As the weather starts to cool off, you may be concerned about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs frequently contribute a big portion of your monthly electric bill. To try and find ways to lower their HVAC bill, some owners look closer at their thermostat. Is there a setting they can use to boost efficiency?
Most thermostats come with a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is running during a regular cycle, what will the fan setting provide for the HVAC system? This guide should help. We’ll review what exactly 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 the majority of thermostats, the fan setting indicates that the air handler’s blower fan keeps running. Some furnaces can 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 switch it off when the cycle is finished.
There are advantages and disadvantages to using the fan setting on your thermostat, and the ideal option should depend on your personal comfort preferences.
Advantages to switching to the Fan/On setting:
- You can keep the temperature in every room more balanced by permitting the fan to keep running.
- Indoor air quality will be highest because constant airflow will keep moving airborne contaminants into the air filter.
- Fewer start-stop cycles for the HVAC fan helps lengthen its life span. As the air handler is typically connected to the furnace, this means you can avoid needing furnace repair.
Downsides to switching to the Fan/On setting:
- A continuous fan could add to your energy costs by a small margin.
- Nonstop airflow could clog your air filter in a shorter amount of time, increasing the frequency you will want to replace it.
Should My Thermostat Be on Fan or Auto in Summer/Winter
Through the summer, warm air can linger in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you keep the fan running, your HVAC system might gradually move this warm air into the rest of your home, forcing the HVAC system to work more to keep up with the desired temperature. In extreme heat, this can result in needing AC repair more often as wear and tear grows.
The opposite can happen during the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which will eventually flow into the rest of your home. Keeping the fan on may draw 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 switch to the fan/on setting, don’t forget that every home and family’s comfort needs will vary. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on may 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 is more likely to enhance indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.
Your home deals with hot and cold spots. Lots of homes deal with stubborn hot and cold spots that quickly return to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting can help limit these changes by steadily refreshing each room’s supply of air.