During the dog days of summer, staying cool is one of the biggest concerns for homeowners. While there are many things to consider when setting your thermostat to a comfortable air conditioning setting, one of the biggest ones is whether to set your air conditioning fan to “Auto” or “On.” This is a common question, so we’re sharing the pros and cons for each option to inform you on which setting is best for you and your home!
Pros to Setting the Fan to “Auto”
Keeping your fan set to auto is the most energy-efficient and affordable option for your air conditioning. The fan will only run when the air conditioner is actively cooling the air, not continuously. Additionally, this provides better dehumidification in your home during the summer months. When your fan is set to auto, the moisture from the cold cooling coils can drip and drain outside.
Cons to Setting the Fan to “Auto”
One con to setting the fan to auto, is that you may notice a less equal distribution of cool air throughout your home. This occurs because once the air conditioner reaches the desired temperature, the air conditioning unit shuts off, along with the fan. Another con is that the blower motor might need to be replaced more frequently because of the constant starting and stopping of the fan.
Pros to Setting the Fan to “On”
When keeping your fan set to “on”, it allows for a more even distribution of cool air circulating throughout your house, which helps remove cold or hot spots that you may notice in your home. Additionally, because there is less frequent starts and stops, this could help extend the lifetime of your air conditioning fan, contrary to the auto option.
Cons to Setting the Fan to “On”
Unfortunately, because your fan will be running nonstop, your electricity bill will be higher than if it was set to the “auto”. During the summer months, the ducts that might be in your attic, or run close to your outside walls, can fill with much warmer air. This warm air then blown into your home when the air conditioning is not running. Because of this, your HVAC system might have to run more often to counteract the added heat, which will more than likely cause an increase in your electricity bill too.
Although there are pros and cons for each option, we hope this has been valuable information to increase your confidence when it comes to choosing the best fan setting for your home. Do you have more questions or need service on your AC? Please give our experts a call! If you’d like to make an appointment, contact us at 866-797-1535, or schedule an appointment online. Visit our website for more information on our vast number of services, including air conditioning, heating, duct cleaning, indoor air quality, maintenance, commercial HVAC, industrial, and marine services.
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