As the weather begins to cool off, you might be wondering about how you’ll make the most of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses frequently add up to a big portion of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to save, some homeowners take a closer look at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they could use to boost efficiency?

The majority of thermostats come with a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is on during a regular cycle, what will the fan setting offer for an HVAC system? This guide should help. We’ll review just what the fan setting is and when 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 signifies that the HVAC blower fan stays on. Some furnaces will operate at a low level with this setting, but for the most part heating or cooling isn’t being generated. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will run the fan during a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off after the cycle is finished.

There are benefits and drawbacks to switching on the fan setting on your thermostat, and whether you do or don’t {will|can|should]] depend on your distinct comfort preferences.

Advantages to using the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in every room more uniform by permitting the fan to keep circulating air.
  • Indoor air quality will be highest because constant airflow will keep moving airborne particles through the air filter.
  • Fewer start-stop cycles for the HVAC fan helps lengthen its life span. Because the air handler is typically a component of the furnace, this means you can avoid needing furnace repair.

Disadvantages to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • A nonstop fan will likely increase your energy bills by a small margin.
  • Constant 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 Each Season

In the summer, warm air can stick around in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you use the fan setting, your HVAC system might pull this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to run longer to preserve the desired temperature. In extreme heat, this could result in needing AC repair more often as wear and tear increases.

The reverse can take place in the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which may eventually make its way into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan setting on could draw more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to remain warm.

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

Someone in your household deals with 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 experiences hot and cold spots. Lots of 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 minimize these changes by constantly refreshing each room’s airflow.