Should You Set Your Heater to ON or AUTO This Winter?

The decision to set your HVAC system’s heater to “ON” or “AUTO” during the winter months in Cincinnati, OH, can have a major impact on your comfort level and energy bills. Our experts are here to help you understand the difference between the two settings, how they each affect your home and utility costs and, finally, which setting is right for you. 

What Happens When Your Heater Is Set to “On”

When your heater is set to “ON,” the blower runs continuously regardless of the temperature on your thermostat. This means that warm air is constantly circulated throughout your home, providing a more consistent temperature.

The Advantages of “On”

Setting your heater to “ON” offers several advantages, such as more even heating, less wear and tear on your furnace and better air quality. Let’s look at each of these items in a bit more detail:

• More Even Heating — When your heater is set to “ON,” the blower runs continuously, allowing warm air to be evenly distributed throughout your home. This results in more consistent temperatures and less drastic temperature fluctuations. 

• Less Wear and Tear on Your Furnace — Since the blower runs continuously when your heater is set to “ON,” it reduces wear and tear on your furnace by reducing the number of times that it needs to start up and shut off. This can help prolong the life of your furnace. 

• Better Air Quality — When your heater is set to “ON,” the blower continuously circulates air throughout your home. This helps reduce dust buildup and ensures that clean air is constantly being circulated. 

The Disadvantages of “On”

When your heater is set to “ON,” the blower continuously circulates air throughout your home. This helps reduce dust buildup and ensures that clean air is constantly being circulated. 

• Higher Utility Bills — Since the blower runs continuously when your heater is set to “ON,” it requires more energy than if it were set to “AUTO.” This can lead to higher utility bills over time, especially when utility prices are spiking.

• More Frequent Air Filter Replacements — Running the heater continuously means that it’s constantly sucking in more and more air. This means that air filters will need to be replaced more often due to increased accumulation of dust and debris. 

What Happens When Your Heater Is Set to “Auto”

When your heater is set to “AUTO,” the blower only runs when heat is needed. The blower shuts off when the desired temperature has been reached, meaning that warm air will only be circulated throughout your home when it needs to be heated. 

The Advantages of “Auto”

Setting your heater to “AUTO” also offers several advantages, such as lower utility bills and higher energy efficiency. To better understand what these mean for your home, let’s look at them in more detail.

• Lower Utility Bills — Since the blower only runs when heat is needed when your heater is set to “AUTO,” it requires less energy than if it were set to “ON.” This can lead to lower utility bills if you can put up with slightly cooler temperatures.

• Higher Energy Efficiency — Using the “AUTO” setting helps increase energy efficiency by reducing the amount of energy used to keep your home comfortable. This means you’re wasting less electricity and exposing your furnace system to less constant heating.

The Disadvantages of “Auto”

While setting your heater to “AUTO” offers several advantages, it also comes with some drawbacks, such as less air circulation and more wear and tear on your system. 

• Less Air Circulation — Since using “AUTO” means your system will only run intermittently, that equates to less air circulation throughout your home. This can lead to stagnant air and more dust buildup.

• Increased Wear and Tear on Your System — The constant start and stop of the “AUTO” function can lead to more wear and tear on your HVAC system. This can shorten the lifespan of your furnace, though how much wear it takes on will depend on how consistent the temperatures stay on a particular day.

What’s the Most Common Choice for Homeowners?

When it comes to setting your heater to “ON” or “AUTO” during the winter months in Cincinnati, OH, the most common choice for homeowners is “AUTO.” It’s worth noting, though, that many homeowners will also combine the two settings. It’s common to use “ON” when people are home during the day to provide a more comfortable and consistent environment, while switching to “AUTO” during the night or when traveling to save energy and money.

Winter HVAC Maintenance Tips

To ensure that your HVAC system is running efficiently and reliably during the winter months, it’s key to keep up with regular maintenance. Here are some tips to help you keep your system in top condition: 

• Change the Filter Regularly — To ensure that your HVAC system is running efficiently, change the air filter regularly. Depending on the type of filter you have, this should be done at least once every three months. 

• Schedule Professional Maintenance — To keep your system running smoothly and efficiently, have a professional HVAC technician inspect and service your system at least once a year. Heating and air conditioning maintenance companies will help ensure that any potential problems are caught before they become more costly issues. 

• Adjust Your Thermostat — To maximize the efficiency of your HVAC system, it’s important to adjust your thermostat based on the season. During the winter months, you should keep your thermostat set to a lower temperature to save energy and reduce wear and tear on your system. Additionally, a heater has diminishing returns the higher you set it compared to the temperature outside, so try to stick to a 10-degree difference at most to avoid overtaxing your system and wasting money.

Making the right decision when it comes to setting your HVAC system’s heater to “ON” or “AUTO” during the winter months in Cincinnati, OH, is essential for ensuring that you are comfortable and energy bills are kept low. Understanding what happens with each setting will help you make an informed choice that is best for you and your home. 

If you need help deciding which option is best for your home or require professional HVAC repair, installation or maintenance services, contact Cafco Services in Cincinnati, OH, today! Just fill out our online form or call us at (513) 242-3400 to schedule an appointment.