Once the weather is cooling off, you may be concerned about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses frequently make up a large chunk of your monthly electric bill. To figure out new ways to save, some people look closer at their thermostat. Is there a setting they could use to improve efficiency?

The majority of thermostats come with a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is going during a typical cycle, what will the fan setting provide for your HVAC system? This guide should help. We’ll review precisely what the fan setting is and whether you can use it to save money over the summer or winter.

What Is the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For most thermostats, the fan setting indicates that the air handler’s blower fan stays on. A few furnaces will generate heat at a low level with this setting, but for the most part heating or cooling isn’t being generated. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will start the fan through a heating or cooling cycle and shut it off when 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 needs.

Advantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in every room more uniform by enabling the fan to keep running.
  • Indoor air quality can increase as continuous airflow will keep passing airborne pollutants into the air filter.
  • A smaller amount of start-stop cycles for the HVAC fan helps lengthen its life span. Because the air handler is usually a component of the furnace, this means you could minimize the risk of needing furnace repair.

Downsides to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • A constant fan could add to your energy expenses by a small margin.
  • Nonstop airflow could clog your air filter up more quickly, increasing the frequency you will want to replace it.

Should My Thermostat Be on Fan or Auto in Summer/Winter

Through the summer, warm air may stick around in unfinished spaces including 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, compelling the HVAC system to work harder to maintain the desired temperature. In extreme heat, this may lead to needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear increases.

The opposite can happen during the winter. Cooler spaces such as a basement will hold onto cooler air, which will eventually drift into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan setting on may pump more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to stay warm.

If you’re still trying to decide if you should try the fan/on setting, remember that every home and family’s comfort needs are different. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on may be best 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 can help to enhance indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

Your home experiences hot and cold spots. Many homes wrestle with stubborn hot and cold spots that quickly return to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting might help minimize these changes by constantly refreshing each room’s supply of air.