When the weather starts to cool off, you might be wondering about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs routinely make up a significant chunk of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to lower their HVAC bill, some homeowners look closely at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they should use to boost efficiency?

Most thermostats have a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is on during a typical cycle, what can the fan setting offer for your HVAC system? This guide will help. We’ll review what exactly the fan setting is and whether you can use it to save money in the summer or winter.

Should I Use My Thermostat’s Fan Setting?

For the bulk of thermostats, the fan setting signifies that the air handler’s blower fan remains on. Certain furnaces can run at a low level with this setting, but in most cases heating or cooling isn’t being generated. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will run the fan during a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off after 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 preferences.

Advantages to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in every room more uniform by enabling the fan to keep generating airflow.
  • Indoor air quality can increase since steady airflow will keep passing airborne contaminants through the air filter.
  • Fewer start-stop cycles for the HVAC fan helps extend its life span. Since the air handler is typically connected to the furnace, this means you can avoid needing furnace repair.

Drawbacks to using the Fan/On setting:

  • A nonstop fan will likely raise your energy expenses by a small margin.
  • Nonstop 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 persist in unfinished spaces such as the attic or an attached garage. If you use the fan setting, your HVAC system might pull this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to work harder to preserve the set temperature. In extreme heat, this may lead to needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear gets worse.

The reverse can take place in 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. Keeping the fan on could draw 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 might work for you if:

Someone in your household has allergies. Allergies and other respiratory conditions can be tough on the family. Leaving the fan on can help to enhance indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

Your home has hot and cold spots. Many homes wrestle with stubborn hot and cold spots that quickly evolve to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting should help limit these changes by consistently refreshing each room’s airflow.