When the weather starts to cool off, you may be concerned about how you’ll make the most of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC bills can make up a big piece of your monthly electric bill. To try and find ways to reduce costs, some people look closer at their thermostat. Is there a setting they could use to improve efficiency?

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

Should I Use My Thermostat’s Fan Setting?

For the majority of thermostats, the fan setting signifies that the HVAC blower fan remains on. Certain furnaces will generate heat at a low level with this setting, but in general heating or cooling isn’t being made. The ‘Auto’ setting, on the other hand, will run the fan during a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off after the cycle is complete.

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

Advantages to using the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in every room more balanced by permitting the fan to keep generating airflow.
  • Indoor air quality should improve because continuous airflow will keep forcing airborne contaminants through the air filter.
  • A smaller number of start-stop cycles for the HVAC fan helps extend its life span. As the air handler is often part of the furnace, this means you might avoid needing furnace repair.

Downsides to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • A constant fan could increase your energy expenses slightly.
  • Nonstop airflow may clog your air filter soon, increasing the frequency you’ll need 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 linger in unfinished spaces such as the attic or an attached garage. If you use the fan setting, your HVAC system may 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 can lead to needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear increases.

The reverse can take place in the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which will eventually make its way into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan setting on could pump 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 are different. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on may 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 should help to increase 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 should help minimize these changes by steadily refreshing each room’s ventilation.