When the weather begins to cool off, you might be concerned about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses frequently add up to a large piece of your monthly electric bill. To try and find 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 going during a regular cycle, what does the fan setting offer for your HVAC system? This guide can help. We’ll walk through just what the fan setting is and how you can use it to save money in the summer or winter.

Should I Use My Thermostat’s Fan Setting?

For most thermostats, the fan setting signifies that the HVAC blower fan stays on. Some furnaces will run 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 through a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off once the cycle is over.

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

Advantages to trying the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in every room more balanced by enabling the fan to keep generating airflow.
  • Indoor air quality will be highest as steady airflow will keep forcing airborne particles through the air filter.
  • A smaller number of start-stop cycles for the HVAC fan helps extend its life span. As the air handler is usually part of the furnace, this means you might avoid needing furnace repair.

Downsides to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • A constant fan could raise your energy bills slightly.
  • Constant airflow could 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

During the summer, warm air will sometimes persist in unfinished spaces including the attic or an attached garage. If you keep the fan running, your HVAC system may pull this warm air into the rest of your home, forcing the HVAC system to work harder to preserve the set temperature. In severe heat, this may result in needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear gets worse.

The opposite can take place during the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which can eventually drift into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan running will sometimes pump more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to remain warm.

If you’re still trying to decide if you should try 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 suffers from allergies. Allergies and other respiratory conditions can be tough on the family. Leaving the fan on is more likely to enhance 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 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.