As the weather begins to cool off, you may be wondering about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses frequently add up to a large piece of your monthly electric bill. To try and find ways to reduce costs, some people take a closer look at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they could use to improve efficiency?

Most thermostats include both a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is running during a typical cycle, what will the fan setting offer for an HVAC system? This guide can help. We’ll review precisely what the fan setting is and how you can use it to cut costs during the summer or winter.

My Thermostat Has a Fan Setting?

For the bulk of thermostats, the fan setting signifies that the system’s blower fan remains on. Some furnaces will generate heat at a low level in this setting, but in most cases heating or cooling isn’t being produced. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will turn on the fan through a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off once the cycle is finished.

There are pros and cons to trying the fan setting on your thermostat, and what’s ideal {will|can|should]] depend on your unique comfort needs.

Advantages to using the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature throughout your home more consistent by enabling the fan to keep running.
  • Indoor air quality can increase since steady airflow will keep forcing airborne pollutants into the air filter.
  • A smaller number of start-stop cycles for the HVAC fan helps lengthen its life span. As the air handler is usually a component of the furnace, this means you can avoid needing furnace repair.

Drawbacks to using the Fan/On setting:

  • A continuous fan will likely raise your energy costs slightly.
  • Constant airflow can clog your air filter soon, 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

Through the summer, warm air will sometimes stick around in unfinished spaces including 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, compelling the HVAC system to work more to keep up with the desired temperature. In serious heat, this can lead to needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear grows.

The opposite can take place in the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which can eventually make its way into the rest of your home. Keeping the fan on will sometimes draw 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 might be ideal for you if:

Someone in your household has allergies. Allergies and similar respiratory conditions can be tough on the family. Leaving the fan on can help to increase indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

Your home has hot and cold spots. Lots of homes wrestle with stubborn hot and cold spots that quickly shift to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting can help lessen these changes by steadily refreshing each room’s airflow.