A typical AC fan motor uses about 500 watts when it's running.
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.
The main benefit of fan mode in AC is energy conservation. By using the fan mode, you save energy as it consumes less power compared to the cooling mode.
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.
They should not be left on all the time. Some of the more advanced thermostats might use the fan to better circulate the air post-AC or heat running or pre-cool the home a little by running the fan. But in normal operation, it only runs with the furnace or AC does.
The central downside of running your fan continuously is the potential for a rising energy bill each month. Running the fan constantly uses a bit more energy, as you might expect, and this can increase your utility bill.
This approach can reduce wear and tear on the air conditioning equipment because the fan doesn't have to start and stop as often. Running the fan on the AC all the time also helps maintain a more consistent and even temperature throughout your home because air is constantly circulating, eliminating hot and cold spots.
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.
Saving money is one of the most obvious reasons to not keep the air conditioner fan on all the time. As you've probably guessed, when it's continuously in operation, it uses up a lot of energy. As a result, you could pay hundreds of dollars more in energy bills each year than you otherwise would.
The only trick is to set the temperature of the AC at 26 degrees Celsius. This will provide the same cooling effect as an AC, which is set at 22 degrees Celsius, without the interference of a fan. Apart from that, using fans with AC can also save up to 12–20 percent on electricity bills.
Many AC units come with a sleep mode or timer feature, allowing you to set a specific duration for the AC to run before shutting off automatically. According to the International Energy Agency, using these features can save up to 30% of the energy consumed by an air conditioner .
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).
Reduce your energy consumption.
Operating the air conditioner in fan mode uses significantly less energy than other AC modes, including cooling, heating and dry mode. This is because it takes less power to run the fan than the compressor.
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!
You can choose to run the fan continuously or only when the AC is on. This setting helps circulate air in your home, but it won't produce any new cold air.
Using your ceiling fans and AC unit simultaneously can help save you money on your monthly cooling bill. According to the Department of Energy, if you use air conditioning to cool your home, a ceiling fan will allow you to raise the thermostat setting about 4°F with no reduction in comfort.
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.
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.
Does it bring in fresh air? No, air conditioners do not bring in fresh air from the outside. That's not how they were designed. What actually happens is that your air conditioner uses a fan to draw air into the unit and disperse it through a structure.
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.
As long as you are staying comfortable, your home is reaching set thermostat temperature on very hot days and airflow from vents is normal, and your energy bills are about the same as they were last year – there's likely not a problem.