During the high temperatures, running your air conditioning can be your largest monthly electricity charge. So, it’s normal that you’re checking for methods to use less energy. That can entail using an energy-efficient AC setting or even upgrading to an ENERGY STAR®-rated unit during air conditioner installation. Regulating your air conditioning’s fan setting is another way you can spend less money. Your air conditioner works with a fan to dispatch the chilled air it produces. You adjust this fan at your thermostat by setting it to “auto,” which indicates the fan will only work when the air conditioner is working. Or you can set it to “on,” which means it will be on continuously. Does putting your AC on “fan” save energy in Portland? Not necessarily. Usually, running your air conditioner’s fan all the time is going to make your energy bill slightly higher. But it also provides a few pluses (and downsides) in relation to your home’s comfort. Here’s why.
Air Conditioner Fan Set to “On”
Having your air conditioner’s fan go all the time can better balance your family’s comfort. This is great if you have a two-story house, since rooms upstairs can be hotter. It’s also ideal if you have difficulties with inconsistent cooling due to hot and cold spaces. It’s also beneficial if one of your family members has allergies, asthma or other respiratory illnesses. That’s since the air is consistently being dispersed and purified. On the flip side, you may have to put in new air filters more frequently. Having the fan on constantly can also drive up your energy bills. It could also cause the fan to wear out prematurely and need air conditioning repair. Your house may also seem more moist. Air conditioning helps balance humidity by extracting water from the air. But if the fan is constantly working, it’s more difficult for moisture to drip from the condenser outdoors.
Air Conditioner Fan Set to “Auto”
This is the most energy-efficient setting, because the fan will only operate when your air conditioner does. It’s great i