As the weather is cooling off, you may be wondering about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC bills frequently contribute a large portion of your monthly electric bill. To try and find ways to lower their HVAC bill, some homeowners look closer at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they could use to improve efficiency?
The bulk of thermostats have a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is going during a normal cycle, what does the fan setting provide for your HVAC system? This guide should help. We’ll share what exactly the fan setting is and when you can use it to reduce costs in the summer or winter.
How Do I Access the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?
For most thermostats, the fan setting signifies that the HVAC blower fan keeps running. Certain furnaces may continue to run at a low level with this setting, but in general heating or cooling isn’t being made. The ‘Auto’ setting, on the other hand, will start the fan over a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off when the cycle is over.
There are benefits and drawbacks to using the fan setting on your thermostat, and the ideal option {will|can|should]] depend on your unique comfort requirements.
Advantages to using the Fan/On setting:
- You can keep the temperature in every room more consistent by permitting the fan to keep circulating air.
- Indoor air quality can increase because steady airflow will keep forcing airborne contaminants through the air filter.
- A smaller amount of start-stop cycles for the HVAC fan helps lengthen its life span. As the air handler is often a component of the furnace, this means you can avoid needing furnace repair.
Downsides to utilizing the Fan/On setting:
- A constant fan can add to your energy expenses somewhat.
- Continuous airflow may 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 Each Season
Through the summer, warm air will sometimes linger in unfinished spaces including the attic or an attached garage. If you leave the fan on, your HVAC system may gradually move this warm air into the rest of your home, forcing the HVAC system to run longer to maintain the preferred temperature. In severe heat, this could result in needing AC repair more often as wear and tear gets worse.
The reverse can occur in 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 may pull more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to stay warm.
If you’re still trying to decide if you should try the fan/on setting, remember that every home and family’s comfort needs are not the same. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on could work for you if:
Someone in your household deals with allergies. Allergies and other respiratory conditions can be hard on the family. Leaving the fan on should help to enhance indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.
Your home has 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 might help limit these changes by constantly refreshing each room’s airflow.
