Should the Fan Be on When the Heat Is On?

You might have noticed that your thermostat and ceiling fans have two to three settings. You also probably run a fan during summer but cut excess air circulation in winter. Should the fan be on when the heat is on?

A1 Mechanical Heating & Cooling provides HVAC service in Dayton, OH. We’ll explain how your thermostat settings differ and whether you should use your ceiling fans when operating your furnace. Check out how these implements might improve your comfort quality below.

A Brief Intro to Fan Settings

First, let’s discuss your furnace fan settings. You can find them on your thermostat:

• Auto: This is the default setting for many people. It enables the fan to turn on and off according to heating cycles. 
• Off: If you want to completely shut your HVAC system down for a while, you’ll turn your thermostat to this setting. 
• On: This setting allows the fan to keep running even after the heating system stops cycling. 

Meanwhile, ceiling fans have two separate settings. They can turn clockwise or counterclockwise. You just turn it off from the switch to power it down. But should the fan be on when the heat is on? Should you operate both the furnace fan and ceiling fan?

Should the Fan Be on When the Heat Is On?

Keeping either fan on comes with perks and downsides. Some people think the good outweighs the bad. Read the pros and cons below to find out for yourself. 

Positives and Negatives of Keeping the Furnace Fan On

How might keeping your furnace fan moving benefit your home or business?

• Better indoor air quality: Since the air constantly cycles through the filter, it’ll remove more contaminants. You and other building occupants can breathe easier! 
• More even building heating: Cycling the fan, regardless of the heat settings, distributes warmth more evenly throughout the building. 
• Less repetitive wear on motor components: The furnace constantly starts and stops when you set the thermostat to the automatic setting. Your blower components will become more worn in less time. 

Like most things, keeping the furnace fan on does have a few drawbacks. It uses electricity to turn, which can increase your heating bills and decrease energy efficiency. You may also need an extra air filter replacement or two since the filter works double time. 

Pros and Cons of Using Your Ceiling Fan

Set your ceiling fan to turn clockwise during winter. Warm air weighs less than cool air and, therefore, rises toward the top of the room. That means the hot air your furnace produces rarely stays on your level. 

So the ceiling fan can either push the air back down or keep it raised toward the ceiling. The clockwise rotation pushes the warm air toward you. Not only does this keep the heat where you need it, but it also:

• Prevents air stagnation
• Helps you feel warmer
• Uses little energy

So, should the fan be on when the heat is on? We think it could prove useful. However, it still uses a little additional energy. The blades may also collect dust, which increases your cleaning efforts. 

When Should You Set Your Furnace Fan to the On Setting?

Some days are more appropriate than others for a running furnace fan. If you prefer a quiet home in between heating cycles, you might keep your thermostat set to auto. But you should still consider switching to on under the following circumstances. 

Housekeeping

Dusting, sweeping, and vacuuming kick up lots of dust and debris. You might run the furnace fan to encourage lightweight particles to travel toward the air filter. This limits the excess dust that will eventually settle elsewhere within the building. 

Turn off the ceiling fans in the rooms you are currently cleaning. They may disturb the dust and debris you want to keep in a pile. You can turn them back on when you finish. 

Heat Movement

Your building might have unbalanced heat dispersion because:

• Sunlight warms one area but not others: If parts of your building face east or west, they will heat up more from sun exposure. Ceiling and furnace fans distribute this heat evenly. 
• Some rooms don’t have ventilation: You may have added a new room years after construction. The ceiling fan can push any heat down for more comfort. 
• Warm air doesn’t reach far-out areas: Rooms further away from the heating equipment may not receive the same warmth as closer ones. Creating continuous airflow via the furnace fan may solve this issue. 

Both fans can help protect your comfort by keeping warmth where you need it the most when used strategically. 

Dispersing Humidity

One problem that plagues countless buildings during winter is the uncomfortably arid air. Hot air from furnaces and other heating equipment can evaporate moisture, leaving your home or business dry. Low humidity causes respiratory symptoms like dry nasal cavities, throat irritation, and dried congestion. 

A ceiling fan won’t do much to combat this pervasive dryness, but your furnace fan absolutely can. If you use humidifiers or other methods for elevating moisture levels, you can turn your thermostat to the auto setting. The fan will draw in the moistened air and disperse it to other areas of your home or business. 

The Best of Both Worlds for Your Home or Business

How can you harness the benefits of ceiling and furnace fans, even when you aren’t around? Our technicians suggest starting with a smart thermostat. This device gives you full control over your temperature and fan settings from any location. 

You can customize your heating and fan schedules to suit:

• When you are present or away
• What the weather forecast brings
• Where the sun lands on your building 

Enhance those capabilities with smart ceiling fans that offer similar control perks.

Improve Your Indoor Air Quality With A1 Mechanical Heating & Cooling

Should the fan be on when the heat is on? Now, you have the answer! You should also consider new furnace installation benefits if you’re still struggling. 

Contact A1 Mechanical Heating & Cooling for commercial and residential installation services near you. Call 502-708-2247 to start.