s.events = "event16"; Continuous Blower Fan Operation: Why Run an Air Conditioner or Heating Blower Fan Continuously? For more information, please see Air Conditioner Energy Saver Switch. Many people ask if they should run their furnace fan continuously in fan on mode. 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. Dirty Coils. 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. We deliver the best home inspections in your neighborhood. Turning your thermostat to fan on mode helps even out the temperatures by a few degrees by pulling some of the ho… If you haven’t had your A/C serviced in a long time, you could have very dirty evaporator … And in some buildings we may run the blower continuously for more even or better conditioned (heated or cooled) air distribution. 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. But does running your air conditioning pose a health risk when the air is smoky? 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 … It is more energy efficient to run the fan without the air conditioner, but only in certain situations and for short periods of time. Some new thermostats have an additional fan setting of “Circ”, which is short for “Circulate”. It’s important to note that if you have your thermostat selected to the ‘on’ option, then your blower fan will run continuously. If kept running in the hot summer months, the fan will be blowing hot air all over your house. 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. 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.”. 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. Even if you’ve replaced your old central air or room air conditioner with a brand new model with an SEER … s.prop3 = s.channel + "|Support Search"; It blows back into your home and your AC works hard to remove extra moisture from the air. s.prop43 = "Responsive"; In the “On” position, the fan will run continuously. 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. s.channel = "Service_Support"; Both settings have drawbacks and benefits. 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. As for whether it’s helpful or harmful to your HVAC system to run the fan continuously, there’s no clear answer. 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. If you do want to run the fan continuously, there are a few important things you’ll need to consider…. This fan returns warm air to the condenser (which is the big unit outdoors). Energy Use. If your furnace or AC fan is constantly running, call an HVAC professional as soon as possible. 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. In turn, this necessitates the need to run the AC much more often to combat the extra heat. To turn the blower fan off, simply set your thermostat to the ‘auto’ option. Oversized evaporators will shut off after a short time, which leaves the condensed water on the coil. You’ll need to replace your furnace filter more frequently. At this point, it should be pretty obvious that AUTO costs less than ON but let’s math it out to its logical conclusion. s.hier1 = s.prop5; 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. A typical AC fan motor uses about 500 watts when it’s running. AUTO mode = Fan is on only when heat or AC is triggered by the thermostat setting. This results in healthier indoor air quality for your family and less dust on your furniture. 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. If you have an efficient filter and a UV light, you are constantly filtering and cleaning the air. Running the fan continuously does have several benefits. If this component is not working properly, neither is your air conditioner. s.prop5 = s.prop4; Fewer stops and starts should reduce wear and tear on the system. Therefore, the fan uses about 360 kWh per month in the ON mode. The system usually includes a filter in the loop, typically in the air handler where the fan is located; the filter cleans air before it is recycled. Bottom line – If you run the fan in AUTO mode, you’ll save about $300 per year. s.prop4 = s.prop3; Moisture from the air will condense on the evaporator coil when the AC is running because the evaporator is so much cooler. For a safe and fast repair, contact Petro Home Services. When you run the fan continuously, it causes the water to evaporate and puts it right back into your home. This feature is to provide increased circulation in your home. 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). But this isn’t a problem. // Image call at BLOWER FAN CONTINUOUS OPERATION) to leave the blower fan on continuously for long periods, such as to use an air filtering system to improve indoor air quality. A continuously running fan provides constant air flow in the area to be cooled, keeping the room at a more comfortable temperature. This happens occasionally. Air conditioner is turned off but fan keeps running Your air conditioner's fan operates independently from the cooling unit, circulating air throughout your home. All Rights Reserved © US Inspect Group, Inc. 2021. s.eVar14 = document.title; 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. This 500-watt fan is basically equivalent to using around as much energy as a refrigerator over the span of a year. We offer emergency repairs, routine furnace and AC services, and maintenance plans. When your system’s air filter is full of dirt and debris, the flow of air is restricted, … The problem is when it is running continuously. Trying to fix electrical problems on your own could cause more damage or even create a fire hazard. 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. Air Conditioners Why The Fan Runs Continuously When the selector switch is in the Fan Cool or Heat position, the fan will run continuously. // Manipulate variables When the fan is switched to the “on” position, it will run continuously. As a … As a result, the temperature variation is reduced. Improve Air Quality By running the furnace fan all the time, you are also running air through your furnace filter constantly. 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. Therefore, the fan uses about 360 kWh per month in the ON mode. 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. When the fan's in the on mode, the fan keeps running continuously, even when the cooling part is turned off. Doing so distributes it evenly, ensuring consistent comfort. 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). 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 your fan runs continuously, moisture does not have a chance to drip outside. When the fan is set to On, it blows continuously, circulating and filtering air regardless of whether the air conditioner is in cooling mode. But in the cooling mode, it could run forever unless you turn the breaker off. 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. Schedule an annual air conditioner tune-up to keep your system operating at peak performance. In many systems, the fan of the air conditioner turns on before the heating, or the cooling begins. If your fan is running constantly, the heat exchanger never gets a chance to cool down either which can cause serious issues. 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 tells all the system to work together. “What’s more energy efficient – ON or AUTO? 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. The fan for central air conditioning systems is connected to your furnace. So, it’s smart to stay indoors when the air is bad. This effectively cools the refrigerant, transforming it from a piping hot gas into a liquid solution. There are two types of fans – AC and DC voltage. 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. It’s also worth noting that constantly turning the fan on … 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. Clogged air filter. Less frequent starts and stops of the fan can reduce the stress from startup, and potentially help extend its lifespan. When the thermostat senses that the house has reached the setpoint, it shuts off both the cooling and the fan. Usually, the furnace fan in your home will run continuously because of the setting on your thermostat. 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 … AC is too small for the property or can’t keep up with extreme temperatures. It should be set to the “auto” position, so it only runs when the air conditioner is running. When the fan is in the auto mode, the air conditioner moves air only when the cooling part is running. In the heating mode (if it's a heat pump) it could eventually shut off on a high pressure safety device. Outside temperature is high. 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. A continuously running fan provides constant air flow in the area to be cooled, keeping the room at a more comfortable temperature. Most central HVAC systems have the capability of running the fan independent of heating or cooling the air. //s.eVar15 = ""; 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. In addition, it provides extra air filtration which may be helpful if health risks are a concern. 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. In multi-story houses or town homes, hot air can rise up the stairs and overheat the upper floors. The evaporator or condenser coils are either dirty or blocked: dirt on the evaporator coil prevents … 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. Keeping your fan on consumes more energy than using it only when your HVAC system is active. Running a furnace fan constantly also has drawbacks. The thermostat reaches the desired temperature, the indoor unit shuts off, the air stops blowing, but the outdoor unit keeps on running. If the HVAC system is not the right size, it will not run optimally. Most systems offer two fan settings: On and Auto. 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