Once the weather begins to cool off, you may be concerned about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses can make up a big portion of your monthly electric bill. To try and find ways to save, some owners look closely at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they could use to increase efficiency?
The majority of thermostats have a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is on during a regular cycle, what will the fan setting provide for the HVAC system? This guide can help. We’ll walk through what exactly the fan setting is and when you can use it to reduce costs over the summer or winter.
What Is the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?
For most thermostats, the fan setting indicates that the HVAC blower fan stays on. Certain furnaces will run at a low level with this setting, but in most cases heating or cooling isn’t being made. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will run the fan over a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off once the cycle is finished.
There are pros and cons to using the fan setting on your thermostat, and the ideal option {will|can|should]] depend on your unique comfort preferences.
Advantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:
- You can keep the temperature throughout your home more consistent by enabling the fan to keep running.
- Indoor air quality will be highest because constant airflow will keep passing airborne pollutants into the air filter.
- A smaller amount of start-stop cycles for the HVAC fan helps lengthen its life span. Because the air handler is often a component of the furnace, this means you could prevent the need for furnace repair.
Disadvantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:
- A continuous fan will likely increase your energy costs by a small margin.
- Nonstop airflow could clog your air filter up more quickly, increasing the frequency you’ll need to replace it.
Should My Thermostat Be on Fan or Auto in Summer/Winter
During the summer, warm air may persist in unfinished spaces including 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 run longer to maintain the preferred temperature. In severe heat, this can result in needing AC repair more often as wear and tear increases.
The opposite can take place over the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which will eventually make its way 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 keep warm.
If you’re still trying to decide if you should use the fan/on setting, don’t forget that every home and family’s comfort needs will vary. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on might work for you if:
Someone in your household has allergies. Allergies and other respiratory conditions can be hard on the family. Leaving the fan on is more likely to improve indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.
Your home deals with hot and cold spots. Lots of homes wrestle with persistent hot and cold spots that quickly shift to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting should help limit these changes by consistently refreshing each room’s supply of air.
