As the weather starts to cool off, you are probably concerned about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses can add up to a large chunk of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to save, some homeowners take a closer look at their thermostat. Is there a setting they can use to improve efficiency?

Most thermostats have a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is running during a typical cycle, what can the fan setting offer for the HVAC system? This guide can help. We’ll walk through just what the fan setting is and when 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 keeps running. Some furnaces will generate heat at a low level with this setting, but for the most part 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 turn it off when the cycle is over.

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 requirements.

Advantages to trying the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature throughout your home more uniform by allowing the fan to keep circulating air.
  • Indoor air quality can increase because constant airflow will keep moving airborne pollutants into the air filter.
  • A smaller number of start-stop cycles for the HVAC fan helps expand its life span. As the air handler is usually part of the furnace, this means you can minimize the risk of needing furnace repair.

Drawbacks to using the Fan/On setting:

  • A nonstop fan could add to your energy expenses by a small margin.
  • Constant airflow may clog your air filter soon, 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

In the summer, warm air can persist in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you use the fan setting, your HVAC system can draw this warm air into the rest of your home, compelling the HVAC system to work harder to preserve the preferred temperature. In extreme heat, this can result in needing AC repair more often as wear and tear increases.

The opposite can occur in the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which may eventually flow into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan setting on may pump more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to remain warm.

If you’re still trying to determine if you should use the fan/on setting, don’t forget 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 deals with allergies. Allergies and similar respiratory conditions can be tough on the family. Leaving the fan on should help to increase indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

Your home deals with 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 can help lessen these changes by steadily refreshing each room’s airflow.