When the weather is cooling off, you are probably wondering about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses frequently add up to a significant chunk of your monthly electric bill. To figure out new ways to save, some homeowners look closer at their thermostat. Is there a setting they should use to boost efficiency?

The majority of thermostats include both a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is going during a normal cycle, what can the fan setting provide for your HVAC system? This guide should help. We’ll review what exactly 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 most thermostats, the fan setting indicates that the system’s blower fan stays on. Certain furnaces will operate at a low level with this setting, but in general heating or cooling isn’t being generated. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will run the fan during a heating or cooling cycle and shut it off once the cycle is over.

There are advantages and disadvantages to switching on 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 circulating air.
  • Indoor air quality will be highest as steady airflow will keep passing airborne pollutants through the air filter.
  • Fewer start-stop cycles for the system’s fan helps extend its life span. As the air handler is often connected to the furnace, this means you can avoid needing furnace repair.

Disadvantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A continuous fan will likely increase your energy expenses slightly.
  • Continuous airflow can clog your air filter soon, increasing the frequency you will want to replace it.

Should My Thermostat Be on? Fan or Auto in Summer/Winter

During the summer, warm air can stick around in unfinished spaces such as the attic or an attached garage. If you leave the fan on, your HVAC system can gradually move this warm air into the rest of your home, compelling the HVAC system to work harder to keep up with the desired temperature. In extreme heat, this can lead to needing AC repair more often 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 make its way into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan running will sometimes pump more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to stay warm.

If you’re still trying to decide if you should use the fan/on setting, don’t forget that every home and family’s comfort needs are different. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on could work for you if:

Someone in your household suffers from allergies. Allergies and other respiratory conditions can be tough on the family. Leaving the fan on is more likely 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 might help lessen these changes by steadily refreshing each room’s supply of air.