When the weather starts to cool off, you may be wondering about how you’ll make the most of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs routinely contribute a big piece of your monthly electric bill. To try and find ways to save, some people take a closer look at their thermostat. Could there be a setting they can use to increase efficiency?

Most thermostats come with a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is going during a normal cycle, what will the fan setting offer for your HVAC system? This guide can help. We’ll review just what the fan setting is and how 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 signifies that the HVAC blower fan keeps running. Certain furnaces will operate at a low level in this setting, but in general heating or cooling isn’t being produced. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will turn on the fan through a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off after the cycle is finished.

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

Advantages to using the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in each room more consistent by enabling the fan to keep generating airflow.
  • Indoor air quality will be highest as constant airflow will keep moving airborne particles through the air filter.
  • Fewer start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps expand its life span. Since the air handler is usually a component of the furnace, this means you could prevent the need for furnace repair.

Disadvantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A continuous fan can increase your energy bills slightly.
  • Continuous airflow may clog your air filter soon, 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 can 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, forcing the HVAC system to work more to keep up with the set temperature. In serious heat, this may lead to needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear gets worse.

The opposite can occur over the winter. Cooler spaces such as a basement will hold onto cooler air, which will eventually flow into the rest of your home. Keeping the fan on will sometimes draw more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to keep warm.

If you’re still trying to determine if you should use the fan/on setting, remember that every home and family’s comfort needs are different. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on might work for you if:

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

Your home has 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 might help limit these changes by steadily refreshing each room’s airflow.