 10 hours on and 14 hours off per day, energy costs are reduced by 60% to about $18 per month or $215 per year. When the fan is set to On, it blows continuously, circulating and filtering air regardless of whether the air conditioner is in cooling mode. The evaporator or condenser coils are either dirty or blocked: dirt on the evaporator coil prevents … s.channel = "Service_Support"; This results in healthier indoor air quality for your family and less dust on your furniture. Therefore, the fan uses about 360 kWh per month in the ON mode. If it’s extremely hot outside, your AC may be unable to catch up with the … But does running your air conditioning pose a health risk when the air is smoky? Dirty Coils. Fewer stops and starts should reduce wear and tear on the system. In the “On” position, the fan will run continuously. Air is continually being … Running the fan continuously does have several benefits. Less frequent starts and stops of the fan can reduce the stress from startup, and potentially help extend its lifespan. You’ll need to replace your furnace filter more frequently. Continuous Blower Fan Operation: Why Run an Air Conditioner or Heating Blower Fan Continuously? s.prop4 = s.prop3; Energy Use. As for whether it’s helpful or harmful to your HVAC system to run the fan continuously, there’s no clear answer. When your system’s air filter is full of dirt and debris, the flow of air is restricted, … Running a furnace fan constantly also has drawbacks. There typically also are larger vents, usually one per floor, which collect and return air back to the fan to be reconditioned and distributed throughout the home. Most systems offer two fan settings: On and Auto. We offer emergency repairs, routine furnace and AC services, and maintenance plans. If you have an efficient filter and a UV light, you are constantly filtering and cleaning the air. At this point, it should be pretty obvious that AUTO costs less than ON but let’s math it out to its logical conclusion. If your fan is running constantly, the heat exchanger never gets a chance to cool down either which can cause serious issues. var s_code=s.t();if(s_code)document.write(s_code); When the selector switch is in the Fan Cool or Heat position, the fan will run continuously. Doing so distributes it evenly, ensuring consistent comfort. In the heating mode (if it's a heat pump) it could eventually shut off on a high pressure safety device. If this component is not working properly, neither is your air conditioner. Air conditioner is turned off but fan keeps running A typical AC fan motor uses about 500 watts when it’s running. For a safe and fast repair, contact Petro Home Services. When the fan is switched to the “on” position, it will run continuously. AC fans are more prevalent, so let’s use that as our example; let’s also ignore efficiency and power factors because they’re immaterial. In turn, this necessitates the need to run the AC much more often to combat the extra heat. s.eVar14 = document.title; The thermostat tells all the system to work together. The fan for central air conditioning systems is connected to your furnace. Some new thermostats have an additional fan setting of “Circ”, which is short for “Circulate”. These systems are usually “closed loop systems,” which circulate conditioned air (heat or AC) throughout the home via ductwork and vents in the floor, walls and ceilings. If your fan runs continuously, moisture does not have a chance to drip outside. s.hier1 = s.prop5; // Manipulate variables Turning your thermostat to fan on mode helps even out the temperatures by a few degrees by pulling some of the ho… It should be set to the “auto” position, so it only runs when the air conditioner is running. It is more energy efficient to run the fan without the air conditioner, but only in certain situations and for short periods of time. Therefore, if you run the fan continuously for a 30-day month (720 hours), you would use 360,000 watt hours (720 x 500) or 360 kilowatt hours (kWh). Air Conditioners Why The Fan Runs Continuously When the selector switch is in the Fan Cool or Heat position, the fan will run continuously. In fact, many of them can run the fan at a lower speed when running independently of heating or cooling, meaning they are constantly mixing the air in your home without causing unwanted noise or unneeded airflow. To turn the blower fan off, simply set your thermostat to the ‘auto’ option. AUTO mode = Fan is on only when heat or AC is triggered by the thermostat setting. Most central HVAC systems have the capability of running the fan independent of heating or cooling the air. This effectively cools the refrigerant, transforming it from a piping hot gas into a liquid solution. The Best Way to Run an Air Conditioner. Therefore, the fan uses about 360 kWh per month in the ON mode. Before you decide whether or not you should run your Bessemer, Alabama, home’s fan continuously, consider your energy use, comfort, indoor air quality, and humidity levels. If kept running in the hot summer months, the fan will be blowing hot air all over your house. We deliver the best home inspections in your neighborhood. 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