When the weather begins to cool off, you might be concerned about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses frequently make up a big chunk of your monthly electric bill. To figure out new ways to reduce costs, some people look closer at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they could use to improve efficiency?

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

How Do I Access the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For the majority of thermostats, the fan setting signifies that the system’s blower fan keeps running. Certain furnaces can run at a low level in this setting, but in general heating or cooling isn’t being produced. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will run the fan through a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off once 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 using the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature throughout your home more uniform by allowing the fan to keep running.
  • Indoor air quality should improve because steady airflow will keep moving airborne pollutants through the air filter.
  • Fewer start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps expand its life span. Since the air handler is typically a component of the furnace, this means you could avoid needing furnace repair.

Disadvantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A nonstop fan could raise your energy bills somewhat.
  • Constant airflow may clog your air filter in a shorter amount of time, increasing the frequency you should replace it.

Should My Thermostat Be on? Fan or Auto in Each Season

During the summer, warm air may linger in unfinished spaces including the attic or an attached garage. If you leave the fan on, your HVAC system may pull this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to work more to maintain the set temperature. In extreme heat, this may result in needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear increases.

The reverse can take place in the winter. Cooler spaces such as a basement will hold onto cooler air, which may eventually drift into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan running will sometimes draw 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 use the fan/on setting, don’t forget that every home and family’s comfort needs are different. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on could be ideal for you if:

Someone in your household suffers from allergies. Allergies and similar respiratory conditions can be hard on the family. Leaving the fan on is more likely to enhance indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

Your home experiences hot and cold spots. Lots of homes deal with stubborn 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 consistently refreshing each room’s ventilation.