The Ecobee Thermostat has a unique feature that allows its fan to run a certain number of times per hour; this means that you can make custom settings that will enable the fan to run in multiple, timed segments. Having these features makes it easier to circulate air throughout your home while keeping your energy bill lower.
The minimum fan run time for the Ecobee Thermostat depends on what environment you live in and what temperature you prefer to keep your house at. However, the recommended time to run the Ecobee Thermostat is between five and 20-minutes.
Read on to find out more about your Ecobee Thermostat and its fan’s heating and cooling capabilities.
What is the Minimum Fan Runtime?
The minimum fan runtime is a setting available on your Ecobee Thermostat that allows you to choose how long you want your HVAC fan to run between heating or cooling cycles. This can be set from 0 to 55 minutes every hour, with 0 meaning that your fan will remain off until the next heating or cooling cycle begins.
What Should the Ecobee Minimum Fan Runtime Be?
Running your HVAC fan allows air to circulate throughout your home, which is highly beneficial if you live in an area with hot or humid weather.
With that said, it is often recommended that Ecobee Thermostat users in hotter or more humid regions set their minimum fan runtime for longer durations. Those in cooler climates can get away with setting their fan runtime to shorter segments, as humidity is not always an issue.
Of course, no matter where you live, during the winter, your HVAC fan can also help circulate warm air when your heater is on, so every room in your home stays at a comfortable temperature.
If you don’t want to go back and forth between runtimes in the settings, most recommend keeping the minimum fan runtime to run for five to 20-minutes, depending on the season and the climate you live in.
How to Set Your Fan Runtime with Ecobee
To change your Ecobee Thermostat’s minimum fan runtime, follow these steps:
- Locate your thermostat’s main menu.
Tap System, then Fan.
The menu that opens will allow you to change the fan runtime.
Although this is the most direct way to change your fan’s runtime, there are other ways you can adjust how long it runs. You can either change the fan’s mode or update the heat dissipation time.
Changing the Ecobee’s Fan Mode
The Ecobee Thermostat has two main fan runtime setting modes: comfort and heat.
In Comfort Mode, the Ecobee will be more specific with its controls. You can set the thermostat to Sleep, Away, or Home.
- In Home Mode, your Ecobee will set the temperature to be the most comfortable based on your preferences.
- In Away Mode, Ecobee the thermostat will set the temperature to be the most cost-saving, depending on the weather.
- Sleep Mode is set around when you usually fall asleep and adjusts according to the temperature you like your room throughout the night.
To set your Ecobee fan to Comfort Mode:
- Go to the main menu.
- Hit Comfort Settings.
- Choose from Sleep, Away, or Home.
In Heat Mode, you can choose whether you want your Ecobee Thermostat to control the fan when your HVAC system is going through its heating cycles.
If you choose the thermostat, the Ecobee sends signals to run the fan rather than allowing the furnace to do so. The Ecobee will immediately turn the fan on when the heating cycle starts and end when the heating cycle ends.
If you choose the furnace option, the Ecobee will rely solely on the furnace to take charge of the fan during heating cycles rather than direct the fan itself.
To set your Ecobee to this mode:
- Go to the Ecobee’s main menu.
- Hit Settings.
- Go to Installation Settings.
- Select Equipment > Furnace.
- Choose “Fan Control Heat Mode.”
Changing Ecobee’s Heat Dissipation Time
With Ecobee, the HVAC fan is set to “auto” by default. This means that the fan will automatically turn on when your air conditioning or heater is on and turn off when those heating or cooling cycles end.
However, when it comes to the heating cycle, the Ecobee will allow the fan to run for a specific time after the heater turns off to disperse any lingering hot air in the ducts; this is referred to as the “heat dissipation time.” Like the general minimum fan runtime, this setting can also be changed in your Ecobee’s menu.
If you would like to change the heat dissipation time:
- Go to your Ecobee device and enter the main menu.
- Tap Settings > Installation Settings > Thresholds.
- Select Heat and Dissipation Time.
If something is wrong with your Ecobee cooling and heating, check out our universal tech troubleshooting tips.
Final Thoughts
The Ecobee Thermostat proves to be a handy tool for most homeowners—especially in harsher climates where heating and cooling is so crucial for home comfort.
By using your Ecobee Thermostat to control the HVAC fan to run for specific times and specific modes, the Ecobee not only saves on energy bills but creates a smooth temperature gradient all across your home. You’ll never be too hot or too cold again!
