As the weather is cooling off, you may be thinking about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs frequently add up to a significant chunk of your monthly electric bill. To try and find ways to save, some people look closely at their thermostat. Could there be a setting they should use to increase efficiency?

The bulk of thermostats have a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is running during a typical cycle, what does the fan setting provide for your HVAC system? This guide will help. We’ll share what exactly the fan setting is and whether you can use it to save money in the summer or winter.

How Do I Access the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For the bulk of thermostats, the fan setting indicates that the HVAC blower fan stays on. A few furnaces can operate at a low level with this setting, but in general heating or cooling isn’t being generated. The ‘Auto’ setting, on the other hand, will run the fan over a heating or cooling cycle and shut it off after the cycle is complete.

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

Advantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in each room more consistent by allowing the fan to keep circulating air.
  • Indoor air quality will be highest since steady airflow will keep forcing airborne contaminants into the air filter.
  • Fewer start-stop cycles for the system’s fan helps extend its life span. Since the air handler is usually a component of the furnace, this means you could avoid needing furnace repair.

Drawbacks to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A constant fan can increase your energy expenses by a small margin.
  • Continuous airflow may 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 Summer/Winter

In the summer, warm air will sometimes stick around in unfinished spaces including the attic or an attached garage. If you keep the fan running, your HVAC system can draw this warm air into the rest of your home, forcing the HVAC system to run longer to preserve the set temperature. In severe heat, this may result in needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear increases.

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

If you’re still trying to figure out if you should use the fan/on setting, remember 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 suffers from allergies. Allergies and other respiratory conditions can be hard on the family. Leaving the fan on can help to enhance indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

Your home deals with hot and cold spots. Many homes wrestle with persistent hot and cold spots that quickly shift to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting should help limit these changes by steadily refreshing each room’s airflow.