The thermostat fan, which controls the HVAC fan for both heating and air conditioning functions in your Fort Wayne area home, generally has two settings, "on" or "auto." In these modern times with the focus on having an HVAC system provide total comfort as efficiently as possible, questions can arise about the best thermostat fan setting. Here are a few tips to consider that may help you decide which setting is right:
- Keeping your thermostat fan setting "on." This means the fan is running regardless of whether your system is heating or cooling. For maximum air filtration and overall even distribution of heated or cooled air, keeping the fan running in the "on" position works best. If you have a smoker in the home or have major allergies, keeping the fan always running is probably your best option. The main problem: this is the least energy-efficient way to run an HVAC system, because the constantly running fan will use a lot of electricity. That equates to a higher energy bill every month.
- Keeping your thermostat fan setting on "auto." This is the most economical way to run an HVAC fan, where it's running only during heating and cooling. It allows for greater energy savings. The only real disadvantage is that the fan suffers more wear and tear during the more frequent stops and starts.
- Variable-speed motors. If your HVAC system has a variable-speed blower motor, you'll get nearly continuous operation of your heating and cooling systems, which means the fan will be running nearly constantly as well. In this case, you'll get the air filtration and distribution benefits of having the thermostat fan setting on "on" while still having the fan operation set to "auto."
For more information about what HVAC setting is right for you, or if you want to learn about variable speed motors and how they may help your energy bill, please contact us at Hartman Brothers Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc. We've been serving the Fort Wayne area for over 50 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in New Haven, Indiana and surrounding Fort Wayne area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about thermostat fan settings and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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