Will Your Furnace Break Down If You Run the Fans Continuously?

When your HVAC installation contractors finish setting up your centralized heating system, you’ll probably notice the mechanism behind how air is circulated throughout your home. This is done mainly by the furnace fan, which “pushes” the warm air into your ducts and distributes it evenly throughout the rooms in your house. Furnace fans operate on an “on-demand” basis: that is, they can be controlled by raising or lowering the temperature on your thermostat.

Sometimes, furnace fans can be set to the “off” setting, which allows the warm air to circulate naturally. Homeowners tend to turn their fans on when they notice this, which means the fans will run continuously. However, is this really necessary? Is it advisable? Here our experts at A-1 Comfort Care share why you should or shouldn’t leave your furnace fans alone.

Why Do It?

Modern residential HVAC services that provide warmed or cooled air to multiple stories benefit greatly from the increased air circulation of a continuously running furnace fan. In these cases, it may even be more practical to program it to stay  on indefinitely or at least until you turn it off. Constant air circulation also helps clean the air by running it continuously through the filter, which is helpful if you have family members with respiratory problems.

Are There Disadvantages?

The biggest drawback to running your fan continuously is a slightly higher energy bill. For large homes with five or more rooms, the difference in energy consumption is barely noticeable. However, for smaller single-story homes with smaller heating systems, this increase can be quite significant.

Will It Cause Your HVAC System to Break Down?

A continuously-running fan won’t necessarily require frequent furnace or air conditioning repair services. Modern systems are designed to handle continuous operation with no adverse effects. If your furnace fan encounters any issues, they may be caused by other factors, which would require a professional visit anyway.

At A-1 Comfort Care, we’re your leading provider of heating, cooling and energy efficiency services. Give us a call at (732) 578-0379 or fill out our contact form to schedule a consultation and request a free estimate today. We serve homeowners in Wall, Freehold, and other nearby areas in NJ.