Once the weather begins to cool off, you are probably concerned about how you’ll make the most of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses can add up to a large piece of your monthly electric bill. To figure out new ways to reduce costs, some homeowners look closely at their thermostat. Maybe there’s 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 does the fan setting offer for the HVAC system? This guide should help. We’ll walk through precisely what the fan setting is and when you can use it to reduce costs during the summer or winter.

How Do I Access the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For most thermostats, the fan setting signifies that the system’s blower fan keeps running. Some furnaces can operate at a low level with this setting, but in most cases heating or cooling isn’t being made. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will turn on the fan over a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off once the cycle is complete.

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

Advantages to trying the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature throughout your home more uniform by permitting the fan to keep running.
  • Indoor air quality should improve as steady airflow will keep passing airborne pollutants into the air filter.
  • A smaller number of start-stop cycles for the HVAC fan helps expand its life span. Since the air handler is usually a component of the furnace, this means you might prevent the need for furnace repair.

Disadvantages to using the Fan/On setting:

  • A constant fan can raise your energy bills by a small margin.
  • Continuous airflow can clog your air filter soon, increasing the frequency you should replace it.

{Choosing Between|Should My Thermostat Be on|Which Setting for My Thermostat? Fan or Auto in Summer/Winter

In the summer, warm air can linger in unfinished spaces including the attic or an attached garage. If you leave the fan on, your HVAC system can 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 serious heat, this may lead to needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear increases.

The opposite can occur over the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which may eventually drift into the rest of your home. Keeping the fan on will sometimes 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 use the fan/on setting, keep in mind that every home and family’s comfort needs are different. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on could work for you if:

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

Your home experiences hot and cold spots. All kinds of homes wrestle with persistent hot and cold spots that quickly evolve to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting might help lessen these changes by steadily refreshing each room’s ventilation.