When the weather starts to cool off, you are probably wondering about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses frequently contribute a big portion of your monthly electric bill. To figure out new ways to reduce costs, some owners look closer at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they can use to boost efficiency?

The majority of thermostats come with a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is running during a typical cycle, what can the fan setting offer for the HVAC system? This guide will help. We’ll share precisely what the fan setting is and how you can use it to reduce costs over 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 stays on. Certain furnaces will run at a low level with this setting, but in most cases heating or cooling isn’t being made. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will run the fan over a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off when the cycle is complete.

There are advantages and disadvantages 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 every room more balanced by permitting the fan to keep running.
  • Indoor air quality should improve since continuous airflow will keep forcing airborne pollutants through the air filter.
  • A smaller amount of start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps lengthen its life span. Since the air handler is usually a component of the furnace, this means you might avoid needing furnace repair.

Disadvantages to using the Fan/On setting:

  • A continuous fan will likely increase your energy expenses by a small margin.
  • Continuous airflow can clog your air filter up more quickly, 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 Summer/Winter

Through the summer, warm air may stick around in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you use the fan setting, your HVAC system can draw this warm air into the rest of your home, forcing the HVAC system to run longer to maintain the preferred temperature. In extreme heat, this may lead to needing AC repair more quickly 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 may eventually make its way into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan setting on may pull more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to keep warm.

If you’re still trying to figure out if you should switch to the fan/on setting, don’t forget that every home and family’s comfort needs will vary. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on may be ideal for you if:

Someone in your household suffers from allergies. Allergies and similar respiratory conditions can be stressful on the family. Leaving the fan on can 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 difficult hot and cold spots that quickly return to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting should help limit these changes by consistently refreshing each room’s ventilation.