The auto mode is a community favorite for the most regularly utilized air conditioner modes. If you look into any air conditioner display or remote control, you’ll notice it’s always turned on.
However, unlike the straightforward and standard cool and dry modes, many are confused about what it does. Don’t worry if you think you’re one of them; we’ve all been there!
This post will review the essential functions of an air conditioner’s auto mode, its advantages, and when it’s ideal.
When you set your air conditioner to auto mode, the fan will only turn on when the room requires to be cooled or heated to the specified degree. The fan will operate at various speeds to achieve the desired cooling or heating impact.
What is Auto mode?
A cooling-only air conditioner typically changes the fan speed based on the desired temperature in auto mode. When operating in auto mode, some air conditioners set the temperature to 25°C by default.
If the heat pump has both cooling and heating functions, the fan speed and temperature will be automatically charged, but the heat pump will also switch between cool and heat modes to achieve the ideal temperature. Auto changeover mode is a term used to describe this type of action.
Most air conditioners do not allow you to manually control the fan speed when operating in auto mode because the air conditioner does so for you.
How Does the AC Auto Mode Work?
In Auto Mode, the AC will take a temperature reading every few minutes or as soon as the desired set temperature is adjusted.
As a result, it’s critical to realize that when the unit is in Auto Mode, it may not transition between Cooling, Heating, or Fan Mode at the precise instant that a temperature change occurs.
Supplemental Heat Mode (on some models) – Your window or through-the-wall air conditioner’s heating mode is only for supplemental heating. The unit’s maximum heating capacity is 15°F higher than the ambient room temperature.
For example. Your ideal temperature is 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and the ambient room temperature is 80 degrees Fahrenheit. When set to Auto Mode, the unit will start cooling and turn on the compressor. The device will switch to Fan Mode to maintain the intended temperature when the room temperature hits 75°F. If the temperature in the room rises, the compressor will restart, chilling the space.
If the room temperature falls below 75°F on a unit with supplemental heating, the device will switch to Heat Mode and begin heating until the room temperature reaches 75°F; at any point, the fan will start to run again.
When Should You Use Auto Mode?
The advantage of using auto mode is that it may be used in practically any weather or climate. For example, you’ll have no trouble utilizing it in winter or summer because it’s specifically engineered to perform between chilly and warm room conditions.
Running your air conditioning unit on auto mode during the hot and dry summer season, for example, will automatically switch your AC to cooling to keep your space cool and pleasant.
It’s a handy function that should help you enjoy your air conditioning.
The Benefits of Using Auto Mode
Here are a few of the several advantages you can expect:
- Energy Efficient – the most energy-efficient choice is to leave your fan on AUTO. The fan barely runs when the system is turned on, not all of the time.
- Better Humidity Control – Your home will have improved dehumidification during the summer. Moisture from chilly cooling coils can drop and be discharged outdoors while your fan is set to Auto.
- Provides more comfort – Putting your air conditioner on auto mode can save you money on electricity costs while improving your overall air conditioning experience.
What Is The Difference Between Auto And Cool Modes In AC?
When the air conditioner is set to Auto mode, it adjusts the temperature and fan speed based on the sensor’s temperature.
On the other hand, the Cool mode is the typical mode of air conditioners, and it cools the space by eliminating heat rather than moisture from the air. A snowflake will typically appear in your aircon settings to indicate this mode.
Cool Mode
By default, an air conditioner is set to cool. Therefore, the air conditioner will cool the room to the desired temperature.
Typically, the fan speed must be adjusted manually. However, you can generally switch to an auto fan if you want the fan speed to be adjusted automatically.
The fan speed and the temperature includes air swing, turbo, sleep, timer, and various other settings that can be controlled in cool mode.
Almost every air conditioner’s cool mode is usually the default setting. By transforming the air into a cold wind, this mode allows the unit to bring in a large amount of cooling.
However, as with all air conditioners, this model strongly depends on the aircon compressor to offer a rapid and increased cooling temperature.
AC Modes On Your Remote Control
Fan Mode
The visible energy savings when lacking a compressor is the paramount convenience of setting the fan mode in an air conditioner. However, it does not provide cold air; instead, it circulates or blows air.
Dry Mode
By switching the compressor on and off briefly, dry mode reduces excess humidity from your space. Meanwhile, the fan is running at a low speed all the time. When the internal humidity sensor of the AC detects a low enough humidity level, the compressor run-time is adjusted to shut it off.
Heat Mode
The airflow within the air conditioning unit is reversed in this mode. Hot air is injected into the chamber instead of being blown out into the surroundings. Outside, on the other hand, cold air is evacuated.
Eco/Energy Saving Mode
It is the mode that we all enjoy. You can find it on almost every modern air conditioner remote control. It works by enhancing the efficiency of your compressor and fan to attain the correct temperature with the least amount of electricity.
Sleep Mode
The Sleep mode gradually raises the thermostat temperature by one degree every hour until it reaches two degrees. If you prefer to sleep at low temperatures, this will help you save electricity because every degree of temperature increase saves electricity.
Quick Cool Mode
This is undoubtedly not a power-saving mode. It consumes more energy. The ideal air conditioning temperature is 25 degrees Celsius, but this option begins the AC at 16 or 18 degrees Celsius. If the room temperature is 35 degrees, the time it takes to reach 25 degrees in both Cool and Warm will be the same.
Is Auto the Best Setting For an Air Conditioner?
The Department of Energy and Energy Star, a joint federal initiative managed by the DOE and the Environmental Protection Agency, recommends choosing a comfortable temperature at home and awake for the best cooling and energy efficiency.
The Auto setting is the best to utilize most of the time. This option lets you switch your HVAC system based on your chosen temperature. It implies that your system will not always be on, resulting in substantial energy savings.
In addition, you can set particular times for your system to reach specific temperatures with a programmable thermostat, allowing you to save even more energy.
Is It Cheaper To Keep the AC On Auto?
When the internal thermometer reads higher than your predetermined temperature, the Auto setting on your A/C activates the unit. So even if you set your favorite temperature to a shallow environment, your air conditioner will still operate longer than it should.
Using the Auto setting with a proper set temperature, on the other hand, will save you money on electricity, especially if you switch your unit off when you’re not at home or asleep.
However, you may want to consider the Eco or Energy Saver Mode
When the temperature reaches the level set in the thermostat in the energy saver or power saver mode, even the fan turns off.
- Using a fan in a cool mode helps to circulate the cold air in the room and aids in collecting interior air for temperature measurement by the thermostat.
- The fan is turned off for a few minutes in Power Saver mode, and the compressor does not start until the fan turns on again, indicating that the temperature has increased.
- It lengthens the time between compressor cycles, reducing the number of times it runs and saving electricity.
