-
Should You Keep the Fan Blower in Your Furnace on
Nov 14, 2016
I was asked this question today by our lovely customer Melody so I researched some articles and wanted to share this one written by Sandra Corbitt-Sears - eHow Contributor.
Should You Keep the Fan Blower in Your Furnace on Constantly?
Forced-air furnaces heat by pulling air in, heating it with electricity, natural gas or propane, and using a fan to blow it into the home, usually through a system of ducts and vents. Most modern furnaces offer the option of setting the fan to “auto” or “on.” The auto setting turns the fan on while the furnace is producing heat and off the remainder of the time. The on setting keeps the fan running continuously.
Heat Distribution
• With the furnace fan set to on, air is circulated constantly, which can result in a more even temperature throughout the home. However, the air doesn’t always feel warm. As the thermostat cycles on and off to maintain the selected setting, the temperature of the air coming from the vents will vary.
Air Quality
• Air is filtered as it passes through the furnace, which can be advantageous to allergy and asthma sufferers if the furnace is equipped with a high-grade filter that screens out allergens and other particles. Wisconsin Focus on Energy suggests setting the furnace fan to on when your allergies are most active and leaving it on auto the rest of the time.
Maintenance
• Running the furnace blower constantly means you'll need to replace or clean the filter more often due to the continuous movement of air through it. The fan will experience more wear and tear than it would if the furnace were set to auto and will need to be maintained more often.
Fan Speed and Efficiency
• Older furnaces were produced with standard fans that operated at one speed. Newer, more energy-efficient furnaces are equipped with variable-speed fans that provide better airflow, reduced energy use and quieter operation.
Energy Use
• A standard furnace fan will use from 300 to 875 watts, depending on the horsepower. If you were to keep the furnace fan on constantly for 365 days per year at 875 watts, the kWh would total 7,665 (875 watts x 24 hours x 365 days/1,000). To calculate the annual cost, multiply the kWh times the rate your electric company charges. At $0.06 per kWh, the cost would be $459.90 per year (7,665 kWh x $0.06). If your furnace has a variable-speed fan rated at 100 watts, the cost for constant operation at $0.06 per kWh would be $52.56.
Comments
- (no comments)