As the weather starts to cool off, you might be wondering about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs frequently contribute a large chunk of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to reduce costs, some homeowners look closer at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they can use to boost efficiency?

The bulk of thermostats have a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is going during a normal cycle, what will the fan setting offer for the HVAC system? This guide should help. We’ll share what exactly the fan setting is and whether you can use it to cut costs in the summer or winter.

What Is the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For the bulk of thermostats, the fan setting signifies that the air handler’s blower fan remains on. A few furnaces can operate 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 turn it off once the cycle is over.

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

Advantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in each room more balanced by enabling the fan to keep generating airflow.
  • Indoor air quality should improve because constant airflow will keep passing airborne contaminants through the air filter.
  • A smaller number of start-stop cycles for the HVAC fan helps expand its life span. As the air handler is usually connected to the furnace, this means you might avoid needing furnace repair.

Downsides to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A nonstop fan can increase your energy expenses somewhat.
  • Constant airflow could 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 Each Season

In the summer, warm air will sometimes persist in unfinished spaces like 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 work harder to maintain the desired temperature. In serious heat, this may result in needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear gets worse.

The reverse can take place in the winter. Cooler spaces such as a basement will hold onto cooler air, which can eventually flow into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan setting on will sometimes pump more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to stay 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 could be ideal for you if:

Someone in your household deals with allergies. Allergies and other respiratory conditions can be tough on the family. Leaving the fan on is more likely to improve indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

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