Once the weather starts to cool off, you may be wondering about how you’ll make the most of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs frequently contribute a significant portion of your monthly electric bill. To figure out new ways to save, some people take a closer look at their thermostat. Could there be a setting they could use to boost efficiency?

The majority of thermostats include both a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is running during a typical cycle, what can the fan setting provide for an HVAC system? This guide can help. We’ll walk through precisely what the fan setting is and how you can use it to save money during the summer or winter.

My Thermostat Has a Fan Setting?

For most thermostats, the fan setting means that the HVAC blower fan stays on. Some furnaces can operate at a low level with this setting, but in general heating or cooling isn’t being produced. The ‘Auto’ setting, in contrast, will start the fan over a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off after the cycle is complete.

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

Advantages to using the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature throughout your home more balanced by permitting the fan to keep running.
  • Indoor air quality will be highest because continuous airflow will keep moving airborne contaminants into the air filter.
  • A smaller amount of start-stop cycles for the HVAC fan helps expand its life span. Since the air handler is usually a component of the furnace, this means you might prevent the need for furnace repair.

Downsides to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A continuous fan could increase your energy costs somewhat.
  • Nonstop airflow can clog your air filter soon, increasing the frequency you’ll need to replace it.

{Choosing Between|Should My Thermostat Be on|Which Setting for My Thermostat? Fan or Auto in Each Season

Through the summer, warm air can linger in unfinished spaces including the attic or an attached garage. If you use the fan setting, your HVAC system may pull this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to work harder to preserve the preferred temperature. In serious heat, this may result in needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear gets worse.

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

If you’re still trying to decide if you should use 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 might work for you if:

Someone in your household deals with allergies. Allergies and similar respiratory conditions can be hard on the family. Leaving the fan on can help to improve indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

Your home has hot and cold spots. Lots of homes wrestle with stubborn hot and cold spots that quickly return to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting should help minimize these changes by consistently refreshing each room’s supply of air.