When the weather is cooling off, you are probably thinking about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses frequently add up to a big portion of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to reduce costs, some people take a closer look at their thermostat. Could there be a setting they can use to boost efficiency?
The bulk of thermostats come with a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is on during a typical cycle, what can the fan setting offer for an HVAC system? This guide can help. We’ll walk through just what the fan setting is and whether you can use it to save money during the summer or winter.
What Is the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?
For most thermostats, the fan setting means that the HVAC blower fan remains on. Some furnaces can run at a low level in this setting, but in general heating or cooling isn’t being generated. The ‘Auto’ setting, in contrast, will start the fan during a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off once the cycle is complete.
There are advantages and disadvantages to switching on the fan setting on your thermostat, and the ideal option {will|can|should]] depend on your distinct comfort requirements.
Advantages to trying the Fan/On setting:
- You can keep the temperature in every room more uniform by enabling the fan to keep running.
- Indoor air quality should improve as constant airflow will keep moving airborne contaminants into the air filter.
- Fewer start-stop cycles for the HVAC fan helps lengthen its life span. Since the air handler is typically part of the furnace, this means you could avoid needing furnace repair.
Disadvantages to using the Fan/On setting:
- A continuous fan could raise your energy costs by a small margin.
- Continuous airflow may 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 stick around in unfinished spaces including the attic or an attached garage. If you use the fan setting, your HVAC system may pull this warm air into the rest of your home, compelling the HVAC system to run longer to maintain the set temperature. In serious heat, this could result in needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear grows.
The reverse can take place during the winter. Cooler spaces such as a basement will hold onto cooler air, which can 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 keep warm.
If you’re still trying to decide if you should switch to the fan/on setting, don’t forget that every home and family’s comfort needs are different. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on might work 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 is more likely to improve indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.
Your home experiences hot and cold spots. All kinds of homes wrestle with stubborn 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 ventilation.