When the weather is cooling off, you may be concerned about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC bills routinely contribute a big piece of your monthly electric bill. To try and find ways to reduce costs, some homeowners look closer at their thermostat. Could there be a setting they could use to boost efficiency?

The majority of thermostats have a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is going during a regular cycle, what will the fan setting provide for your HVAC system? This guide can help. We’ll review precisely what the fan setting is and how you can use it to cut costs over the summer or winter.

Should I Use My Thermostat’s Fan Setting?

For the majority of thermostats, the fan setting signifies that the air handler’s blower fan remains on. A few furnaces can run at a low level in this setting, but for the most part heating or cooling isn’t being generated. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will start the fan through a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off once the cycle is complete.

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

Advantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature throughout your home more consistent by permitting the fan to keep running.
  • Indoor air quality will be highest because steady airflow will keep passing airborne pollutants into the air filter.
  • Fewer start-stop cycles for the system’s fan helps lengthen its life span. Since the air handler is usually a component of the furnace, this means you might prevent the need for furnace repair.

Disadvantages to using the Fan/On setting:

  • A continuous fan can increase your energy expenses by a small margin.
  • Constant airflow may clog your air filter up more quickly, increasing the frequency you’ll need to 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 will sometimes linger in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you use the fan setting, your HVAC system might gradually move this warm air into the rest of your home, forcing the HVAC system to work harder to preserve the preferred temperature. In severe heat, this could lead to needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear gets worse.

The reverse can occur over the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which can eventually make its way into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan setting on could pull 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, don’t forget that every home and family’s comfort needs will vary. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on might work for you if:

Someone in your household suffers from 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. All kinds 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 limit these changes by consistently refreshing each room’s airflow.