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If you are in a situation where you would benefit from improved air circulation, you may have come across the strategy of running your furnace continuously. It is normal to wonder if doing something like this will work. There is also the question of whether it is actually a good idea.

You can, in fact, run your furnace fan continuously, but there are some positives and negatives associated with doing so.

Let’s go over the pros and cons of running your furnace fan non-stop to improve the air circulation in your home.

Pros of Running Your Furnace Fan Continuously

Saving on Energy Bills With Newer Systems

You might think that running your furnace fan at all times would have an adverse effect on your energy bill. This is a common belief, but it is not necessarily the case if you have a newer energy-efficient system. Keeping your furnace fan on can save you money using this type of system in your home. One reason for this is that having air constantly circulating through your house via the furnace fan helps eliminate imbalanced heating throughout the home, so you are less likely to need to adjust the temperature on your thermostat. Anytime you are raising the temperature on your thermostat, it represents an increase in your energy bill. It is estimated that you can save up to 11% on your energy bill by running your Energy Star-rated furnace fan at all times.

Improved Indoor Air Quality

Along with circulating the air, running your furnace fan can improve your home’s indoor air quality. When you constantly run your furnace fan, the air in your home is always being filtered. If you have a newer unit that is also equipped with a high-efficiency unit and a UV light, this offers even greater around-the-clock improvement to your indoor IAQ. The result of this is cleaner air in your home and less dust collecting on furniture.

Increase the Lifespan of Your Equipment

Newer models of furnaces have spans that are designed to run 24/7. This is important to note because one might think that running the furnace fan nonstop would be hard on your system. In actuality, you are likely extending its lifespan. This is because constantly having your system cycle on and off can be difficult on its components. Having your system start several times a day will cause more wear and tear than just having it on indefinitely.

Cons of Running Your Furnace Fan Continuously

Potentially Higher Energy Bill With Older Systems

If you have an older system that is not Energy Star-rated, you could find yourself with higher energy bills from constantly running your furnace fan. If you use a newer system with a high-efficiency motor, you will avoid seeing an increase in your bill.

Changing the Filters More Often

Another potential downside to always having the furnace fan on is the likelihood of having to change your air filters more often. If you continuously run your furnace fan, your air filters are catching dust, pollen, pet dander and other small particles nonstop, which will likely lead to them needing to be changed more often than if you just had the fan running during a heating or cooling cycle.

Times When You Should Not Run Your Furnace Fan

Now that it is established that you can run your furnace fan non-stop, it should be pointed out that there are times when you should shut it off. One example would be during periods when you have extremely hot summer temperatures and there is ductwork in your attic. Even well-insulated systems are not likely to be able to stave off extreme temperatures, and running your furnace fan during times like these could wind up circulating that hot attic air through the rest of your home. You will also want to turn off your furnace fan if you notice that there are any leaks in your ductwork.

Speak To a Professional About Running Your Fan Furnace Continuously

If you are in Springfield, OR, or the surrounding area and are looking for advice on constantly running your furnace fan to improve air circulation, speak to our team at Jco Heating A/C Electrical. We are a family-owned heating, cooling and electrical company that has been providing services to the community of Springfield for over two decades. We also specialize in indoor air quality and can help you find the right strategy for making sure that high-quality indoor air is circulating properly throughout your home. You can also come to us for any installation, maintenance or repair needs that you might have. If you are ready to increase the comfort level in your home, give Jco Heating A/C Electrical a call today.