When the weather begins to cool off, you might be thinking about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC bills can add up to a big chunk of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to reduce costs, some owners look closely at their thermostat. Is there a setting they should use to increase efficiency?

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

My Thermostat Has a Fan Setting?

For the majority of thermostats, the fan setting means that the HVAC blower fan stays on. A few furnaces may continue to operate at a low level with this setting, but for the most part heating or cooling isn’t being generated. The ‘Auto’ setting, in contrast, will run the fan over a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off when the cycle is finished.

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

Advantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature throughout your home more consistent by enabling the fan to keep generating airflow.
  • Indoor air quality should improve as steady airflow will keep passing airborne contaminants through the air filter.
  • A smaller amount of start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps expand its life span. Since the air handler is often part 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 slightly.
  • Constant airflow could 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 Summer/Winter

Through the summer, warm air can persist in unfinished spaces like 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, pushing the HVAC system to work more to keep up with the desired temperature. In severe heat, this could lead to needing AC repair more often as wear and tear increases.

The opposite can take place in the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which can eventually flow into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan setting on may pump 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 try the fan/on setting, keep in mind that every home and family’s comfort needs will vary. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on could be ideal for you if:

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

Your home deals with hot and cold spots. Many homes wrestle with difficult hot and cold spots that quickly return to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting might help limit these changes by steadily refreshing each room’s ventilation.