When the weather is cooling off, you are probably thinking about how you’ll make the most of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC bills can contribute a large piece of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to reduce costs, some people look closely at their thermostat. Is there a setting they can use to improve efficiency?
The majority of thermostats come with a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is on during a normal cycle, what can the fan setting provide for an HVAC system? This guide should help. We’ll walk through just what the fan setting is and when you can use it to cut 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 stays on. A few furnaces will operate at a low level in this setting, but in general heating or cooling isn’t being produced. The ‘Auto’ setting, on the other hand, will start the fan during a heating or cooling cycle and shut it off once the cycle is over.
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 needs.
Advantages to using the Fan/On setting:
- You can keep the temperature in each room more uniform by permitting the fan to keep running.
- Indoor air quality should improve since constant airflow will keep passing airborne pollutants through the air filter.
- Fewer start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps expand its life span. As the air handler is typically part of the furnace, this means you might avoid needing furnace repair.
Drawbacks to utilizing the Fan/On setting:
- A continuous fan will likely increase your energy costs slightly.
- Constant airflow can clog your air filter in a shorter amount of time, increasing the frequency you should replace it.
Should My Thermostat Be on Fan or Auto in Summer/Winter
Through the summer, warm air will sometimes linger in unfinished spaces such as the attic or an attached garage. If you leave the fan on, your HVAC system might pull this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to work harder to preserve the set temperature. In severe heat, this may lead to needing AC repair more often as wear and tear gets worse.
The reverse can take place over the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which will eventually drift into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan running could pull 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, keep in mind that every home and family’s comfort needs are different. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on might be best for you if:
Someone in your household suffers from allergies. Allergies and other respiratory conditions can be hard on the family. Leaving the fan on should help to improve indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.
Your home experiences hot and cold spots. Many homes wrestle with difficult hot and cold spots that quickly evolve to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting can help lessen these changes by consistently refreshing each room’s supply of air.
