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 costs can add up to a big portion of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to lower their HVAC bill, some people take a closer look at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they could use to boost efficiency?
Most thermostats have a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is going during a normal cycle, what can the fan setting offer for the HVAC system? This guide should help. We’ll walk through precisely what the fan setting is and when you can use it to cut costs in the summer or winter.
How Do I Access the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?
For most 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 made. The ‘Auto’ setting, on the other hand, will start the fan over a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off once the cycle is over.
There are benefits and drawbacks to switching on the fan setting on your thermostat, and the ideal option {will|can|should]] depend on your personal comfort needs.
Advantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:
- You can keep the temperature throughout your home more uniform by permitting the fan to keep generating airflow.
- Indoor air quality should improve since constant airflow will keep moving airborne contaminants through the air filter.
- A smaller number of start-stop cycles for the system’s fan helps extend its life span. Because the air handler is usually part of the furnace, this means you could minimize the risk of needing furnace repair.
Downsides to using the Fan/On setting:
- A constant fan will likely add to your energy costs slightly.
- Nonstop airflow may clog your air filter up more quickly, increasing the frequency you should replace it.
{Choosing Between|Should My Thermostat Be on|Which Setting for My Thermostat? Fan or Auto in Summer/Winter
Through the summer, warm air may stick around in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you leave the fan on, your HVAC system can pull this warm air into the rest of your home, forcing the HVAC system to work harder to maintain the set temperature. In extreme heat, this could result in needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear grows.
The opposite can occur during the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which can eventually flow into the rest of your home. Keeping the fan on could 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 are not the same. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on might be best 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 increase indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.
Your home experiences hot and cold spots. Lots of homes deal with persistent hot and cold spots that quickly shift to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting should help limit these changes by steadily refreshing each room’s airflow.
