When the weather starts to cool off, you may be thinking about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses can add up to a big portion of your monthly electric bill. To try and find ways to reduce costs, some owners look closer at their thermostat. Is there a setting they should use to increase efficiency?

The bulk of thermostats include both a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is on during a regular cycle, what will the fan setting provide for the HVAC system? This guide should help. We’ll review just what the fan setting is and whether you can use it to cut costs over the summer or winter.

What Is the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For most thermostats, the fan setting signifies that the system’s blower fan stays on. Certain furnaces can run at a low level with this setting, but in most cases heating or cooling isn’t being generated. The ‘Auto’ setting, in contrast, will turn on the fan during a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off after the cycle is finished.

There are benefits and drawbacks to using the fan setting on your thermostat, and what’s ideal {will|can|should]] depend on your unique comfort preferences.

Advantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature throughout your home more balanced by permitting the fan to keep running.
  • Indoor air quality can increase since continuous airflow will keep moving airborne pollutants through the air filter.
  • A smaller number of start-stop cycles for the HVAC fan helps lengthen its life span. Because the air handler is usually part of the furnace, this means you could avoid needing furnace repair.

Disadvantages to using the Fan/On setting:

  • A continuous fan can raise your energy costs slightly.
  • Nonstop airflow may clog your air filter soon, increasing the frequency you’ll need to 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 linger in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you keep the fan running, your HVAC system may gradually move this warm air into the rest of your home, forcing the HVAC system to run longer to preserve the set temperature. In severe heat, this could result in needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear gets worse.

The opposite can happen over the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which will eventually make its way into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan running may draw more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to stay warm.

If you’re still trying to determine if you should use the fan/on setting, remember that every home and family’s comfort needs are different. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on may be ideal for you if:

Someone in your household has allergies. Allergies and other respiratory conditions can be tough on the family. Leaving the fan on should help to improve indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

Your home deals with hot and cold spots. Many homes deal with stubborn hot and cold spots that quickly shift to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting should help lessen these changes by consistently refreshing each room’s supply of air.