Ok, this is one I had to be talked into.  It’s a great tip for springtime because there are days when you don’t need your A/C unit on, but some air movement would help keep the air from getting stagnant and circulating the air will help cool your home.

After implementing it, I can tell you that it just works.  Set the fan on your central air conditioner to “on” rather than “auto.”   My unit even comes with a setting called “circulate” which turns the fan on and off periodically.  Why should you run your fan more often on your AC unit?  Doesn’t this use more energy than it saves?

Here’s how it works:  by circulating air continuously, the temperature in your home stays more even throughout the house and even aids in in dehumidification.  See, the fan on your A/C unit can operate even when the unit is not cooling the air.  Most of the energy usage in an air conditioning system is used in the cooling process, not in running the fan.  The fan merely distributes the air through the ductwork.  

By using this tip, I’ve been able to reduce or eliminate turning on my A/C unit for significant periods of time in the Spring, Summer, and early Fall.  It took me a while to be convinced, but this tip is now one of the primary tools I use to lower my energy bills.

Photo credit:  Ayla87