Once the weather starts to cool off, you might be wondering about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses frequently make up a significant piece of your monthly electric bill. To try and find ways to save, some homeowners look closely at their thermostat. Could there be a setting they can use to boost efficiency?

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

Should I Use My Thermostat’s Fan Setting?

For the bulk of thermostats, the fan setting signifies that the HVAC blower fan remains on. A few 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, conversely, will run the fan over 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 the ideal option {will|can|should]] depend on your personal comfort needs.

Advantages to using the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in every room more uniform by permitting the fan to keep running.
  • Indoor air quality can increase as continuous airflow will keep passing airborne particles into the air filter.
  • Fewer start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps expand its life span. As the air handler is usually part of the furnace, this means you could prevent the need for furnace repair.

Drawbacks to using the Fan/On setting:

  • A continuous fan can raise your energy expenses somewhat.
  • Constant airflow may 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 Summer/Winter

Through the summer, warm air may stick around in unfinished spaces such as 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 more to keep up with the preferred temperature. In extreme heat, this can lead to needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear increases.

The reverse can occur over the winter. Cooler spaces such as a basement will hold onto cooler air, which may eventually drift into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan setting on will sometimes pump more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to stay warm.

If you’re still trying to determine 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 be best 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 deal with persistent hot and cold spots that quickly return to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting should help limit these changes by consistently refreshing each room’s airflow.