When the weather is cooling off, you are probably wondering about how you’ll make the most of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs can add up to a significant chunk 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 could use to boost efficiency?

Most thermostats have a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is running during a typical cycle, what will the fan setting provide for an HVAC system? This guide should help. We’ll review precisely what the fan setting is and whether you can use it to save money during the summer or winter.

My Thermostat Has a Fan Setting?

For the bulk of thermostats, the fan setting means that the system’s blower fan keeps running. Certain furnaces will operate at a low level with this setting, but in general 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 switch it off once the cycle is complete.

There are pros and cons to switching on the fan setting on your thermostat, and what’s ideal {will|can|should]] depend on your personal comfort preferences.

Advantages to using the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in every room more uniform by enabling the fan to keep running.
  • Indoor air quality will be highest as steady airflow will keep forcing airborne contaminants into the air filter.
  • A smaller number 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 might avoid needing furnace repair.

Drawbacks to using the Fan/On setting:

  • A continuous fan could add to your energy costs by a small margin.
  • Constant airflow can clog your air filter up more quickly, 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 Each Season

During the summer, warm air will sometimes stick around in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you use the fan setting, your HVAC system might draw this warm air into the rest of your home, compelling the HVAC system to work harder to preserve the set temperature. In serious heat, this may lead to needing AC repair more often as wear and tear gets worse.

The reverse can occur over the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which can eventually make its way into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan running may draw 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 are different. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on may 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 improve indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

Your home has hot and cold spots. Many homes wrestle with stubborn hot and cold spots that quickly shift to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting might help lessen these changes by consistently refreshing each room’s airflow.