Once the weather starts to cool off, you may be concerned about how you’ll make the most of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses routinely make up a significant portion of your monthly electric bill. To try and find ways to save, some homeowners look closely at their thermostat. Is there a setting they should use to improve efficiency?

The majority of thermostats come with a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is on during a normal cycle, what does the fan setting offer for your HVAC system? This guide can help. We’ll share just what the fan setting is and when you can use it to reduce costs over the summer or winter.

Should I Use My Thermostat’s Fan Setting?

For the majority of thermostats, the fan setting means that the system’s blower fan remains on. A few furnaces may continue to operate at a low level in this setting, but for the most part heating or cooling isn’t being generated. The ‘Auto’ setting, on the other hand, will start the fan over a heating or cooling cycle and shut it off after the cycle is finished.

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

Advantages to using the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in every room more uniform by permitting the fan to keep running.
  • Indoor air quality will be highest since continuous airflow will keep forcing airborne particles through the air filter.
  • A smaller amount of start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps extend its life span. Because the air handler is usually part of the furnace, this means you could prevent the need for furnace repair.

Disadvantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A constant fan can raise your energy expenses slightly.
  • Continuous 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

During the summer, warm air can stick around in unfinished spaces including the attic or an attached garage. If you keep the fan running, your HVAC system can gradually move this warm air into the rest of your home, forcing the HVAC system to work more to maintain the desired temperature. In severe heat, this can lead to needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear increases.

The opposite can happen during the winter. Cooler spaces such as a basement will hold onto cooler air, which will eventually make its way into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan setting on will sometimes 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 are different. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on might be best 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 can help to increase indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

Your home deals with hot and cold spots. Many homes wrestle 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 supply of air.