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 routinely add up to a significant piece of your monthly electric bill. To figure out new ways to save, some people look closer at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they should use to increase efficiency?

The majority of thermostats come with a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is running during a normal cycle, what will the fan setting offer for the HVAC system? This guide should help. We’ll review what exactly the fan setting is and whether you can use it to reduce costs during the summer or winter.

Should I Use My Thermostat’s Fan Setting?

For the bulk of thermostats, the fan setting means that the air handler’s blower fan stays on. A few furnaces can generate heat at a low level with this setting, but in most cases heating or cooling isn’t being produced. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will start the fan during a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off when the cycle is complete.

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

Advantages to trying the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in each room more balanced by allowing the fan to keep running.
  • Indoor air quality should improve because steady airflow will keep passing airborne particles through the air filter.
  • Fewer start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps expand its life span. Since the air handler is often part of the furnace, this means you might avoid needing furnace repair.

Disadvantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A nonstop fan will likely increase your energy expenses slightly.
  • Nonstop airflow could clog your air filter soon, increasing the frequency you will want to replace it.

Which Setting for My Thermostat? Fan or Auto in Summer/Winter

Through the summer, warm air may linger in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you leave the fan on, your HVAC system can pull this warm air into the rest of your home, compelling the HVAC system to work more to preserve the preferred temperature. In extreme heat, this may lead to needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear increases.

The reverse can happen over the winter. Cooler spaces such as a basement will hold onto cooler air, which can eventually drift into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan setting on could pump 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 not the same. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on could be best 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 can help to enhance indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

Your home experiences hot and cold spots. Lots of homes deal with difficult hot and cold spots that quickly shift to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting might help limit these changes by consistently refreshing each room’s airflow.