Does having the AC fan on waste electricity? Many property owners ask this question when they want to keep their homes comfortable in the summer without raising energy bills unnecessarily. Running the air conditioner at full blast 24/7 will certainly cause excessive energy consumption, but will the system’s fan cause the same issue?
Butler Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing is a trusted provider of HVAC services in Franklin, OH. Our experienced technicians know the best ways to improve your indoor climate without wasting energy. Here’s what you need to know about your air conditioning fan’s energy efficiency.
How AC Fan Settings Impact Your Franklin Home’s Comfort and Energy Efficiency
For many in Franklin, running the air conditioner in the summer is the biggest household expense. Although the equipment is essential for keeping temperatures and indoor humidity levels comfortable, monthly electricity bills reflect the additional energy usage. So, what can you do?
Knowing how to use the thermostat’s settings is key to ensuring comfort and energy efficiency with cooling systems. Leaving your cooling system in the “On” setting will keep your home cool by constantly sending conditioned air throughout your property. Unfortunately, this is the least energy-efficient way to use your HVAC system because it will use excessive energy to run continuously.
On the other hand, you could use your thermostat’s fan instead of the air conditioner to recirculate pre-chilled air throughout your home. While you’ll still use electricity to run your HVAC system, this is less energy-consuming than leaving your cooling unit running on full blast 24/7.
What To Expect With Your Thermostat on the “On” Setting
Does having the AC fan on waste electricity? The answer isn’t as straightforward as you may think.
Setting the HVAC fan to “On” mode can help stabilize your home’s temperature and humidity levels, especially if your Franklin residence is a multi-story building. Upper rooms are usually warmer than those on the lower floors, so having the HVAC system constantly circulate chilled air can improve comfort throughout the property.
Constant indoor air circulation is also beneficial to those with respiratory problems like asthma or allergies. Since the air circulates through the system, it frequently passes through the HVAC filter. That means your home has fewer airborne pollutants that could cause respiratory distress.
Despite these benefits, constantly running the air conditioner fan will increase your energy bills slightly. Yet what you save on electricity expenses, you might have to spend to address other problems, such as:
- Frequent Filter Changes. The constant cooling unit operation will dirty the filter more quickly, so you’ll need to change it more often.
- Humidity Issues. Your fan cannot combat humidity as well as your air conditioner can. Eventually, the property will feel muggier, and the system will have difficulty getting the outdoor condenser unit to get rid of the moisture.
- Equipment Repairs. If your fan is always on, its parts may wear down faster. In the worst-case scenario, your Franklin home will need costly cooling system repairs to prevent a breakdown or restore the equipment’s functionality.
Pros and Cons of a Thermostat on “Auto” Setting
Since you know the answer to the question “Does having the AC fan on waste electricity?” is yes, what’s the best way to keep cool indoors and conserve energy? Run the air conditioning fan on the thermostat’s “Auto” mode for the most energy efficiency.
With this setting, the fan will only work when the cooling system runs, so it’s not in continuous operation. Air won’t constantly circulate through the filter and the house. You’ll consume less energy, you won’t have to replace filters too quickly, and your home likely won’t have humidity issues.
This setting does have drawbacks. The lack of additional filtration can cause indoor air quality to suffer, and due to the reduced air circulation, your house might have hot and cold spots.
Stay Cool All Summer in Your Franklin Home With Premium Air Conditioning Services
The answer to “Does having the AC fan on waste electricity?” is yes, but not as much as running your air conditioner on full blast. Still, you could encounter problems with your air filter, premature wear on cooling system parts, and other complications. If that happens, you’ll need the expertise of our HVAC professionals at Butler Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing in Franklin, OH.
Through cooling repairs and routine maintenance, we can ensure your air conditioning runs optimally with excellent energy efficiency. Before turning off the AC while on vacation or running your air conditioner fan constantly, contact us to schedule an inspection!