The Pros and Cons of Running Your Furnace Non-Stop in Winter in Aurora, CO

In areas with frigid winters, such as Aurora, it’s not uncommon for furnaces to run all season long. That keeps your home toasty, but is it a smart idea to let your furnace fan run nonstop?

Below, learn about the perks and drawbacks of running a furnace fan continuously in winter, then call us for HVAC services in Aurora, CO.

What Does Your Furnace Fan Do?

Your furnace, like most others, is probably the forced-air variety. This means that the unit requires force to push warm air throughout your home’s vents. The fan inside your system is what provides that force.

Your thermostat allows you to set the furnace fan to either “on” or “auto.” If it’s set to “on,” the fan will run constantly. If you choose “auto,” the fan will only turn on when the furnace is heating your home.

Note that in some cases, the fan might continue running constantly regardless of the setting you choose. This can indicate that something is wrong with the furnace or the thermostat, so call us for service.

Pros and Cons of Running a Furnace Fan Continuously in Winter for Aurora, CO, Homeowners

Should you consider running a furnace fan continuously in winter? Running the furnace with the fan on has many benefits but some drawbacks, too. Here are the pros and cons of constant residential furnace fan use.

Furnace Fan Benefits

What benefits do you get from running the furnace fan continuously? Perks include:

• In areas with bitterly cold winters, like Aurora, you need your furnace to evenly heat your home. Running the fan constantly can help with that, especially if your home is on the larger side. You’ll enjoy consistent heating rather than hot and cold spots throughout the house.
• Leaving the fan on can help with the humidity issues that plague Aurora homes in the winter, too. If you have a humidifier, the fan can push the humid air through your home. In some cases, though, running the fan can make your home’s air feel drier.
• Does anyone in your house have allergies or asthma? If so, running a furnace fan continuously in winter is a good idea. Doing so improves the airflow of your system, which means you’ll have fewer dust bunnies and other debris floating through your home’s air.
• If your furnace is a newer model, running the fan nonstop could help you save on energy bills. That’s because, in modern models, fans use less power to run constantly than they do to constantly start and stop.

Furnace Fan Drawbacks

While running your furnace’s fan constantly sounds appealing, it does have some drawbacks to consider. They include:

• Constant winter furnace fan operation can put a strain on the motor, causing it to wear out prematurely. This is less likely to happen if your furnace is fairly new, but if it’s on the older side, letting the fan run all the time isn’t the best choice.
• Is your furnace ancient? Running the fan all winter can cost you a lot of money in terms of increased energy bills.
• Furnace fans can be noisy, and if yours is constantly rattling, the racket can drive your family up the wall. Noise is less of a problem if your furnace is new, as modern furnace fans are designed to operate quietly.

Continuous Furnace Fan Operation: Should You Do It?

Most HVAC experts agree that if you have a modern furnace, there’s no reason not to run the fan continuously. You’ll enjoy cleaner air, more even heating, and potential energy savings.

However, running the furnace fan continuously isn’t a good move if:

• Your heating system is old. Older systems aren’t very efficient, so running the furnace fan nonstop can result in costly energy bills.
• You’re not home for most of the day. In this case, running the fan nonstop isn’t worth the increased energy bills.
• Your air ducts are dirty or cracked. If you run the fan all day with damaged or dirty ducts, you’re essentially throwing money away.