When the weather starts to cool off, you are probably thinking about how you’ll make the most of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs frequently add up to a significant portion of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to save, some owners take a closer look at their thermostat. Could there be a setting they could use to boost efficiency?

The majority of thermostats have a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is on during a regular cycle, what does the fan setting offer for an HVAC system? This guide can help. We’ll walk through what exactly the fan setting is and when you can use it to save money over the summer or winter.

How Do I Access the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For the majority of thermostats, the fan setting signifies that the system’s blower fan keeps running. A few furnaces can run at a low level with this setting, but in general heating or cooling isn’t being made. The ‘Auto’ setting, in contrast, will turn on the fan during a heating or cooling cycle and shut it off after the cycle is finished.

There are benefits and drawbacks to using the fan setting on your thermostat, and whether you do or don’t {will|can|should]] depend on your distinct comfort requirements.

Advantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in each room more uniform by enabling the fan to keep circulating air.
  • Indoor air quality will be highest because continuous airflow will keep passing airborne particles into the air filter.
  • A smaller amount of start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps expand its life span. Since the air handler is typically part of the furnace, this means you can avoid needing furnace repair.

Downsides to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A nonstop fan will likely increase your energy expenses by a small margin.
  • Continuous 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 Each Season

During the summer, warm air will sometimes persist in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you keep the fan running, your HVAC system can draw this warm air into the rest of your home, compelling the HVAC system to work more to keep up with the set temperature. In extreme heat, this may lead to needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear gets worse.

The opposite can take place over 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 could 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 will vary. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on could be best for you if:

Someone in your household deals with allergies. Allergies and similar respiratory conditions can be stressful 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. Lots of homes deal with stubborn hot and cold spots that quickly shift to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting might help lessen these changes by steadily refreshing each room’s supply of air.