When the weather starts to cool off, you may be wondering about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs can contribute a large chunk of your monthly electric bill. To try and find ways to save, some homeowners take a closer look at their thermostat. Could there be a setting they can use to increase efficiency?
Most thermostats have a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is on during a normal cycle, what does the fan setting offer for your HVAC system? This guide can help. We’ll walk through just what the fan setting is and how you can use it to cut costs over the summer or winter.
Should I Use My Thermostat’s Fan Setting?
For most thermostats, the fan setting signifies that the HVAC blower fan keeps running. A few furnaces will generate heat at a low level in this setting, but in most cases heating or cooling isn’t being made. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will start the fan during a heating or cooling cycle and shut it off when the cycle is complete.
There are pros and cons to switching on the fan setting on your thermostat, and the ideal option {will|can|should]] depend on your unique comfort requirements.
Advantages to switching to the Fan/On setting:
- You can keep the temperature throughout your home more balanced by permitting the fan to keep circulating air.
- Indoor air quality should improve since continuous airflow will keep passing airborne contaminants through the air filter.
- Fewer start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps lengthen its life span. Since the air handler is usually a component of the furnace, this means you can prevent the need for furnace repair.
Downsides to switching to the Fan/On setting:
- A nonstop fan could add to your energy expenses slightly.
- Nonstop airflow can clog your air filter soon, 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 will sometimes linger in unfinished spaces such as the attic or an attached garage. If you keep the fan running, your HVAC system might pull this warm air into the rest of your home, forcing the HVAC system to work more to keep up with the preferred temperature. In severe heat, this may result in needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear gets worse.
The opposite can occur in the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which can eventually flow into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan setting on will sometimes draw more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to stay warm.
If you’re still trying to figure out if you should try 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 ideal 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 should help to enhance indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.
Your home has hot and cold spots. Many homes wrestle with stubborn hot and cold spots that quickly shift to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting might help limit these changes by consistently refreshing each room’s supply of air.