When the weather begins to cool off, you are probably concerned about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses frequently contribute a big chunk of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to save, some owners look closely at their thermostat. Is there a setting they could use to boost efficiency?

The majority of thermostats include both a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is on during a regular cycle, what does the fan setting offer for an HVAC system? This guide can help. We’ll review what exactly the fan setting is and whether you can use it to reduce costs in 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 may continue to 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 over a heating or cooling cycle and shut it off when the cycle is finished.

There are benefits and drawbacks to trying the fan setting on your thermostat, and the ideal option {will|can|should]] depend on your personal comfort needs.

Advantages to trying the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature throughout your home more uniform by allowing the fan to keep circulating air.
  • Indoor air quality should improve since continuous airflow will keep forcing airborne pollutants into the air filter.
  • Fewer start-stop cycles for the system’s fan helps expand its life span. As the air handler is usually connected to the furnace, this means you might prevent the need for furnace repair.

Downsides to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A continuous fan could add to your energy bills slightly.
  • Constant airflow could clog your air filter soon, 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 Each Season

In the summer, warm air can persist in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you use the fan setting, your HVAC system may gradually move this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to work more to maintain the set temperature. In extreme heat, this could lead to needing AC repair more often as wear and tear gets worse.

The opposite can take place during the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which can eventually drift into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan setting on may pull 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, keep in mind that every home and family’s comfort needs will vary. 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 hard on the family. Leaving the fan on can help to improve indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

Your home deals with hot and cold spots. All kinds of homes wrestle with persistent hot and cold spots that quickly return to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting should help limit these changes by steadily refreshing each room’s supply of air.