Gas and Oil Home Heating Furnaces - Continuous Fan Operation?

Last year I installed a single-stage, ComfortMaker +90 gas furnace in my home. We run the A/C right up until the start of the heating season. We always keep the windows closed to keep the allergens out; this is because my wife suffers from seasonal allergies and asthma.

I have a couple of question in regards to the "Continuous Fan" option available on the board. The manual states: "A terminal is provided on the electronic fan control for operation of the continuous fan option" It goes on to say: "This connection is intended for the low speed motor tap and has a lower contact rating (8 amps) than the heat and cool taps"

This seems like a great option for us because it would help keep the indoor air quality better since the air would be constantly circulated and filtered.

So my first question is this: Would running the fan continuously on low create any problems with the furnace and/or its electronics?

Secondly, I'm concerned about cost....Will running the fan continuously on low add a large expense to my electric bill

Lastly, please let me know about any other issues or problems I might need to know about running the fan continuously on low.
Thanks,
Phil

Go ahead and run it! Your wife will thank you for it.

Cost of running is pretty low, if you want comfort, you'll have to pay for it.. Try running it for a while.. and if you think it's too much you can always turn it off.

I run my fine all the time.. I have a variable speed system and cost almost nothing to run.. Onlly time I don't run it is in the summer with a/c.. I leave it on "Auto"

Also with the fan it helps move the air around the house and will help balance out the temp, and filter the air as you said.

What kind of filter do you have?

I have a variable speed system and cost almost nothing to run..

What kind of filter do you have?
Jay,
When you say you have a “variable speed system” I'm assuming you're talking about a DC blower motor...Right?

Mine is a standard AC motor with four leads. The red lead is for “Low speed” (I'm using this lead for continuous fan), the black lead is for A/C “high speed” and the orange lead is for heating “med-high speed.” The fourth blue lead “medium speed” isn't being used.

As for the filter, it's a Trion HE-Plus 1400 electronic air cleaner. This air cleaner is fantastic; in fact, we don't know how we ever lived without it!

Anyway, I'll give it a try running the fan continuously and see how things go.
Thanks,
Phil

Yes, I have the DC motor.. They take far less power to run the blower than your standard blower motor.

Speed sounds right for the fan set up you've mention.. You could drop the heating speed if you need to slow it down. But watch the temp rise.

Also dropping the a/c blower speed will help dry out the air better on very humid days. .. Again.. watch for temp drop.


If you stay on top keeping the EAC cells / pre filter cleaned every month, they will work at it's peek.. If you don't. will produce OZONE. and not good for your wife..

If you stay on top keeping the EAC cells / pre filter cleaned every month, they will work at it's peek.. If you don't. will produce OZONE. and not good for your wife..

Jay,
I usually clean the pre-filters and the cells every other month.....That's probably overkill for the cells but I'd rather clean them more often than not enough.

I've noticed some EAC's have a carbon filter after the cells.....Mine doesn't and I'm not too keen on the idea. I like the fact that EAC's are not restrictive to air flow and the carbon filters are. What do you think?
Thanks,
Phil

I would suggest cleaning the cells every month now that you will run the fan 24/7.

Do you know if you have a fresh air tied into your return?

I would suggest cleaning the cells every month now that you will run the fan 24/7.

Do you know if you have a fresh air tied into your return?
Jay,
Yeah, that's good advice....I will definitely clean the Cells every month now. It's not that big of a job anyway!

No, I don't have fresh air in the return. I wanted to go that route but was talked out of it. They claim since my house was built in the early 70's, I have enough natural infiltration because homes weren't built very tight back then.
Phil

I don't go for fresh air tied into return..

Why?

-Will pull in more stuff from the outdoors that is not needed, Pollen, heat/humdity, cold air..)

I only suggest to just drop the fresh air in next to the water heater, and "U" it back up to trap the air..