When the weather begins to cool off, you might be thinking about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC bills frequently make up a large piece of your monthly electric bill. To try and find ways to lower their HVAC bill, some people look closer at their thermostat. Could there be a setting they can use to improve efficiency?
Most thermostats include both a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is going during a normal cycle, what does the fan setting offer for your HVAC system? This guide will help. We’ll walk through precisely what the fan setting is and how you can use it to cut costs in the summer or winter.
What Is the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?
For the majority of thermostats, the fan setting signifies that the HVAC blower fan remains on. Certain furnaces will operate at a low level with this setting, but in general heating or cooling isn’t being produced. The ‘Auto’ setting, in contrast, will run the fan through a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off after the cycle is over.
There are advantages and disadvantages to switching on the fan setting on your thermostat, and what's ideal {will|can|should]] depend on your personal comfort preferences.
Advantages to trying the Fan/On setting:
- You can keep the temperature throughout your home more balanced by permitting the fan to keep generating airflow.
- Indoor air quality can increase because steady airflow will keep moving airborne contaminants into the air filter.
- Fewer start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps expand its life span. Since the air handler is usually connected to the furnace, this means you could prevent the need for furnace repair.
Drawbacks to switching to the Fan/On setting:
- A constant fan could increase your energy expenses by a small margin.
- Nonstop airflow can clog your air filter up more quickly, increasing the frequency you will want 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 keep the fan running, your HVAC system may draw this warm air into the rest of your home, forcing the HVAC system to work harder to preserve the preferred temperature. In extreme heat, this can lead to needing AC repair more often as wear and tear grows.
The reverse can occur over the winter. Cooler spaces such as a basement will hold onto cooler air, which may eventually make its way into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan running may pull more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to keep warm.
If you’re still trying to figure out if you should try the fan/on setting, don’t forget that every home and family’s comfort needs will vary. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on may work for you if:
Someone in your household has allergies. Allergies and similar respiratory conditions can be stressful on the family. Leaving the fan on can help to improve indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.
Your home deals with hot and cold spots. All kinds 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 should help minimize these changes by steadily refreshing each room’s airflow.
