As the weather starts to cool off, you are probably concerned about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses can contribute a large portion of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to lower their HVAC bill, some people take a closer look at their thermostat. Is there a setting they can use to improve efficiency?
Most thermostats include both a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is on during a regular cycle, what can the fan setting provide for your HVAC system? This guide should help. We’ll share just what the fan setting is and whether you can use it to save money during the summer or winter.
How Do I Access the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?
For the majority of thermostats, the fan setting signifies that the system’s blower fan keeps running. A few furnaces will run at a low level with this setting, but in most cases heating or cooling isn’t being made. The ‘Auto’ setting, on the other hand, will turn on the fan during a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off once the cycle is over.
There are pros and cons to using the fan setting on your thermostat, and what’s ideal {will|can|should]] depend on your personal comfort preferences.
Advantages to trying the Fan/On setting:
- You can keep the temperature throughout your home more consistent by allowing the fan to keep generating airflow.
- Indoor air quality should improve because steady airflow will keep forcing airborne contaminants into the air filter.
- Fewer start-stop cycles for the system’s fan helps extend its life span. Because the air handler is usually a component of the furnace, this means you might avoid needing furnace repair.
Drawbacks to using the Fan/On setting:
- A constant fan can increase your energy expenses slightly.
- Constant airflow may clog your air filter soon, increasing the frequency you’ll need to replace it.
Which Setting for My Thermostat? Fan or Auto in Each Season
In the summer, warm air will sometimes persist in unfinished spaces including 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 more to maintain the set temperature. In serious heat, this can lead to needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear increases.
The opposite can take place during the winter. Cooler spaces such as a basement will hold onto cooler air, which may eventually drift into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan setting on may 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 switch to the fan/on setting, don’t forget 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 deals with allergies. Allergies and similar respiratory conditions can be stressful on the family. Leaving the fan on is more likely to enhance indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.
Your home deals with hot and cold spots. Many homes wrestle with stubborn hot and cold spots that quickly evolve to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting can help lessen these changes by constantly refreshing each room’s ventilation.