Once the weather is cooling off, you are probably wondering about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs can make up a significant portion of your monthly electric bill. To figure out new ways to save, some homeowners look closely at their thermostat. Is there a setting they can use to increase efficiency?

Most thermostats include both a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is running during a normal cycle, what will the fan setting provide for your HVAC system? This guide will help. We’ll review precisely what the fan setting is and whether you can use it to reduce costs over the summer or winter.

How Do I Access the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For the bulk of thermostats, the fan setting indicates that the system’s blower fan keeps running. A few furnaces may continue to operate at a low level with this setting, but for the most part heating or cooling isn’t being made. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will turn on the fan during a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off after the cycle is complete.

There are advantages and disadvantages to trying the fan setting on your thermostat, and the ideal option {will|can|should]] depend on your personal comfort needs.

Advantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in each room more balanced by enabling the fan to keep generating airflow.
  • Indoor air quality will be highest since constant airflow will keep passing airborne particles through the air filter.
  • A smaller amount of start-stop cycles for the HVAC fan helps expand its life span. Because the air handler is often part of the furnace, this means you could prevent the need for furnace repair.

Downsides to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A constant fan can add to your energy costs somewhat.
  • Nonstop airflow may clog your air filter in a shorter amount of time, increasing the frequency you should 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 can persist in unfinished spaces such as the attic or an attached garage. If you leave the fan on, your HVAC system might pull this warm air into the rest of your home, compelling the HVAC system to work more to preserve the preferred temperature. In serious heat, this can lead to needing AC repair more often as wear and tear grows.

The opposite can happen in the winter. Cooler spaces such as a basement will hold onto cooler air, which can eventually flow into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan running could pump more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to keep warm.

If you’re still trying to determine if you should use the fan/on setting, don’t forget that every home and family’s comfort needs are different. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on could work for you if:

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

Your home deals with hot and cold spots. Lots of homes deal with stubborn hot and cold spots that quickly evolve to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting can help lessen these changes by consistently refreshing each room’s supply of air.