As the weather is cooling off, you may be thinking about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs can make up a large portion of your monthly electric bill. To figure out new ways to save, some owners look closely at their thermostat. Is there a setting they should use to increase efficiency?
Most thermostats come with a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is running during a typical cycle, what does the fan setting provide for your HVAC system? This guide should help. We’ll review precisely what the fan setting is and when you can use it to save money in the summer or winter.
How Do I Access the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?
For the bulk of thermostats, the fan setting indicates that the system's blower fan stays on. Certain furnaces can operate at a low level in this setting, but in most cases heating or cooling isn’t being produced. The ‘Auto’ setting, in contrast, will turn on the fan during a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off once the cycle is complete.
There are advantages and disadvantages to using the fan setting on your thermostat, and whether you do or don’t {will|can|should]] depend on your personal comfort needs.
Advantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:
- You can keep the temperature in every room more uniform by enabling the fan to keep circulating air.
- Indoor air quality will be highest as continuous airflow will keep moving airborne contaminants into the air filter.
- A smaller amount of start-stop cycles for the system's fan helps expand its life span. Because the air handler is often connected to the furnace, this means you might minimize the risk of needing furnace repair.
Drawbacks to using the Fan/On setting:
- A continuous fan can raise your energy bills by a small margin.
- Continuous airflow may clog your air filter up more quickly, increasing the frequency you will want to replace it.
{Choosing Between|Should My Thermostat Be on|Which Setting for My Thermostat? Fan or Auto in Each Season
During the summer, warm air may linger in unfinished spaces such as the attic or an attached garage. If you leave the fan on, your HVAC system may pull this warm air into the rest of your home, forcing the HVAC system to work harder to maintain the preferred temperature. In serious heat, this can lead to needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear gets worse.
The opposite can take place in the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which will eventually flow into the rest of your home. Keeping the fan on may pull more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to keep 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 will vary. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on could be ideal for you if:
Someone in your household has allergies. Allergies and similar respiratory conditions can be tough on the family. Leaving the fan on is more likely 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 return to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting should help lessen these changes by constantly refreshing each room’s airflow.