As the weather begins to cool off, you are probably concerned about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs routinely make up a large portion of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to reduce costs, some homeowners look closely at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they could use to improve efficiency?
The majority of thermostats have a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is on during a normal cycle, what does the fan setting provide for an HVAC system? This guide should help. We’ll review just what the fan setting is and when you can use it to cut costs in 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 stays on. Certain furnaces may continue to generate heat at a low level in this setting, but for the most part heating or cooling isn’t being generated. The ‘Auto’ setting, in contrast, will turn on the fan over a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off once the cycle is over.
There are benefits and drawbacks to switching on the fan setting on your thermostat, and whether you do or don’t {will|can|should]] depend on your distinct comfort preferences.
Advantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:
- You can keep the temperature throughout your home more balanced by allowing the fan to keep generating airflow.
- Indoor air quality can increase since continuous airflow will keep passing airborne contaminants into the air filter.
- Fewer start-stop cycles for the HVAC fan helps lengthen its life span. As the air handler is typically connected to the furnace, this means you could minimize the risk of needing furnace repair.
Disadvantages to switching to the Fan/On setting:
- A nonstop fan could raise your energy expenses somewhat.
- Continuous airflow can 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
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 might draw this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to work harder to keep up with the preferred temperature. In extreme heat, this may result in needing AC repair more often as wear and tear increases.
The reverse can take place in the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which will eventually drift into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan running could pull more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to stay warm.
If you’re still trying to determine if you should use the fan/on setting, don’t forget that every home and family’s comfort needs are different. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on may be best for you if:
Someone in your household suffers from allergies. Allergies and other respiratory conditions can be tough on the family. Leaving the fan on should help to enhance indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.
Your home experiences hot and cold spots. Lots of homes deal with stubborn 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 consistently refreshing each room’s airflow.