When the weather is cooling off, you may be wondering about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs routinely contribute a big portion of your monthly electric bill. To figure out new ways to reduce costs, some homeowners look closely at their thermostat. Is there a setting they should use to boost efficiency?

The majority of thermostats have a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is going during a regular cycle, what will the fan setting offer for an HVAC system? This guide will help. We’ll review precisely what the fan setting is and when you can use it to save money during the summer or winter.

What Is the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For the majority of thermostats, the fan setting means that the air handler’s blower fan keeps running. Certain furnaces can operate at a low level with this setting, but in general heating or cooling isn’t being generated. The ‘Auto’ setting, on the other hand, will turn on the fan during a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off once the cycle is over.

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

Advantages to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in each room more balanced by allowing the fan to keep running.
  • Indoor air quality should improve because constant airflow will keep moving airborne pollutants into the air filter.
  • Fewer start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps expand its life span. As the air handler is typically connected to the furnace, this means you can minimize the risk of needing furnace repair.

Drawbacks to using the Fan/On setting:

  • A continuous fan will likely add to your energy bills by a small margin.
  • Nonstop airflow can clog your air filter up more quickly, increasing the frequency you will want 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 persist in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you leave the fan on, your HVAC system might draw this warm air into the rest of your home, compelling the HVAC system to run longer to keep up with the desired temperature. In severe heat, this could result in needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear grows.

The opposite can take place in the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which may eventually drift into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan running will sometimes pull more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to keep warm.

If you’re still trying to decide if you should try the fan/on setting, don’t forget that every home and family’s comfort needs are not the same. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on might work for you if:

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

Your home experiences 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 lessen these changes by steadily refreshing each room’s ventilation.