As the weather starts to cool off, you are probably thinking about how you’ll make the most of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses can make up a large portion of your monthly electric bill. To try and find ways to save, some homeowners take a closer look at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they should use to boost efficiency?
Most thermostats include both a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is on during a normal cycle, what can the fan setting provide for your HVAC system? This guide will help. We’ll share just what the fan setting is and how you can use it to cut costs during the summer or winter.
What Is the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?
For most thermostats, the fan setting means that the system's blower fan stays on. A few furnaces will operate at a low level in this setting, but for the most part heating or cooling isn’t being produced. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will run the fan during a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off when the cycle is over.
There are advantages and disadvantages to trying the fan setting on your thermostat, and the ideal option {will|can|should]] depend on your unique comfort preferences.
Advantages to switching to the Fan/On setting:
- You can keep the temperature in each room more uniform by permitting the fan to keep generating airflow.
- Indoor air quality should improve as continuous airflow will keep passing airborne contaminants through the air filter.
- Fewer start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps expand its life span. Since the air handler is typically part of the furnace, this means you could avoid needing furnace repair.
Disadvantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:
- A continuous fan can increase your energy costs by a small margin.
- Nonstop 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 can stick around in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you keep the fan running, your HVAC system might draw this warm air into the rest of your home, compelling the HVAC system to work more to keep up with the set temperature. In severe heat, this could result in needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear grows.
The opposite can occur over the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which may eventually drift into the rest of your home. Keeping the fan on will sometimes pull more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to remain warm.
If you’re still trying to decide if you should use the fan/on setting, don’t forget that every home and family’s comfort needs will vary. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on could be best for you if:
Someone in your household deals with allergies. Allergies and similar respiratory conditions can be stressful on the family. Leaving the fan on should help to increase indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.
Your home deals with hot and cold spots. All kinds of homes deal with persistent hot and cold spots that quickly shift to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting can help minimize these changes by steadily refreshing each room’s supply of air.