A typical AC fan motor uses about 500 watts when it's running.
Cons to Keeping Fan Continuously Running:
It could cost you hundreds of dollars a year. The average unit has a 500 watt fan, which uses almost as much energy over the course of the year as a refrigerator, resulting in a $50/month bill.
When the California summer heat rolls in, pairing your AC with a ceiling fan is your best defense. By correctly setting the fan's direction, adjusting the thermostat, and a few other simple strategies, you can keep your home cool without driving up your energy bill.
Cooling yourself with a fan vs. an air conditioner is significantly more energy efficient and cheaper. Fans use around 1% of the electricity consumed by air conditioners. You could leave a fan running for 24 hours and still use less energy than 15 minutes of air conditioning.
An average air conditioning unit can consume between 1,000 to 2,000 watts of power per hour, which adds up quickly, especially during hot and humid days. A ceiling fan consumes significantly less energy, meaning they can be run for longer periods without significantly impacting your electricity bill.
A typical AC fan motor uses about 500 watts when it's running. Therefore, if you run the fan continuously for a 30-day month (720 hours), you would use 360,000 watt hours (720 x 500) or 360 kilowatt hours (kWh). Therefore, the fan uses about 360 kWh per month in the ON mode.
Heating and cooling: 45-50%
The largest electricity consumer in the average household is your heating and cooling appliance. By a long shot. Central air conditioners and heaters use tons of energy in order to keep your home set to the right temperature.
The blower fan uses around 500 watts per hour to run. That's a huge difference! This is why running only the fan (regardless of which method you use) to help keep cool can save you significantly on your energy bills. Of course, the fan on its own doesn't have the cooling power of the air conditioner.
How Much Electricity Does a Ceiling Fan Use? Ceiling fans come in a variety of wattages, but a standard 48-inch model uses about 75 watts per hour on average. This would cost you about $0.01 per hour, or $6 per month if you leave your ceiling fan on 24/7 all month.
The primary benefit of running your HVAC fan consistently: Air circulation improvements. Running the fan more often means air in your home circulates faster, leading to everything from more even temperature distribution to faster heating or cooling.
Your air conditioning system is one of the biggest culprits behind skyrocketing electric bills. When your air filter is dirty, refrigerant levels are low, your thermostat is faulty or you lack proper maintenance, your A/C system can end up using a lot more energy than it should.
It only makes you FEEL cooler because it's moving air over your skin, carrying the heat away from your body. This is the wind chill factor you hear on the Weather Channel so often. So it's doing nothing to lower the temperature in your home, meaning your A/C will run just as long whether the fan is on or not.
On average, an air conditioner costs between $0.06 and $0.88 per hour to use. Let's see how much air-conditioning costs every month (assuming it runs for 8 hours per day). The cheapest option is $14.40 per month and $211.20 per month on the high end.
The fan will constantly blow air into your room if you have the thermostat turned “ON.” If it is on “AUTO,” it will only turn the fan on when heated air needs distribution. So yes, running HVAC continuously throughout the day and night is perfectly safe!
A constantly running fan will increase your utility bills and produce more humidity in your home because it will just blow warm air around without the AC absorbing moisture and heat.
Consequences of Running Your Air Conditioner 24 Hours a Day
Wasted energy: Running the AC to cool your home beyond your comfort level wastes energy and contributes to an increased carbon footprint. This is bad news for the environment and your energy bills.
Typically, running your air conditioner's fan constantly is going to drive up your energy bill slightly.
A ceiling fan is made up of different parts and pieces, and they will wear out over time. Sure, your ceiling fan can run throughout the day and night without issue, but running it for several days or months on end may not be the smartest choice and will reduce the overall lifetime of your fan.
In general, running your fan costs very little, especially in comparison to air conditioners which tend to be the most expensive-to-run appliance in the average US household. In other words, using a fan is a great way to lower the cost of your electricity bill.
Air conditioning can run you hundreds of dollars every month to cool your home, while running a fan in that same time frame costs about as much as a large cup of coffee. Cool air can circulate around your home evenly, without racking up a hefty bill.
For all the upsides of a constantly running fan, there are some downsides. The most significant is the increase in energy usage and the subsequent higher bills. When you're trying to cut expenses, keeping the AC fan on 24/7 isn't helpful and will probably cost you more.
Keeping your fan on AUTO is the most energy-efficient option. The fan only runs when the system is on and not continuously. There is better dehumidification in your home during the summer months. When your fan is set to AUTO, moisture from cold cooling coils can drip and be drained outside.
What costs the most on your electric bill? Heating and cooling are by far the greatest energy users in the home, making up around 40% of your electric bill. Other big users are washers, dryers, ovens, and stoves. Electronic devices like laptops and TVs are usually pretty cheap to run, but of course, it can all add up.