As the weather is cooling off, you might be concerned about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC bills frequently make up a significant portion of your monthly electric bill. To try and find ways to lower their HVAC bill, some owners take a closer look at their thermostat. Could there be a setting they can use to increase 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 offer for an HVAC system? This guide will help. We’ll walk through precisely what the fan setting is and whether you can use it to save money during the summer or winter.
My Thermostat Has a Fan Setting?
For the bulk of thermostats, the fan setting means that the HVAC blower fan stays on. Some furnaces can operate at a low level with this setting, but in general heating or cooling isn’t being produced. The ‘Auto’ setting, on the other hand, will run the fan over 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 the ideal option {will|can|should]] depend on your distinct comfort preferences.
Advantages to using the Fan/On setting:
- You can keep the temperature in each room more consistent by enabling the fan to keep circulating air.
- Indoor air quality should improve since continuous airflow will keep passing airborne particles into the air filter.
- A smaller number of start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps lengthen its life span. Since the air handler is usually connected to the furnace, this means you could prevent the need for furnace repair.
Drawbacks to switching to the Fan/On setting:
- A constant fan will likely increase your energy bills slightly.
- Nonstop airflow could clog your air filter soon, increasing the frequency you should replace it.
{Choosing Between|Should My Thermostat Be on|Which Setting for My Thermostat? Fan or Auto in Each Season
In the summer, warm air can stick around in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you keep the fan running, your HVAC system can draw this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to work harder to preserve the preferred temperature. In extreme heat, this could result in needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear gets worse.
The reverse can occur during the winter. Cooler spaces such as a basement will hold onto cooler air, which can eventually make its way into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan running will sometimes pull more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to stay warm.
If you’re still trying to decide if you should try the fan/on setting, keep in mind that every home and family’s comfort needs will vary. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on could be ideal for you if:
Someone in your household deals with allergies. Allergies and similar respiratory conditions can be tough on the family. Leaving the fan on can help to improve indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.
Your home deals with hot and cold spots. All kinds of homes wrestle with stubborn hot and cold spots that quickly evolve to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting should help lessen these changes by consistently refreshing each room’s ventilation.