Once the weather is cooling off, you may be concerned about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses frequently add up to a significant portion of your monthly electric bill. To figure out new ways to reduce costs, some people look closer at their thermostat. Could there be a setting they can use to boost efficiency?

Most thermostats include both a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is on during a normal cycle, what can the fan setting offer for an HVAC system? This guide should help. We’ll review just what the fan setting is and how you can use it to cut costs in the summer or winter.

Should I Use My Thermostat’s Fan Setting?

For most thermostats, the fan setting means that the HVAC blower fan keeps running. Some furnaces will operate at a low level with this setting, but in general heating or cooling isn’t being made. The ‘Auto’ setting, in contrast, will start the fan over a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off when the cycle is finished.

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

Advantages to using the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in each room more consistent by enabling the fan to keep generating airflow.
  • Indoor air quality can increase as continuous airflow will keep passing airborne contaminants through the air filter.
  • A smaller number of start-stop cycles for the HVAC fan helps lengthen its life span. As the air handler is often a component of the furnace, this means you can minimize the risk of needing furnace repair.

Downsides to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A constant fan can raise your energy expenses slightly.
  • Nonstop airflow can clog your air filter in a shorter amount of time, 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 including the attic or an attached garage. If you keep the fan running, your HVAC system might pull this warm air into the rest of your home, forcing the HVAC system to work harder to keep up with the preferred temperature. In extreme heat, this may lead to needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear grows.

The opposite can happen during the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which may eventually flow into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan running may pull more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to remain warm.

If you’re still trying to determine if you should switch to the fan/on setting, remember that every home and family’s comfort needs are not the same. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on might be best for you if:

Someone in your household deals with allergies. Allergies and other respiratory conditions can be stressful on the family. Leaving the fan on can help to increase indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

Your home experiences hot and cold spots. Many 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 lessen these changes by constantly refreshing each room’s supply of air.