As the weather is cooling off, you may be wondering about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses routinely contribute a big chunk of your monthly electric bill. To figure out new ways to reduce costs, some owners look closer at their thermostat. Is there a setting they should use to increase efficiency?

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

What Is the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For the majority of thermostats, the fan setting indicates that the HVAC blower fan remains on. Some furnaces can run at a low level with this setting, but for the most part heating or cooling isn’t being produced. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will run the fan over a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off when the cycle is finished.

There are benefits and drawbacks to switching on the fan setting on your thermostat, and whether you do or don’t {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 permitting the fan to keep generating airflow.
  • Indoor air quality can increase because constant airflow will keep moving airborne contaminants into the air filter.
  • Fewer start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps extend its life span. Because the air handler is usually part of the furnace, this means you might avoid needing furnace repair.

Downsides to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A continuous fan can increase your energy bills somewhat.
  • Constant airflow may clog your air filter in a shorter amount of time, increasing the frequency you will want to replace it.

Should My Thermostat Be on Fan or Auto in Summer/Winter

Through the summer, warm air will sometimes stick around in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you use the fan setting, your HVAC system may pull this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to work harder to preserve the preferred temperature. In severe heat, this can lead to needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear grows.

The reverse can take place in the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which may eventually make its way into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan setting on could draw more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to keep warm.

If you’re still trying to figure out if you should use the fan/on setting, remember that every home and family’s comfort needs are different. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on could be best for you if:

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

Your home experiences hot and cold spots. Lots of homes wrestle with stubborn hot and cold spots that quickly evolve to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting can help lessen these changes by steadily refreshing each room’s ventilation.