When the weather begins to cool off, you are probably wondering about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC bills frequently make up a significant portion of your monthly electric bill. To try and find ways to reduce costs, some people look closely at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they can use to increase efficiency?

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

Should I Use My Thermostat’s Fan Setting?

For the bulk of thermostats, the fan setting means that the air handler’s blower fan stays 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 made. The ‘Auto’ setting, on the other hand, will run the fan through a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off after the cycle is over.

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

Advantages to using the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in every room more uniform by allowing the fan to keep circulating air.
  • Indoor air quality can increase since steady airflow will keep passing airborne contaminants through the air filter.
  • A smaller amount of start-stop cycles for the HVAC fan helps lengthen its life span. Because the air handler is typically part of the furnace, this means you can avoid needing furnace repair.

Disadvantages to using the Fan/On setting:

  • A nonstop fan can increase your energy costs by a small margin.
  • Continuous 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

During the summer, warm air may persist in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you leave the fan on, your HVAC system might gradually move this warm air into the rest of your home, forcing the HVAC system to work harder to preserve the desired temperature. In extreme heat, this may lead to needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear increases.

The opposite can happen during the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which may eventually make its way into the rest of your home. Keeping the fan on may draw more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to keep warm.

If you’re still trying to decide if you should try the fan/on setting, keep in mind that every home and family’s comfort needs are not the same. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on may 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 should 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 stubborn hot and cold spots that quickly return to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting can help minimize these changes by constantly refreshing each room’s airflow.