Once the weather starts to cool off, you may be thinking about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs frequently make up a significant chunk of your monthly electric bill. To try and find ways to lower their HVAC bill, some homeowners look closely at their thermostat. Could there be a setting they could use to increase efficiency?
The bulk of thermostats come with a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is going during a normal cycle, what will the fan setting offer for the HVAC system? This guide will help. We’ll review 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 the majority of thermostats, the fan setting means that the HVAC blower fan remains on. Certain furnaces will run at a low level with this setting, but in most cases heating or cooling isn’t being generated. The ‘Auto’ setting, on the other hand, will start the fan during a heating or cooling cycle and shut it off once the cycle is over.
There are advantages and disadvantages to switching on 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 in each room more balanced by permitting the fan to keep running.
- Indoor air quality can increase as steady airflow will keep moving airborne particles 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.
Disadvantages to switching to the Fan/On setting:
- A nonstop fan will likely add to your energy costs somewhat.
- Nonstop airflow could 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
During the summer, warm air will sometimes persist in unfinished spaces including the attic or an attached garage. If you use the fan setting, your HVAC system might draw this warm air into the rest of your home, forcing the HVAC system to run longer to preserve the desired temperature. In serious heat, this could lead to needing AC repair more often as wear and tear grows.
The opposite can happen during 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 could pump more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to keep warm.
If you’re still trying to determine if you should use the fan/on setting, keep in mind that every home and family’s comfort needs will vary. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on might be best for you if:
Someone in your household deals with 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. Lots of homes deal 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 supply of air.