The next time you have a heater or air conditioner maintenance service scheduled, take a look at the settings on your furnace. You’ll find that most modern furnace systems have two fan modes: on and off. Keeping the fan on is the default setting, but this can often make homeowners wonder if it’s good to have the furnace fans blowing continuously throughout the heating season. Should you occasionally turn it off to either save more energy or give your furnace a rest?
The answers to these questions are a little more complicated than a simple yes or no. Whether or not your furnace fans should run continuously depends on your situation, so it’s best to weigh the pros and cons of keeping it on and then decide whether or not it’s a good idea. Here our experts at Home Air Services point out the advantages and disadvantages of running your fans continuously.
Fans help circulate air better in your home. Combine this with regular service from local duct cleaning companies, and your indoor air quality levels will greatly improve. Keeping the fans on can also provide efficiency benefits. Because warm air naturally rises, the floors upstairs can be a bit warmer than the rooms below. Fans keep the air circulating so all floors in your house are kept warm. Of course, this benefit is more noticeable in homes with two or more levels.
Higher circulation also means your filter will be working double-time to keep the air in your home free of any contaminants. This can clog up the filter fairly quickly, which means you’ll need to regularly check your filter and replace or clean it frequently.
Most home heating companies actually recommend just turning it on and forgetting about it. Furnace fans are designed to blow air continuously, so there’s no problem when it comes to continuous, extended operation. However, this might also increase your energy bill slightly.
Weigh these options carefully with the help of our professionals at Home Air Services. Give us a call at (301) 585-8100 or fill out our contact form to schedule a service visit or request a free estimate on new furnace installations today.
