Once the weather is cooling off, you are probably concerned about how you’ll make the most of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses can add up to a big piece of your monthly electric bill. To try and find ways to save, some owners look closely at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they should use to increase efficiency?

Most thermostats include both a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is running during a normal cycle, what does the fan setting provide for your HVAC system? This guide will help. We’ll review what exactly the fan setting is and when you can use it to save money in the summer or winter.

What Is the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For the bulk of thermostats, the fan setting means that the system’s blower fan stays on. Some furnaces can operate at a low level in this setting, but in most cases heating or cooling isn’t being made. The ‘Auto’ setting, in contrast, will run the fan during a heating or cooling cycle and shut it off when the cycle is complete.

There are benefits and drawbacks to using the fan setting on your thermostat, and what’s ideal {will|can|should]] depend on your distinct comfort requirements.

Advantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in each room more balanced by enabling the fan to keep running.
  • Indoor air quality can increase as continuous airflow will keep moving airborne pollutants into the air filter.
  • A smaller amount of start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps lengthen its life span. As the air handler is typically a component of the furnace, this means you could minimize the risk of needing furnace repair.

Drawbacks to using the Fan/On setting:

  • A constant fan could add to your energy costs somewhat.
  • Constant airflow can clog your air filter in a shorter amount of time, increasing the frequency you should replace it.

{Choosing Between|Should My Thermostat Be on|Which Setting for My Thermostat? Fan or Auto in Each Season

Through the summer, warm air can stick around in unfinished spaces including the attic or an attached garage. If you leave the fan on, your HVAC system might draw this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to run longer to keep up with the desired temperature. In serious heat, this could lead to needing AC repair more often as wear and tear gets worse.

The opposite can take place in the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which will eventually make its way into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan running could pull more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to stay warm.

If you’re still trying to figure out if you should switch to the fan/on setting, remember that every home and family’s comfort needs will vary. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on could work 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 should help to increase indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

Your home experiences hot and cold spots. All kinds of 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 lessen these changes by steadily refreshing each room’s airflow.