Chances are you’ve looked at your thermostat and wondered, what’s the difference between AUTO and ON? And, more importantly, which will best manage your indoor climate while ensuring your electricity and gas bills don’t go through the roof? If you’re ever wondered, read on—we’ve got you covered.
Thermostat Setting Meaning
Setting your thermostat’s fan setting to ON means air is constantly pulled through the filtration system in your ducts—and that means air is always being cleaned. Without this fan in the “on” position, your air isn’t being purified unless your AC or heat are actively running.
Keeping the fan on also means heat and air in your home are better circulated—and that means more even temperature control.
That said, leaving your fan in the ON position will likely drive higher utility bills. In addition, you’ll have to change air filters more frequently because of the added use.
Thermostat Setting Meaning
Keeping your thermostat in the AUTO position means less overall energy is being used—and that reduces your utility bills considerably. Not only that, your air filter will last longer than they will if you leave your fan running continuously—in other words, if you leave it in the “on” position.
That said, in the “auto” position the air in your home won’t be as evenly distributed, which can lead to cold or hot spots versus the more even temperatures that come from letting the fan run continuously. The continuous stopping and starting—what happens in “auto”—can also cause the fan inside your HVAC system to wear out more quickly, adding to your total maintenance bills.
Looking for an alternative to “on” and “auto?” Many newer thermostats feature a CIRCULATE setting. This setting automatically turns fans on, running them at regular intervals without keeping them on continuously. This helps circulate fresh air without impacting your energy bills as much.
Ready to explore your thermostat options? Get in touch to learn more and to schedule a no-obligation consultation.
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Operation
Sensi thermostat has a feature called Auto Mode, which allows the thermostat to switch from Heat to Cool, or Cool to Heat automatically. Auto Mode can only be enabled from the Sensi app.
From the main screen of the app, tap the Mode icon in the lower left corner. All available options will be displayed.
Select “Auto” to allow the thermostat to switch between heating and cooling based on room temperature and the selected heating and cooling set points.
When Auto Mode is selected two set points will appear on the main screen of the Sensi app. The top set point is the cooling temperature. The bottom set point is the heating temperature.
Heating and cooling set points can be changed by tapping the set point you would like to adjust. The set point selected will be highlighted white. Use the “Up” and “Down” arrows to change the highlighted set point.
For example, in Auto Mode, you can select a heating temperature and a cooling temperature such as
With these settings, the heat will come on to maintain a minimum of 70°F if the room temperature drops to the heat setting. Cooling will come on if the room temperature rises to the cool setting of 78°F. If the indoor temperature is between 70°F and 78°F, no heat or cool will run.
Your Sensi thermostat will always maintain a minimum separation of two degrees between the heat and cool set points to prevent heating and cooling from running at the same time. Using this example, if the heating set point is adjusted above 76°F, the cooling set point will also increase to prevent the temperatures from overlapping. Similarly, if adjusting the cooling set point below 68°F, the heating set point will also decrease to prevent the temperatures from overlapping.
Closer heating and cooling settings will maintain tighter temperature control and use more energy. Set points further apart will result in a wider temperature range and use less energy.