When the weather starts to cool off, you are probably thinking about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs can make up a large piece of your monthly electric bill. To try and find ways to reduce costs, some people take a closer look at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they can use to improve efficiency?
The bulk of thermostats include both a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is going during a regular cycle, what will the fan setting provide for your HVAC system? This guide will help. We’ll share what exactly the fan setting is and when you can use it to save money over the summer or winter.
What Is the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?
For most thermostats, the fan setting indicates that the air handler’s blower fan remains on. A few 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 run the fan during a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off after the cycle is complete.
There are benefits and drawbacks to using the fan setting on your thermostat, and what's ideal {will|can|should]] depend on your distinct comfort needs.
Advantages to using the Fan/On setting:
- You can keep the temperature in every room more balanced by allowing the fan to keep circulating air.
- Indoor air quality will be highest as continuous airflow will keep forcing airborne pollutants into the air filter.
- A smaller number of start-stop cycles for the system's fan helps extend its life span. Because the air handler is often connected to the furnace, this means you could prevent the need for furnace repair.
Disadvantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:
- A constant fan can increase your energy bills slightly.
- Nonstop airflow can clog your air filter in a shorter amount of time, increasing the frequency you’ll need to replace it.
Should My Thermostat Be on Fan or Auto in Summer/Winter
In the summer, warm air can linger in unfinished spaces like 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, compelling the HVAC system to run longer to preserve the preferred temperature. In extreme heat, this may result in needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear gets worse.
The opposite can happen 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 could pump more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to remain warm.
If you’re still trying to figure out if you should try the fan/on setting, don’t forget that every home and family’s comfort needs will vary. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on could work for you if:
Someone in your household has allergies. Allergies and similar respiratory conditions can be tough on the family. Leaving the fan on should help to increase indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.
Your home has hot and cold spots. Many homes deal with persistent 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 constantly refreshing each room’s airflow.