As the weather starts to cool off, you are probably concerned about how you’ll make the most of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses frequently make up a significant piece of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to save, some owners take a closer look at their thermostat. Is there a setting they could use to improve efficiency?

The bulk of thermostats come with a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is going during a regular cycle, what does the fan setting provide for an HVAC system? This guide will help. We’ll walk through just what the fan setting is and how you can use it to save money during the summer or winter.

How Do I Access the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For the majority of thermostats, the fan setting indicates that the air handler’s blower fan remains on. Certain furnaces may continue to generate heat at a low level in this setting, but in general heating or cooling isn’t being produced. The ‘Auto’ setting, in contrast, will turn on the fan over a heating or cooling cycle and shut it off after the cycle is complete.

There are pros and cons to switching on the fan setting on your thermostat, and whether you do or don’t {will|can|should]] depend on your unique comfort requirements.

Advantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in each room more balanced by permitting the fan to keep circulating air.
  • Indoor air quality will be highest because steady airflow will keep moving airborne pollutants into the air filter.
  • Fewer start-stop cycles for the system’s fan helps expand its life span. Because the air handler is often a component of the furnace, this means you can prevent the need for furnace repair.

Drawbacks to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A constant fan could raise your energy expenses slightly.
  • Continuous airflow may 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

In the summer, warm air will sometimes stick around in unfinished spaces such as the attic or an attached garage. If you leave the fan on, your HVAC system may draw this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to run longer to maintain the desired temperature. In extreme heat, this can result in needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear gets worse.

The opposite can take place over 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 setting on may pump 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, remember that every home and family’s comfort needs are different. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on might be best for you if:

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

Your home deals with hot and cold spots. Many homes wrestle with difficult hot and cold spots that quickly evolve to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting might help minimize these changes by steadily refreshing each room’s ventilation.