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 costs routinely contribute a significant portion of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to save, some people take a closer look at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they should use to boost efficiency?

The bulk of thermostats come with a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is on during a typical cycle, what does the fan setting provide for an HVAC system? This guide will help. We’ll share precisely what the fan setting is and whether you can use it to reduce costs in the summer or winter.

My Thermostat Has a Fan Setting?

For the majority of thermostats, the fan setting signifies that the system’s blower fan stays on. Some furnaces will generate heat at a low level with this setting, but in most cases heating or cooling isn’t being produced. The ‘Auto’ setting, on the other hand, will start the fan over a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off after the cycle is finished.

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 needs.

Advantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in every room more consistent by enabling the fan to keep running.
  • Indoor air quality should improve as continuous airflow will keep moving airborne contaminants through the air filter.
  • A smaller amount of start-stop cycles for the system’s fan helps expand its life span. Because the air handler is typically a component of the furnace, this means you could prevent the need for furnace repair.

Disadvantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A constant fan can raise your energy costs slightly.
  • Constant airflow could 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

During the summer, warm air may linger in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you leave the fan on, your HVAC system can pull this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to work harder to keep up with the desired temperature. In extreme heat, this may result in needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear increases.

The opposite can occur 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 setting on will sometimes 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 use 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 work for you if:

Someone in your household suffers from allergies. Allergies and other 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 has hot and cold spots. Many homes wrestle with difficult 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 consistently refreshing each room’s supply of air.