HVAC Fan: Should I Set My AC Fan to On or Auto?

Selecting the right HVAC fan mode for your home can make a big difference in comfort, efficiency, and energy costs. The two main modes are continuous fan and automatic fan. Choosing between running your fan continuously or automatically depends on several factors. This guide examines the pros and cons of each setting to help you decide what works best for your home.

What Are HVAC Fan Modes?

HVAC systems circulate air through your home using a blower fan. This fan pulls air across your furnace heat exchanger or air conditioner evaporator coil to heat or cool the air.

There are two common fan mode settings:

Continuous or "On" Fan Mode

This mode runs the blower fan continuously, even when the HVAC system is not actively heating or cooling. The fan keeps air circulating throughout your home.

Automatic or "Auto" Fan Mode

With automatic mode, the blower fan only operates when your HVAC system is actively heating or cooling. The fan runs as needed with the heating or cooling cycle and then shuts off after.

Some programmable and smart thermostats allow you to customize fan modes to run differently at set times or temperatures.

Pros and Cons of Continuous Fan Mode

Keeping your fan set to the "On" position offers some benefits but also has downsides to consider:

Pros

• Improves air circulation and reduces hot/cold spots
• Keeps indoor humidity levels in check
• Enhances air filtration and removes allergens
• Prevents stagnant air and moisture buildup

Cons

• Uses more electricity to run fan, increasing energy bills
• Adds wear and tear on fan motor with constant operation
• Can pull humid outdoor air into home in summer
• Circulates dust and allergens more frequently

Continuous fan mode works best for multi-story homes prone to uneven temperatures and for humid climates that require extra dehumidification. The improved air circulation can also benefit those with allergies or asthma.

However, it may not suit homes with high efficiency HVAC systems that regulate temperature and humidity well in automatic mode.

Pros and Cons of Automatic Fan Mode

Setting your HVAC system to automatic fan mode has advantages and disadvantages too:

Pros

• Uses less electricity since fan only runs when needed
• Lower HVAC system wear and tear with less operation
• Doesn't pull extra humidity into home from outside

Cons

• Can create hot and cold spots as air isn't mixed
• Allergens like dust settle rather than circulate
• Higher humidity levels may occur

Automatic mode helps minimize energy use and system wear. However, you may occasionally experience uncomfortable temperature variations from room to room. Humidity may also climb higher than desired without the continuous fan circulation.

Automatic fan mode works well for small, energy efficient homes in milder climates that require less frequent HVAC operation.

Choosing Fan Mode Based on Climate and Home

Your climate and home design significantly influence which HVAC fan mode works best. Hot, humid climates benefit from running the fan continuously to enhance dehumidification and air circulation throughout the home. Older, drafty houses with inadequate insulation also favor a continuous fan setting to eliminate hot and cold zones in different parts of the home. On the other hand, smart, high-efficiency HVAC systems in tightly sealed new construction homes can typically maintain comfort quite well using just the automatic fan mode. Larger multi-story homes tend to require the continuous fan mode to sufficiently circulate air to all levels.

You should also tailor your fan mode selection to match your thermostat system. Programmable thermostats allow you to customize fan modes at different times, such as running a continuous fan during the hot daytime hours but switching to automatic at night. Smart thermostats take this a step further by automatically switching between modes based on the current indoor temperature and humidity readings to optimize comfort and efficiency.

Signs Your Current Fan Mode Isn't Working

Notice any of these issues? Your current HVAC fan mode may need adjusting:

• Rooms have temperature variations of several degrees, such as the upstairs being 5 degrees warmer than the downstairs. This indicates air isn't circulating well throughout the home.
• Humidity levels seem consistently higher inside your home, making it feel muggy and sticky. With proper air circulation from the fan, indoor humidity should match or be lower than outdoors.
• You notice stagnant, musty air when entering certain rooms, indicating a lack of air movement and refresh. Stale air allows dust and allergens to build up.
• Allergy or asthma symptoms like sneezing, coughing, or stuffiness seem notably worse when you're at home compared to when outside. This can signify that allergens are accumulating more indoors without proper fan circulation.
• Your HVAC system runs frequently, cycling on and off often, but still struggles to maintain the desired indoor temperature. This suggests uneven hot and cold zones that inadequate cold air circulation causes.
• Energy bills are higher than expected, possibly due to the HVAC system working overtime to compensate for insufficient fan circulation.

Monitoring room temperatures and humidity levels throughout your home can verify if your current fan mode needs adjustment. Use a hygrometer to check humidity and a thermometer to compare temperatures in different rooms.

Additionally, try switching fan modes for a month and closely observe any positive or negative changes in comfort, allergy symptoms, HVAC runtime, and energy costs. This experimentation can confirm if transitioning to a different fan setting provides better results. Make small adjustments and monitor conditions to dial in the optimal mode.

Recommendations for Fan Mode Selection

Here are general recommendations on setting your HVAC fan mode:

• Use continuous mode during hot, humid summer weather to enhance dehumidification.
• Switch to automatic mode during mild fall and spring seasons to reduce unneeded fan operation.
• Consider running the fan on automatic at night even in summer to avoid pulling in additional moisture.
• Use programmable thermostats to customize fan modes and maximize efficiency.
• Let smart thermostats automatically adjust fan mode based on indoor conditions.
• Select continuous mode if you have severe allergies to keep air filtration high.
• Choose automatic mode if money savings from lower energy use is a priority.
• Run fans continuously for the first year in a new home to help control moisture from construction.

The optimal fan setting depends on your comfort needs, home design, HVAC equipment, and climate. Monitoring conditions and energy costs as you experiment with modes allows customizing for your specific situation.

Choosing the optimal HVAC fan setting for your home comes down to understanding how different modes can impact comfort, efficiency, and costs in your unique situation. Consider your climate region, home layout,

HVAC equipment, and lifestyle needs. Monitor humidity, air temperatures, allergy symptoms, and energy use as you test out running the fan continuously or automatically. This experimentation helps dial in the ideal mode for your circumstances. Programmable and smart thermostats also allow customizing fan operation in innovative ways. With a little trial and error, you can discover the fan mode that keeps your home pleasant year-round while optimizing energy savings. Carefully selecting and scheduling your HVAC fan creates an indoor environment tailored for both comfort and efficiency.

The Logan Difference:

As a family-owned and operated business, Logan Heating and Cooling takes great pride in providing an exceptional customer experience. All of our installers complete extensive training to ensure they have the skills and knowledge to provide quality workmanship. We care deeply about our customers and make sure every installation goes smoothly. That's why we make sure our teams have all the necessary parts on hand before arriving, avoiding any delays or frustrations. Throughout the process, we maintain excellent communication, following a rigorous checklist that gets signed off by an experienced installation manager. After completing the work, we do a thorough walkthrough with the customer, demonstrating how to operate the system and troubleshoot any issues before we leave. We also help ensure all warranty paperwork is in order so it doesn't fall back on the customer. Giving back to our community is important to us as well, whether it's donating to local causes or helping friends and neighbors in need. The Logan Difference means you get caring, quality service from start to finish.