As the weather begins to cool off, you may be wondering about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses frequently make up a large portion of your monthly electric bill. To try and find ways to reduce costs, some people look closer at their thermostat. Could there be a setting they can use to improve efficiency?
The bulk of thermostats come with a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is running during a typical cycle, what can the fan setting offer for your HVAC system? This guide will help. We’ll walk through precisely what the fan setting is and whether 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 means that the air handler’s blower fan remains on. Some furnaces will operate at a low level in this setting, but in general heating or cooling isn’t being generated. The ‘Auto’ setting, on the other hand, will turn on the fan over a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off after the cycle is complete.
There are benefits and drawbacks to using the fan setting on your thermostat, and the ideal option {will|can|should]] depend on your personal comfort preferences.
Advantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:
- You can keep the temperature in every room more uniform by enabling the fan to keep running.
- Indoor air quality can increase since steady airflow will keep moving airborne particles into 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 minimize the risk of needing furnace repair.
Disadvantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:
- A continuous fan will likely raise your energy bills somewhat.
- Continuous airflow can clog your air filter soon, increasing the frequency you will want to replace it.
Should My Thermostat Be on Fan or Auto in Summer/Winter
During the summer, warm air can stick around in unfinished spaces such as the attic or an attached garage. If you leave the fan on, your HVAC system can pull this warm air into the rest of your home, compelling the HVAC system to work harder to preserve the set temperature. In severe heat, this can lead to needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear increases.
The opposite can occur during the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which will eventually drift into the rest of your home. Keeping the fan on will sometimes draw more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to remain warm.
If you’re still trying to determine if you should switch to 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 suffers from allergies. Allergies and similar respiratory conditions can be hard on the family. Leaving the fan on can help to improve indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.
Your home experiences hot and cold spots. Lots of 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 minimize these changes by steadily refreshing each room’s supply of air.