Once the weather starts to cool off, you might be wondering about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC bills can make up a large chunk of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to save, some people look closer at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they should use to improve efficiency?
The bulk of thermostats have 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 will help. We’ll review just what the fan setting is and how 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 keeps running. Some furnaces may continue to run 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 during a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off when the cycle is complete.
There are advantages and disadvantages to trying the fan setting on your thermostat, and what’s ideal {will|can|should]] depend on your personal comfort requirements.
Advantages to using the Fan/On setting:
- You can keep the temperature in each room more consistent by permitting the fan to keep generating airflow.
- Indoor air quality should improve because steady airflow will keep forcing airborne contaminants through the air filter.
- A smaller amount of start-stop cycles for the system’s fan helps extend its life span. As the air handler is often part of the furnace, this means you might minimize the risk of needing furnace repair.
Downsides to utilizing the Fan/On setting:
- A continuous fan could increase your energy costs slightly.
- Constant airflow can clog your air filter up more quickly, increasing the frequency you’ll need to replace it.
{Choosing Between|Should My Thermostat Be on|Which Setting for My Thermostat? Fan or Auto in Summer/Winter
In the summer, warm air will sometimes persist in unfinished spaces such as the attic or an attached garage. If you use the fan setting, your HVAC system may gradually move this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to work harder to keep up with the set temperature. In severe heat, this can result in needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear increases.
The opposite can happen in the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which will eventually flow into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan setting on will sometimes pull more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to remain warm.
If you’re still trying to figure out if you should use the fan/on setting, remember that every home and family’s comfort needs are not the same. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on could be best for you if:
Someone in your household suffers from allergies. Allergies and similar respiratory conditions can be hard on the family. Leaving the fan on should help to enhance indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.
Your home has hot and cold spots. Lots of homes deal with difficult hot and cold spots that quickly return to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting might help lessen these changes by consistently refreshing each room’s ventilation.
