When the weather begins to cool off, you may be wondering about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs routinely add up to a significant portion of your monthly electric bill. To figure out new ways to save, some people look closely at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they can use to improve efficiency?

Most thermostats have a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is on during a regular cycle, what will the fan setting provide for an HVAC system? This guide will help. We’ll review what exactly the fan setting is and when you can use it to save money in the summer or winter.

What Is the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For the majority of thermostats, the fan setting indicates that the system’s blower fan keeps running. Certain furnaces can generate heat at a low level in this setting, but in general heating or cooling isn’t being generated. The ‘Auto’ setting, on the other hand, will turn on the fan during a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off after the cycle is over.

There are pros and cons to using the fan setting on your thermostat, and what’s ideal {will|can|should]] depend on your unique comfort needs.

Advantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in every room more consistent by allowing the fan to keep circulating air.
  • Indoor air quality can increase because continuous airflow will keep moving airborne particles through the air filter.
  • Fewer start-stop cycles for the HVAC fan helps extend its life span. Since the air handler is often part of the furnace, this means you could avoid needing furnace repair.

Downsides to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • A nonstop fan will likely add to your energy costs by a small margin.
  • Continuous airflow could clog your air filter soon, 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 Summer/Winter

In the summer, warm air will sometimes linger in unfinished spaces including the attic or an attached garage. If you use the fan setting, your HVAC system can gradually move this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to work harder to keep up with the preferred temperature. In serious heat, this may lead to needing AC repair more often as wear and tear grows.

The reverse can take place during the winter. Cooler spaces such as a basement will hold onto cooler air, which can eventually make its way into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan setting on will sometimes draw 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, remember that every home and family’s comfort needs are not the same. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on could be best 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 is more likely to improve 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 can help limit these changes by constantly refreshing each room’s airflow.