Can Running the HVAC Fan Continuously Save on Energy Costs for Homeowners in Wayland, MA?

Homeowners in Wayland, MA, depend on their HVAC units a great deal throughout the seasons. Therefore, most people want to make sure they are getting the best value from their units without compromising comfort.

As the top provider of HVAC services in Wayland, MA, we are the number one name on the list of anyone with HVAC questions in the area. One of the most common ones is about the HVAC fan. Can running the HVAC fan continuously save on energy costs? Are you better off leaving it on auto?

We’ll cover the answer in detail here.

What Does the HVAC Fan Do in the First Place?

Every cooling or heating system has a fan that helps push the conditioned air across the ductwork and into your living spaces.

On most thermostats, there’s the function to either set the fan to “ON” or “Auto.” Many people instinctively feel that leaving the setting at “ON” is the best way to ensure temperature consistency. In most cases, this is true. The fan will work nonstop for as long as the HVAC system is on. So it will spread as much of the conditioned air as possible across your home.

Setting the fan to “Auto” means it will only kick in during a cooling or heating cycle and shut off when your home is cool or warm enough—according to your thermostat and system optimization settings.  

But how does all this affect your power usage? Can running the HVAC fan continuously save on energy costs? In a word, no. For most people in Wayland, MA, leaving the fan to run nonstop will lead to higher bills instead.

Why Running the HVAC Fan Continuously Doesn’t Save on Energy Costs

The fan motor in the average HVAC system uses around 500 watts when running. Therefore, if you set your HVAC fan to run nonstop over a 30-day period, the energy consumption will amount to 360,000 watt hours (720 hours in the month x 500) or 360 kilowatt hours (kWh).

Now, the average kWh here in Massachusetts is 0.33 cents. So your heating or cooling bill will rise to around $120 per month by simply running the fan continuously. Over the course of a year, you could be looking at spending over $1,400 on heating and cooling.

How Does Setting the Fan to “Auto” Compare?

In simple terms, the fan running for a combined total of only ten hours per day can cut down on your monthly energy bill by up to 60%. So, with the calculation above, this could mean savings up to $860 per year.

Other Pros and Cons of Setting the HVAC Fan to “Auto” or “ON”

Can running the HVAC fan continuously save on energy costs? The answer should be clear to you by now. However, you may want to consider other pros and cons of leaning one way or the other (outside of cost savings) before you decide on what to do.

The Advantages of Setting Your HVAC Fan to “ON”

• The fan not starting and stopping frequently can reduce startup stress, which can help improve your unit’s lifespan.
• Running the fan round-the-clock can keep the air cleaner as the bulk of the indoor air will pass through the filters.

The Disadvantages of Setting Your HVAC Fan to “ON”

• The fan may blow warm air into your home in the summer and colder air in the winter because of its position in the attic. This will put more strain on your HVAC system.
• The air filters will need to be replaced more frequently.

The Advantages of Setting Your HVAC Fan to “Auto”

• The air filters will last longer.
• It’s better for dehumidification.

The Disadvantages of Setting Your HVAC Fan to “Auto”

• The distribution of conditioned air might be less even.
• The fan parts may wear out faster due to the frequent stop-starts.