Once the weather is cooling off, you might be concerned about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses can make up a significant piece of your monthly electric bill. To figure out new ways to save, some owners take a closer look at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they can use to improve efficiency?

The bulk of thermostats have a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is going during a normal cycle, what can the fan setting provide for the HVAC system? This guide can help. We’ll review precisely what the fan setting is and when you can use it to cut costs over the summer or winter.

My Thermostat Has a Fan Setting?

For most thermostats, the fan setting means that the HVAC blower fan stays on. A few furnaces can operate at a low level with this setting, but in general heating or cooling isn’t being generated. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will start the fan through a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off when the cycle is over.

There are advantages and disadvantages to trying the fan setting on your thermostat, and whether you do or don’t {will|can|should]] depend on your distinct comfort requirements.

Advantages to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature throughout your home more consistent by enabling the fan to keep generating airflow.
  • Indoor air quality will be highest since constant airflow will keep moving airborne particles through the air filter.
  • A smaller amount of start-stop cycles for the HVAC fan helps lengthen its life span. Since the air handler is often a component of the furnace, this means you might prevent the need for furnace repair.

Drawbacks to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A continuous fan will likely add to your energy expenses by a small margin.
  • Continuous airflow could clog your air filter up more quickly, 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

In the summer, warm air will sometimes linger in unfinished spaces including the attic or an attached garage. If you keep the fan running, your HVAC system might pull this warm air into the rest of your home, compelling the HVAC system to run longer to keep up with the preferred temperature. In severe heat, this could result in needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear gets worse.

The opposite can take place over the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which will eventually drift into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan setting on could pump more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to stay warm.

If you’re still trying to figure out 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 could be ideal for you if:

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

Your home experiences hot and cold spots. Many homes deal with difficult hot and cold spots that quickly evolve to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting should help lessen these changes by steadily refreshing each room’s ventilation.