As the weather begins to cool off, you may be concerned about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs frequently add up to a big portion of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to save, some people look closer at their thermostat. Could there be a setting they should use to improve efficiency?

The majority of thermostats have a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is on during a regular cycle, what can the fan setting provide for the HVAC system? This guide will help. We’ll review just what the fan setting is and how you can use it to reduce costs in the summer or winter.

Should I Use My Thermostat’s Fan Setting?

For most thermostats, the fan setting means that the system’s blower fan stays on. Some furnaces may continue to operate at a low level with this setting, but for the most part heating or cooling isn’t being produced. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will turn on the fan over a heating or cooling cycle and shut it off when the cycle is finished.

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

Advantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in each room more uniform by allowing the fan to keep circulating air.
  • Indoor air quality can increase as steady airflow will keep moving airborne particles 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 typically connected to the furnace, this means you could prevent the need for furnace repair.

Downsides to using the Fan/On setting:

  • A continuous fan can increase your energy costs slightly.
  • 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 Summer/Winter

Through the summer, warm air will sometimes linger in unfinished spaces including the attic or an attached garage. If you keep the fan running, your HVAC system may draw this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to run longer to keep up with the set temperature. In serious heat, this could lead to needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear gets worse.

The opposite can occur over the winter. Cooler spaces such as a basement will hold onto cooler air, which may eventually make its way into the rest of your home. Keeping the fan on 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 use the fan/on setting, keep in mind that every home and family’s comfort needs are different. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on may be ideal for you if:

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

Your home experiences hot and cold spots. All kinds of homes wrestle with stubborn hot and cold spots that quickly shift to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting can help lessen these changes by constantly refreshing each room’s airflow.