As the weather starts to cool off, you are probably concerned about how you’ll make the most of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses frequently contribute a big piece of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to reduce costs, some homeowners look closely at their thermostat. Is there a setting they should use to boost efficiency?

The majority of thermostats include both a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is going during a regular cycle, what can the fan setting provide for an HVAC system? This guide can help. We’ll share just what the fan setting is and whether you can use it to cut costs in the summer or winter.

My Thermostat Has a Fan Setting?

For the bulk of thermostats, the fan setting means that the air handler’s blower fan remains on. A few furnaces will operate at a low level with this setting, but in general heating or cooling isn’t being made. The ‘Auto’ setting, in contrast, will run the fan through a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off when the cycle is complete.

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

Advantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in every room more balanced by enabling the fan to keep circulating air.
  • Indoor air quality will be highest because constant airflow will keep forcing airborne contaminants into the air filter.
  • Fewer start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps expand 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 utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A nonstop fan will likely raise your energy bills slightly.
  • Continuous airflow could clog your air filter in a shorter amount of time, increasing the frequency you will want to replace it.

Which Setting for My Thermostat? Fan or Auto in Each Season

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 might gradually move this warm air into the rest of your home, compelling the HVAC system to run longer to keep up with the set temperature. In extreme heat, this could result in needing AC repair more often as wear and tear grows.

The opposite can take place over the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which may eventually make its way into the rest of your home. Keeping the fan on will sometimes draw more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to stay warm.

If you’re still trying to decide if you should try the fan/on setting, remember that every home and family’s comfort needs are different. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on might be ideal for you if:

Someone in your household has allergies. Allergies and other respiratory conditions can be hard 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. Many homes wrestle with persistent hot and cold spots that quickly return to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting should help minimize these changes by steadily refreshing each room’s airflow.