When the weather is cooling off, you may be wondering about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs can contribute a significant chunk of your monthly electric bill. To try and find ways to reduce costs, some people take a closer look at their thermostat. Could there be a setting they can use to improve efficiency?

Most thermostats come with a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is on during a normal cycle, what can the fan setting provide for your HVAC system? This guide will help. We’ll review what exactly the fan setting is and whether you can use it to save money in the summer or winter.

My Thermostat Has a Fan Setting?

For most thermostats, the fan setting signifies that the system’s blower fan remains on. Some furnaces can generate heat at a low level with this setting, but in most cases heating or cooling isn’t being made. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will turn on the fan over a heating or cooling cycle and shut it off when 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 personal comfort needs.

Advantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature throughout your home more consistent by enabling the fan to keep generating airflow.
  • Indoor air quality will be highest as constant airflow will keep passing airborne particles into the air filter.
  • A smaller amount of start-stop cycles for the system’s fan helps extend its life span. Because the air handler is often a component of the furnace, this means you can minimize the risk of needing furnace repair.

Drawbacks to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • A constant fan will likely add to your energy expenses by a small margin.
  • Nonstop airflow can 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

Through the summer, warm air can persist in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you keep the fan running, your HVAC system can pull this warm air into the rest of your home, forcing the HVAC system to work more to preserve the desired temperature. In severe heat, this may lead to needing AC repair more often as wear and tear grows.

The opposite can occur in 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 could pull more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to remain warm.

If you’re still trying to decide if you should try the fan/on setting, remember that every home and family’s comfort needs will vary. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on could be ideal 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 experiences hot and cold spots. Many homes wrestle with persistent hot and cold spots that quickly evolve to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting can help limit these changes by constantly refreshing each room’s supply of air.