Once the weather starts to cool off, you are probably concerned about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses frequently add up to a significant piece of your monthly electric bill. To figure out new ways to reduce costs, some people look closely at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they should use to improve efficiency?

Most thermostats come with a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is going during a typical cycle, what can the fan setting offer for the HVAC system? This guide will help. We’ll walk through precisely what the fan setting is and whether you can use it to cut costs during the summer or winter.

My Thermostat Has a Fan Setting?

For the bulk of thermostats, the fan setting indicates that the HVAC blower fan remains on. Some furnaces can run at a low level with this setting, but for the most part heating or cooling isn’t being generated. The ‘Auto’ setting, on the other hand, will start the fan during a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off when the cycle is finished.

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

Advantages to trying the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature throughout your home more consistent by enabling the fan to keep generating airflow.
  • Indoor air quality should improve since constant airflow will keep moving airborne particles into the air filter.
  • A smaller number of start-stop cycles for the system’s fan helps lengthen its life span. Since the air handler is typically part of the furnace, this means you can prevent the need for furnace repair.

Drawbacks to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A constant fan will likely raise your energy costs by a small margin.
  • Continuous airflow could clog your air filter in a shorter amount of time, 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 Each Season

In the summer, warm air may stick around in unfinished spaces such as the attic or an attached garage. If you use the fan setting, your HVAC system may draw this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to run longer to preserve the desired temperature. In extreme heat, this may lead to needing AC repair more often as wear and tear increases.

The reverse can happen during the winter. Cooler spaces such as a basement will hold onto cooler air, which may eventually make its way into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan running could pump 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, keep in mind that every home and family’s comfort needs will vary. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on might be ideal for you if:

Someone in your household suffers from allergies. Allergies and similar respiratory conditions can be hard on the family. Leaving the fan on is more likely to enhance indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

Your home deals with hot and cold spots. Lots of homes wrestle with difficult hot and cold spots that quickly return to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting should help minimize these changes by consistently refreshing each room’s ventilation.