When the weather starts to cool off, you might be concerned about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses routinely make up a significant piece of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to reduce costs, some owners look closely at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they should use to increase efficiency?

The majority of thermostats include both a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is running during a typical cycle, what does the fan setting provide for your HVAC system? This guide can help. We’ll review what exactly the fan setting is and when you can use it to save money during the summer or winter.

Should I Use My Thermostat’s Fan Setting?

For the majority of thermostats, the fan setting means that the HVAC blower fan keeps running. Certain furnaces can run at a low level in this setting, but in general heating or cooling isn’t being made. The ‘Auto’ setting, in contrast, will run the fan through a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off when the cycle is finished.

There are pros and cons to trying the fan setting on your thermostat, and the ideal option {will|can|should]] depend on your distinct comfort preferences.

Advantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in each room more balanced by permitting the fan to keep generating airflow.
  • Indoor air quality should improve because steady airflow will keep moving airborne particles through the air filter.
  • Fewer start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps lengthen its life span. As the air handler is usually part of the furnace, this means you could minimize the risk of needing furnace repair.

Disadvantages to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • A continuous fan can add to your energy costs slightly.
  • Constant 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 will sometimes persist in unfinished spaces such as the attic or an attached garage. If you leave the fan on, your HVAC system may gradually move this warm air into the rest of your home, forcing the HVAC system to run longer to keep up with the desired temperature. In serious heat, this can lead to needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear grows.

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

If you’re still trying to figure out 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 work for you if:

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

Your home has hot and cold spots. Many homes deal with persistent hot and cold spots that quickly shift to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting might help lessen these changes by constantly refreshing each room’s ventilation.