As the weather starts to cool off, you may be concerned about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs routinely add up to a large piece of your monthly electric bill. To figure out new ways to save, some owners look closely at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they could use to boost efficiency?
The bulk of thermostats come with a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is running during a typical cycle, what does the fan setting offer for your HVAC system? This guide will help. We’ll walk through what exactly the fan setting is and when you can use it to cut costs during the summer or winter.
What Is the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?
For most thermostats, the fan setting signifies that the HVAC blower fan stays on. A few furnaces may continue to run at a low level in this setting, but for the most part heating or cooling isn’t being made. The ‘Auto’ setting, on the other hand, will run the fan through a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off after the cycle is complete.
There are pros and cons to using the fan setting on your thermostat, and what's ideal {will|can|should]] depend on your unique comfort needs.
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 will be highest as continuous airflow will keep forcing airborne pollutants through the air filter.
- A smaller amount of start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps expand its life span. As the air handler is often connected to the furnace, this means you might minimize the risk of needing furnace repair.
Disadvantages to switching to the Fan/On setting:
- A nonstop fan can raise your energy expenses by a small margin.
- Continuous airflow can clog your air filter soon, increasing the frequency you should replace it.
Should My Thermostat Be on Fan or Auto in Summer/Winter
In the summer, warm air will sometimes stick around in unfinished spaces such as the attic or an attached garage. If you keep the fan running, your HVAC system may draw this warm air into the rest of your home, forcing the HVAC system to run longer to preserve the desired temperature. In extreme heat, this can result in needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear increases.
The reverse can occur during the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which may eventually drift into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan setting on will sometimes 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 try the fan/on setting, keep in mind that every home and family’s comfort needs are not the same. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on may be best for you if:
Someone in your household has allergies. Allergies and similar respiratory conditions can be tough on the family. Leaving the fan on can help to enhance indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.
Your home experiences hot and cold spots. All kinds of homes deal with stubborn hot and cold spots that quickly shift to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting might help limit these changes by constantly refreshing each room’s airflow.