Humidity in your home isn't fun, and in fact, too much humidity in your home can cause issues in the long run. So to fix this problem, can your furnace fan help reduce the humidity in your house? We have done the research and answered that question below!
During the colder season, you can run the furnace fan to help reduce humidity. The furnace fan helps by pushing the air through the air conditioner's evaporator. However, if you are experiencing a lot of humidity during a hotter season, then you can reduce the humidity by doing the following:
- Use Exhaust Fans or Install More
- Run the Air Conditioner
- Turn on Ceiling Fans (if available)
- Get a Dehumidifier
- Get House Plants
- Take Cooler Showers
As you can see, there are simple ways to help decrease the humidity in your home. However, it is essential to understand how this helps do so. In this article, we will take a closer look at the possible ways to lower the humidity in your home. In addition, how and when you should use your furnace fan, so read on!
Does Furnace Fan Reduce Humidity
A furnace fan runs as needed during the winter months to provide heat to your home. The outside air is pulled inside, where the forced-air heating system heats it. Old furnaces will also include steam boilers or hot water coils to help remove humidity.
The furnace fan can help reduce humidity in your home by pulling in cooler air with more moisture content than warmer air; this dries out the interior of your house.
When you turn on your furnace fan, it blows cool air into both your living room and your bedroom. This encourages the indoor humidity levels to drop because cool air doesn't hold as much moisture as warm air.
When you turn on your furnace fan, it pulls some of the water vapor out of the indoor air and lowers humidity levels throughout your entire home.
A furnace fan is a terrific way to pull some of the moisture out of the indoor air to improve its overall quality when you run it during colder seasons. However, during warmer months, there are better ways to lower the humidity in your home:
Use Exhaust Fans or Install More
One of the best ways to lower humidity levels in your home is by using exhaust fans. This will help remove hot air from your home, which has a higher capacity for moisture, bringing it outside and reducing indoor humidity. For example, having an exhaust fan in your kitchen and your shower will help significantly.
Run the Air Conditioner
Running the air conditioner during the summer months will work to cool off your home. Since water vapor is hot and collects in warm spaces, running the air conditioner helps to remove some of this humidity from your indoor space.
Turn on Ceiling Fans (if available)
Ceiling fans are a great way to move the air around your home and create a wind-chill effect. This will help you feel cooler, making you more comfortable and reducing the need to run your air conditioner as much.
Get a Dehumidifier
A dehumidifier is a great way to reduce humidity levels in your home, especially if it is a smaller space. Dehumidifiers work by pulling in the moist air and then extracting the water vapor from the air. Once the water is extracted, it goes into a container that you need to empty periodically.
Get House Plants
House plants are a great way to improve the air quality in your home and lower humidity levels. Plants help by absorbing moisture from the surrounding air and releasing it back into the atmosphere through their leaves.
Take Cooler Showers
During warmer months, taking more excellent showers will help you feel refreshed and comfortable. Also, the humidity levels in your home will be lowered after showering because hot water holds much more moisture than cool water does.
As you can see, there are several ways to reduce humidity levels in your home during both warm and cold seasons. We suggest using a combination of some or all of these methods to lower humidity in your home. Try one or two at a time and see how it works for you.
Is it OK to Run the Furnace Fan Constantly?
It's okay to run your furnace fan constantly but not the best idea. The reason being is that it is less efficient. A furnace fan is meant to help the furnace run more efficiently by pulling in cooler air.
If the fan runs constantly, it's not pulling in cooler air but rather recirculating the same air, which can cause your furnace to work harder and use more energy.
As a result, don't be surprised if your electric bill is through the roof. You may even notice that your furnace fan is constantly running, which should be a red flag.
Instead, please turn on the furnace fan when it's really cold outside and turn it off once the inside of your home has warmed up to an acceptable level which you are comfortable with. On the other hand, you can set your thermostat to "auto." This will allow the furnace fan to turn on and off as needed.
Should the Furnace fan be on 'Auto'?
Yes, the furnace fan should be on "auto" if possible. This will help you save money and reduce energy usage because your furnace will work harder to heat your home. Another benefit of having your furnace fan set on "auto" is that when it stops, it gives condensation a chance to drip off the cooling coils and go outside.
Does the Furnace Fan Bring Fresh Air?
The furnace fan does bring fresh air into your home. This is a good thing because it helps to circulate the air and improve the air quality in your home. It's also an excellent way to lower humidity levels, as we mentioned earlier.
The air is brought into the furnace from outside into the air intakes and then pushed out by the furnace fan.
Should I Run the Furnace Fan in the Summer? In Winter?
Running your furnace fan in the summer can benefit you if you have humidity issues, as mentioned earlier in this article. However, if you have an HVAC unit connected with both the AC and furnace, they will use the same furnace fan or blow to distribute the air.
Therefore, running the AC fan only in the summer would be best if you're trying to save money and conserve energy. The same is valid for running the furnace fan in the winter – only run it if you need to.
Does the Air Conditioner use the Furnace Fan?
The AC unit can use the furnace fan or have its internal fan. This will depend on what type of set you have. For example, if you have separate units for your AC and furnace, the AC will have its fan to distribute the heat.
However, if you have a complete HVAC system, both the air condition and furnace will use the same fan.
Should You Replace the Furnace with the AC?
If you need a new AC unit, it may be beneficial to replace the furnace at the same time. Replacing them at the same time may be a better investment, both in terms of money and efficiency. You'll also have one less thing to worry about down the road.
By replacing both, the increased efficiency can help lower your electric bills. In addition, you can save money by buying them both together by as much as $3,000!
Lastly, your air quality will be improved with a new system in place. As furnaces start to age, they become less efficient and can cause problems with asthma and allergies. Replacing them both at the same time can help improve your air quality and keep your family healthy.
Air conditioning units and furnaces don't have the same average lifespan. An air conditioner, on average, will last 10-15 years. However, a furnace can last 15-20 years or longer. With that being said, if your AC needs replacing, then it is likely that your furnace isn't far behind anyways!
Final Thoughts
If you are struggling with too much humidity in your home, don't worry because you have options to fix this problem. If you don't want to spend money first, start with using ceiling fans, running your furnace fan, or taking cooler showers.
Next, try the less expensive options such as buying more house plants or getting a dehumidifier. If that doesn't solve the issue, then you may need to look into installing more exhaust fans.
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The Best Indoor Humidity Level For Winter
