When the weather is cooling off, you may be thinking about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses frequently make up a large piece of your monthly electric bill. To try and find ways to save, some owners take a closer look at their thermostat. Is there a setting they should use to boost efficiency?

Most thermostats have a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is running during a normal cycle, what will the fan setting offer for an HVAC system? This guide will help. We’ll walk through what exactly the fan setting is and when you can use it to reduce costs in the summer or winter.

How Do I Access the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For most thermostats, the fan setting indicates that the air handler’s blower fan keeps running. A few furnaces can run at a low level in this setting, but for the most part heating or cooling isn’t being generated. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will start the fan over a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off after the cycle is complete.

There are pros and cons to trying the fan setting on your thermostat, and what’s ideal {will|can|should]] depend on your personal comfort requirements.

Advantages to using the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in each room more balanced by enabling the fan to keep generating airflow.
  • Indoor air quality will be highest since constant airflow will keep passing airborne pollutants into the air filter.
  • A smaller amount of start-stop cycles for the system’s fan helps extend its life span. Because the air handler is often a component of the furnace, this means you might minimize the risk of needing furnace repair.

Disadvantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A constant fan can increase your energy expenses slightly.
  • Nonstop airflow could clog your air filter soon, increasing the frequency you should 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 persist in unfinished spaces including the attic or an attached garage. If you use the fan setting, your HVAC system may pull this warm air into the rest of your home, compelling the HVAC system to work harder to preserve the preferred temperature. In severe heat, this could lead to needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear grows.

The opposite can take place during 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 running could pump more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to keep warm.

If you’re still trying to decide if you should try the fan/on setting, remember that every home and family’s comfort needs are different. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on could be best for you if:

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

Your home has hot and cold spots. Lots of homes wrestle with persistent hot and cold spots that quickly shift to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting can help minimize these changes by consistently refreshing each room’s airflow.