As the weather starts to cool off, you are probably wondering about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs can make up a large piece of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to lower their HVAC bill, some owners look closely at their thermostat. Is there a setting they can use to increase efficiency?

The majority of thermostats include both a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is on during a normal cycle, what does the fan setting offer for an HVAC system? This guide will help. We’ll walk through what exactly the fan setting is and whether you can use it to save money during the summer or winter.

Should I Use My Thermostat’s Fan Setting?

For the majority of thermostats, the fan setting means that the air handler’s blower fan stays on. Some furnaces may continue to run at a low level with this setting, but in most cases 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 once the cycle is over.

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

Advantages to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in every room more balanced by permitting the fan to keep circulating air.
  • Indoor air quality should improve since continuous airflow will keep forcing airborne particles into the air filter.
  • A smaller number of start-stop cycles for the HVAC fan helps expand its life span. Because the air handler is often a component of the furnace, this means you could minimize the risk of needing furnace repair.

Disadvantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A continuous fan can raise your energy expenses slightly.
  • Nonstop airflow may clog your air filter up more quickly, increasing the frequency you will want to replace it.

{Choosing Between|Should My Thermostat Be on|Which Setting for My Thermostat? Fan or Auto in Summer/Winter

In the summer, warm air will sometimes stick around in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you keep the fan running, your HVAC system may pull this warm air into the rest of your home, forcing the HVAC system to work harder to preserve the set temperature. In serious heat, this could lead to needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear increases.

The opposite can take place during the winter. Cooler spaces such as a basement will hold onto cooler air, which will eventually drift 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 determine if you should use the fan/on setting, remember that every home and family’s comfort needs are not the same. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on could be ideal for you if:

Someone in your household suffers from allergies. Allergies and other respiratory conditions can be stressful on the family. Leaving the fan on is more likely to increase 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 shift to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting can help lessen these changes by consistently refreshing each room’s airflow.