As the weather is cooling off, you may be thinking about how you’ll make the most of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses can add up to a significant portion of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to reduce costs, some homeowners take a closer look at their thermostat. Is there a setting they should use to increase efficiency?
The majority of thermostats include both a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is running during a typical cycle, what will the fan setting offer for an HVAC system? This guide will help. We’ll review precisely what the fan setting is and when you can use it to save money during the summer or winter.
What Is the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?
For the majority of thermostats, the fan setting means that the air handler’s blower fan remains on. Certain furnaces can run at a low level with this setting, but in general heating or cooling isn’t being made. The ‘Auto’ setting, in contrast, will turn on the fan over a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off when the cycle is finished.
There are benefits and drawbacks to switching on the fan setting on your thermostat, and what's ideal {will|can|should]] depend on your personal comfort needs.
Advantages to trying the Fan/On setting:
- You can keep the temperature in each room more consistent by allowing the fan to keep circulating air.
- Indoor air quality should improve since continuous airflow will keep moving airborne pollutants through the air filter.
- Fewer start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps lengthen its life span. Since the air handler is typically a component of the furnace, this means you might avoid needing furnace repair.
Downsides to utilizing the Fan/On setting:
- A nonstop fan could increase your energy bills slightly.
- Continuous airflow may clog your air filter up more quickly, increasing the frequency you should replace it.
Should My Thermostat Be on Fan or Auto in Summer/Winter
Through the summer, warm air can linger in unfinished spaces such as the attic or an attached garage. If you keep the fan running, your HVAC system can draw this warm air into the rest of your home, compelling the HVAC system to work more to maintain the preferred temperature. In extreme heat, this could result in needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear increases.
The opposite can take place in the winter. Cooler spaces such as a basement will hold onto cooler air, which can eventually flow into the rest of your home. Keeping the fan on will sometimes pump more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to stay warm.
If you’re still trying to determine if you should use the fan/on setting, remember that every home and family’s comfort needs are not the same. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on might be best for you if:
Someone in your household deals with allergies. Allergies and similar respiratory conditions can be tough on the family. Leaving the fan on is more likely to improve indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.
Your home experiences hot and cold spots. Lots of homes deal with persistent hot and cold spots that quickly return to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting should help minimize these changes by consistently refreshing each room’s airflow.