When the weather is cooling off, you are probably thinking about how you’ll make the most of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC bills routinely make up a big portion of your monthly electric bill. To try and find ways to reduce costs, some owners look closer at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they can use to improve efficiency?

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

Should I Use My Thermostat’s Fan Setting?

For the bulk of thermostats, the fan setting indicates that the HVAC blower fan stays on. A few furnaces will generate heat at a low level with this setting, but for the most part heating or cooling isn’t being produced. The ‘Auto’ setting, on the other hand, will turn on the fan during a heating or cooling cycle and shut it off once the cycle is over.

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

Advantages to utilizing 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 can increase as constant airflow will keep passing airborne contaminants into the air filter.
  • A smaller number of start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps lengthen its life span. Because the air handler is typically part of the furnace, this means you could avoid needing furnace repair.

Disadvantages to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • A nonstop fan could raise your energy costs slightly.
  • Continuous airflow could 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 Summer/Winter

During the summer, warm air can persist in unfinished spaces including the attic or an attached garage. If you leave the fan on, your HVAC system can draw this warm air into the rest of your home, compelling the HVAC system to run longer to preserve the desired temperature. In serious heat, this could lead to needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear gets worse.

The opposite can occur in the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which may eventually drift into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan running may pull more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to remain warm.

If you’re still trying to determine 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 work for you if:

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

Your home deals with hot and cold spots. Lots of homes wrestle with persistent 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 constantly refreshing each room’s supply of air.