Once the weather starts to cool off, you may be thinking about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses can contribute a big portion of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to reduce costs, some people take a closer look at their thermostat. Is there a setting they can use to increase efficiency?

Most thermostats have a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is going during a regular cycle, what does the fan setting offer for your HVAC system? This guide should help. We’ll review what exactly the fan setting is and how you can use it to reduce costs over the summer or winter.

My Thermostat Has a Fan Setting?

For most thermostats, the fan setting means that the HVAC blower fan remains on. Certain furnaces will generate heat at a low level in 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 turn it off when the cycle is finished.

There are pros and cons to switching on the fan setting on your thermostat, and the ideal option {will|can|should]] depend on your personal comfort requirements.

Advantages to using the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in every room more uniform by allowing the fan to keep generating airflow.
  • Indoor air quality will be highest since continuous airflow will keep moving airborne particles through the air filter.
  • Fewer start-stop cycles for the system’s fan helps extend its life span. Since the air handler is typically part of the furnace, this means you can minimize the risk of needing furnace repair.

Drawbacks to using the Fan/On setting:

  • A constant fan will likely raise your energy expenses by a small margin.
  • Nonstop airflow may clog your air filter soon, 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 Each Season

In the summer, warm air can linger in unfinished spaces such as the attic or an attached garage. If you leave the fan on, your HVAC system might pull this warm air into the rest of your home, compelling the HVAC system to work harder to maintain the preferred temperature. In severe heat, this can result in needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear gets worse.

The reverse can happen in the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which will eventually flow into the rest of your home. Keeping the fan on could draw 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, keep in mind that every home and family’s comfort needs are not the same. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on may be best for you if:

Someone in your household deals with allergies. Allergies and similar respiratory conditions can be stressful on the family. Leaving the fan on can help to enhance indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

Your home experiences hot and cold spots. Lots of 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 constantly refreshing each room’s ventilation.