Once the weather begins to cool off, you may be wondering about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs frequently add up to a big chunk of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to save, some owners look closely at their thermostat. Could there be a setting they can use to boost efficiency?

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

My Thermostat Has a Fan Setting?

For the bulk of thermostats, the fan setting means that the HVAC blower fan stays on. Some furnaces may continue to run at a low level in this setting, but in most cases heating or cooling isn’t being made. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will run the fan during a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off when the cycle is over.

There are advantages and disadvantages to using the fan setting on your thermostat, and what’s ideal {will|can|should]] depend on your distinct comfort needs.

Advantages to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature throughout your home more balanced by enabling the fan to keep circulating air.
  • Indoor air quality will be highest as continuous airflow will keep moving airborne pollutants through the air filter.
  • Fewer start-stop cycles for the system’s fan helps extend its life span. As the air handler is usually connected to the furnace, this means you could avoid needing furnace repair.

Drawbacks to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A continuous fan can increase your energy expenses somewhat.
  • Continuous airflow may clog your air filter in a shorter amount of time, 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 Summer/Winter

In the summer, warm air will sometimes stick around in unfinished spaces including the attic or an attached garage. If you use the fan setting, your HVAC system can pull this warm air into the rest of your home, forcing the HVAC system to run longer to maintain the preferred temperature. In severe heat, this can lead to needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear gets worse.

The reverse can occur during the winter. Cooler spaces such as a basement will hold onto cooler air, which may eventually flow into the rest of your home. Keeping the fan on could pump more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to keep warm.

If you’re still trying to decide if you should use the fan/on setting, keep in mind that every home and family’s comfort needs will vary. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on might be ideal for you if:

Someone in your household deals with allergies. Allergies and similar respiratory conditions can be hard 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. Lots of homes wrestle with stubborn hot and cold spots that quickly return to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting should help lessen these changes by constantly refreshing each room’s ventilation.