Once the weather begins to cool off, you are probably wondering about how you’ll make the most of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses routinely add up to a significant portion of your monthly electric bill. To try and find ways to reduce costs, some homeowners look closer at their thermostat. Is there a setting they should use to improve efficiency?

The bulk of thermostats have a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is going during a typical cycle, what can the fan setting offer for the HVAC system? This guide will help. We’ll review just what 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 most thermostats, the fan setting means that the system’s blower fan keeps running. Certain furnaces will generate heat at a low level with this setting, but in most cases heating or cooling isn’t being made. The ‘Auto’ setting, on the other hand, will start the fan over a heating or cooling cycle and shut it off after the cycle is complete.

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

Advantages to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in each room more uniform by allowing the fan to keep running.
  • Indoor air quality should improve since constant airflow will keep forcing airborne particles through the air filter.
  • Fewer start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps expand its life span. As the air handler is typically connected to the furnace, this means you could avoid needing furnace repair.

Downsides to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A constant fan will likely raise 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 can persist in unfinished spaces such as the attic or an attached garage. If you use the fan setting, your HVAC system can pull this warm air into the rest of your home, compelling the HVAC system to work more to maintain the desired temperature. In extreme heat, this may result in needing AC repair more often as wear and tear gets worse.

The opposite can take place in 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 try the fan/on setting, remember that every home and family’s comfort needs are not the same. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on could be ideal for you if:

Someone in your household deals with allergies. Allergies and similar respiratory conditions can be hard 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. Many 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 consistently refreshing each room’s supply of air.