As the weather begins to cool off, you might be thinking about how you’ll make the most of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses routinely contribute a significant portion of your monthly electric bill. To figure out new ways to reduce costs, some owners take a closer look at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they could use to improve efficiency?
Most thermostats have a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is going during a typical cycle, what can the fan setting offer for your HVAC system? This guide should help. We’ll review just what the fan setting is and whether you can use it to reduce costs in the summer or winter.
What Is the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?
For most thermostats, the fan setting signifies that the HVAC blower fan keeps running. A few furnaces can generate heat at a low level in this setting, but in most cases heating or cooling isn’t being produced. The ‘Auto’ setting, on the other hand, will run the fan over a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off when the cycle is complete.
There are benefits and drawbacks to trying the fan setting on your thermostat, and the ideal option {will|can|should]] depend on your distinct comfort requirements.
Advantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:
- You can keep the temperature throughout your home more consistent by allowing the fan to keep generating airflow.
- Indoor air quality should improve since constant airflow will keep forcing airborne contaminants through the air filter.
- A smaller amount of start-stop cycles for the HVAC fan helps expand its life span. As the air handler is usually connected to the furnace, this means you could minimize the risk of needing furnace repair.
Disadvantages to using the Fan/On setting:
- A nonstop fan will likely add to your energy expenses somewhat.
- Continuous airflow could clog your air filter up more quickly, increasing the frequency you’ll need to replace it.
Should My Thermostat Be on Fan or Auto in Summer/Winter
Through the summer, warm air may stick around in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you leave the fan on, your HVAC system may pull this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to work more to maintain the preferred temperature. In extreme heat, this may lead to needing AC repair more often as wear and tear gets worse.
The reverse can happen over the winter. Cooler spaces such as a basement will hold onto cooler air, which can eventually drift into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan setting on may pump more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to stay warm.
If you’re still trying to decide if you should try the fan/on setting, don’t forget that every home and family’s comfort needs are not the same. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on might be ideal for you if:
Someone in your household has allergies. Allergies and other respiratory conditions can be stressful on the family. Leaving the fan on should help to enhance indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.
Your home has hot and cold spots. Many homes wrestle with stubborn hot and cold spots that quickly return to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting can help minimize these changes by consistently refreshing each room’s ventilation.