Once the weather begins to cool off, you might be wondering about how you’ll make the most of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs routinely contribute a large chunk of your monthly electric bill. To figure out new ways to save, some homeowners take a closer look at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they should use to increase efficiency?
The bulk of thermostats come with a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is running during a regular cycle, what does the fan setting provide for an HVAC system? This guide should help. We’ll walk through what exactly the fan setting is and whether you can use it to cut costs over the summer or winter.
My Thermostat Has a Fan Setting?
For the bulk of thermostats, the fan setting indicates that the HVAC blower fan keeps running. Certain furnaces may continue to operate at a low level in this setting, but in general heating or cooling isn’t being produced. The ‘Auto’ setting, in contrast, will run the fan over a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off after 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 personal comfort needs.
Advantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:
- You can keep the temperature throughout your home more uniform by allowing the fan to keep generating airflow.
- Indoor air quality should improve since constant airflow will keep forcing airborne contaminants into the air filter.
- Fewer start-stop cycles for the system's fan helps lengthen its life span. Since the air handler is often connected to the furnace, this means you can avoid needing furnace repair.
Downsides to utilizing the Fan/On setting:
- A constant fan can increase your energy bills slightly.
- Nonstop airflow could clog your air filter soon, 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 persist in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you keep the fan running, your HVAC system might pull this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to work harder to keep up with the preferred temperature. In severe heat, this can result in needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear increases.
The reverse can take place during the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which may eventually make its way into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan running may pull more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to keep warm.
If you’re still trying to figure out if you should try the fan/on setting, remember that every home and family’s comfort needs are not the same. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on might be ideal 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 improve indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.
Your home deals with hot and cold spots. Lots of homes deal with difficult hot and cold spots that quickly evolve to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting can help minimize these changes by steadily refreshing each room’s ventilation.
