Fan Circulate Some newer homes have smart thermostats equipped with a third fan option, circulate, which is a combination of on and auto. This setting runs the fan during the cycle and then again for a few minutes every hour.
Choose "AUTO" for energy savings and "ON" if you want constant air circulation or improved air filtration. Temperatures can soar or plummet depending on the time of year. Throughout the year, it is important to have reliable heating and cooling systems in order to keep your home supplied with cool or warm air.
On: Fan is always on. Circ: Fan runs randomly about 33% of the time. *The circulate option that allows you to set the fan to run a certain amount of time per hour.
Circulates air: Improved air circulation can work to keep a home comfortable in hot and cold weather. As such, the “circulate” setting might be all you need instead of raising or lowering the thermostat. Good for areas of high moisture: When the humidity is high, the “circulate” setting could give you relief.
They help improve comfort year-round by effectively circulating air throughout a room. Summer Use: Run ceiling fans counterclockwise to create a cooling breeze. Winter Use: Reverse the direction to clockwise and set to low speed to circulate warm air from the ceiling down to living spaces.
In contrast to a traditional fan which brings only cooling benefits when directly facing you; an air circulator works for any season, keeping the air in motion and making the entire room more comfortable to be in… with many other benefits!
“Circulate” Mode
If you have this setting, we recommend using it as often as you can because it's a good money-saver on hot days.
Proper airflow is vital in maintaining a comfortable indoor environment, especially in the summer. It helps evenly distribute cool air throughout your home, reducing hot spots. Furthermore, good air circulation prevents mold and mildew buildup by maintaining low humidity levels.
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.
Since the AUTO setting means the fan is only engaged when the system is on, rather than constantly blowing, AUTO is the most energy-efficient option between the two settings.
Fan Circulate
Some newer homes have smart thermostats equipped with a third fan option, circulate, which is a combination of on and auto. This setting runs the fan during the cycle and then again for a few minutes every hour.
If you wonder, “How long should my HVAC fan run per hour?” then the answer is between ten to 20 minutes for two or three cycles. This works best when your home has a mild outdoor temperature. When temperatures shift strongly towards 0 or 90 degrees (heating or cooling), you will need to run the fan longer.
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. During the summer months, the ducts in your attic and close to your walls can fill with warm air, resulting in the fan blowing hot air into your house.
This is the setting used to move air in your application all the time instead of when the system is running. The Circ (Circulate) position, if available, will run the fan approximately 35% of the time, roughly 20 minutes each hour, minus any time the fan is already running with the heating or cooling system.
While we typically don't think of winter as a humid time of year, poor ventilation in the home over the heating season can cause an increase of humidity inside the home, which causes indoor air quality issues such as pollution concentrations to grow.
Answer: You can— and should— run your A/C and ceiling fan together. Doing so can help lower your cooling costs each month, but only if you're using them right.
Since 72 degrees is generally agreed upon to be an ideal indoor temperature, most people would probably still feel comfortable setting their AC units slightly higher than this, perhaps at around 75.
In summer, the best mode for your air conditioner is the "Cool" mode, set to a comfortable temperature around 78°F when you're home. This setting efficiently reduces indoor humidity and maintains a comfortable environment without overworking the AC system.
Quick answer: The ideal house temperature is room temperature, which ranges from 68 to 78 degrees F, though this may vary from season to season. In winter, the average room temperature is generally 62 to 68 degrees, whereas in the summer, the average temperature is 72 to 78 degrees.
Air Circulators can keep the whole room cool by creating a continuous, cycled airflow that a fan can't - and that means you can place your Air Circulator safely out of the way in the corner of the room, or even on a table, bench or stool! That's a cooling solution that won't trip you up.
Conclusion. You can safely run an electric fan all night, but it's not recommended while you're gone for long periods. Fans are generally very reliable, but it's safe to turn off electrical appliances while they're unattended for long periods.
Which way should a ceiling fan turn to keep you cool in the summer? During summer months, your ceiling fan blades should be set to spin counterclockwise. When your ceiling fan spins quickly in this direction, it pushes air down and creates a cool breeze.
So generally speaking, it makes sense to run the fan constantly, or use the circulate option on a thermostat, if there is minimal heating/cooling taking place and you aren't opening the windows for ventilation or air movement.
Energy-Efficiency
Most modern HVAC systems have motors that cost about the same as a 40-watt light bulb when you leave the fan in the 'on' setting. 'Auto' is the typical setting that the air conditioner is set to which is actually more energy-efficient because it only runs when it needs to.
The circulate setting can be beneficial year-round. During the summer, it helps distribute cool air efficiently, while in the winter, it ensures that warm air reaches all corners of your home.