When the weather begins to cool off, you may be wondering about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs frequently make up a big portion of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to reduce costs, some owners look closer at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they could use to increase efficiency?
The bulk of thermostats come with a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is on during a typical cycle, what does the fan setting provide for an HVAC system? This guide will help. We’ll walk through just what the fan setting is and when you can use it to reduce costs in the summer or winter.
What Is the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?
For the majority of thermostats, the fan setting signifies that the system’s blower fan remains on. Some furnaces can generate heat at a low level with this setting, but in most cases heating or cooling isn’t being made. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will start the fan during a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off when the cycle is complete.
There are advantages and disadvantages to trying the fan setting on your thermostat, and whether you do or don’t {will|can|should]] depend on your personal comfort preferences.
Advantages to trying the Fan/On setting:
- You can keep the temperature in each room more balanced by permitting the fan to keep circulating air.
- Indoor air quality can increase because steady airflow will keep moving airborne pollutants into the air filter.
- A smaller number of start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps lengthen its life span. Because the air handler is usually part of the furnace, this means you might prevent the need for furnace repair.
Downsides to using the Fan/On setting:
- A continuous fan could raise your energy bills somewhat.
- Continuous airflow may clog your air filter in a shorter amount of time, 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 will sometimes stick around in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you leave the fan on, your HVAC system can gradually move this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to run longer to maintain the desired temperature. In extreme heat, this can lead to needing AC repair more often as wear and tear grows.
The opposite can happen in the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which can eventually make its way into the rest of your home. Keeping the fan on may pull 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, remember that every home and family’s comfort needs are different. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on could work for you if:
Someone in your household suffers from allergies. Allergies and similar respiratory conditions can be tough on the family. Leaving the fan on is more likely to increase indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.
Your home experiences 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 steadily refreshing each room’s airflow.
