When the weather starts to cool off, you may be thinking about how you’ll make the most of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses frequently add up to a big piece of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to reduce costs, some people take a closer look at their thermostat. Is there a setting they should use to improve efficiency?

Most thermostats come with a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is on during a regular cycle, what does the fan setting offer for your HVAC system? This guide should help. We’ll review precisely what the fan setting is and whether you can use it to save money over the summer or winter.

My Thermostat Has a Fan Setting?

For most thermostats, the fan setting means that the air handler’s blower fan stays on. Some furnaces may continue to run at a low level with this setting, but for the most part heating or cooling isn’t being generated. The ‘Auto’ setting, on the other hand, will run the fan through a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off once the cycle is finished.

There are benefits and drawbacks to trying the fan setting on your thermostat, and the ideal option {will|can|should]] depend on your unique comfort requirements.

Advantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in every room more consistent by permitting the fan to keep running.
  • Indoor air quality should improve since continuous airflow will keep forcing airborne pollutants into the air filter.
  • A smaller number of start-stop cycles for the system’s fan helps lengthen its life span. Since the air handler is typically a component of the furnace, this means you can avoid needing furnace repair.

Downsides to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A nonstop fan can add to your energy bills somewhat.
  • Continuous airflow could clog your air filter up more quickly, increasing the frequency you should replace it.

Which Setting for My Thermostat? Fan or Auto in Summer/Winter

During the summer, warm air will sometimes persist in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you use the fan setting, your HVAC system can pull this warm air into the rest of your home, compelling the HVAC system to work harder to preserve the desired temperature. In severe heat, this can result in needing AC repair more often as wear and tear increases.

The reverse can take place during 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 will sometimes pull more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to remain warm.

If you’re still trying to decide if you should try 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 suffers from allergies. Allergies and other respiratory conditions can be hard on the family. Leaving the fan on is more likely to improve indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

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