When the weather starts to cool off, you might be wondering about how you’ll make the most of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses routinely make up a significant piece of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to reduce costs, some homeowners look closer at their thermostat. Could there be a setting they should use to increase efficiency?

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

How Do I Access the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For the majority of thermostats, the fan setting means that the system’s blower fan stays on. A few furnaces will operate at a low level in this setting, but in general heating or cooling isn’t being made. The ‘Auto’ setting, in contrast, will start the fan through a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off when the cycle is finished.

There are benefits and drawbacks to using 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 uniform by enabling the fan to keep generating airflow.
  • Indoor air quality should improve since steady airflow will keep moving airborne pollutants through the air filter.
  • A smaller number of start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps expand its life span. Since the air handler is typically connected to the furnace, this means you can avoid needing furnace repair.

Disadvantages to using the Fan/On setting:

  • A continuous fan could add to your energy costs by a small margin.
  • Nonstop airflow may clog your air filter up more quickly, 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 can persist in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you use the fan setting, your HVAC system may draw this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to work more to maintain the desired temperature. In severe heat, this may lead to needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear grows.

The opposite can take place during the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which may eventually make its way into the rest of your home. Keeping the fan on could pull more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to stay warm.

If you’re still trying to decide if you should try the fan/on setting, keep in mind that every home and family’s comfort needs are not the same. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on might be best for you if:

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

Your home experiences hot and cold spots. All kinds of homes deal with stubborn hot and cold spots that quickly shift to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting might help minimize these changes by steadily refreshing each room’s ventilation.