As the weather starts to cool off, you may be wondering about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses routinely add up to a large piece of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to save, some owners look closer at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they can use to increase efficiency?

The majority of thermostats have a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is going during a regular cycle, what will the fan setting provide for your HVAC system? This guide can help. We’ll share just what the fan setting is and when you can use it to cut costs during the summer or winter.

Should I Use My Thermostat’s Fan Setting?

For the majority of thermostats, the fan setting means that the system’s blower fan remains on. A few furnaces may continue to operate at a low level with this setting, but for the most part heating or cooling isn’t being generated. The ‘Auto’ setting, on the other hand, will run the fan through a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off after the cycle is finished.

There are benefits and drawbacks to switching on the fan setting on your thermostat, and what’s ideal {will|can|should]] depend on your unique comfort requirements.

Advantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in every room more consistent by permitting the fan to keep circulating air.
  • Indoor air quality will be highest as constant airflow will keep moving airborne pollutants into the air filter.
  • Fewer start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps extend its life span. Because the air handler is usually connected to the furnace, this means you can prevent the need for furnace repair.

Disadvantages to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • A nonstop fan can increase your energy bills by a small margin.
  • Nonstop airflow may clog your air filter up more quickly, increasing the frequency you should replace it.

{Choosing Between|Should My Thermostat Be on|Which Setting for My Thermostat? Fan or Auto in Summer/Winter

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 gradually move this warm air into the rest of your home, compelling the HVAC system to work more to keep up with the desired temperature. In extreme heat, this could result in needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear increases.

The reverse can take place over the winter. Cooler spaces such as a basement will hold onto cooler air, which can eventually flow into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan setting on could pull more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to stay warm.

If you’re still trying to figure out if you should try the fan/on setting, remember 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 suffers from allergies. Allergies and other respiratory conditions can be tough 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. Many homes deal with difficult hot and cold spots that quickly evolve to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting should help lessen these changes by constantly refreshing each room’s supply of air.