As the weather is cooling off, you are probably concerned about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC bills can contribute a significant portion of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to lower their HVAC bill, some owners look closely at their thermostat. Could there be a setting they can use to improve efficiency?

The majority of thermostats come with a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is on during a regular cycle, what does the fan setting provide for your HVAC system? This guide will help. We’ll share what exactly the fan setting is and when you can use it to cut costs over the summer or winter.

How Do I Access the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For the bulk of thermostats, the fan setting means that the HVAC blower fan keeps running. A few furnaces will run at a low level in this setting, but in general heating or cooling isn’t being produced. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will start the fan through a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off after the cycle is over.

There are advantages and disadvantages to trying the fan setting on your thermostat, and what’s ideal {will|can|should]] depend on your unique comfort requirements.

Advantages to trying the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature throughout your home more consistent by enabling the fan to keep running.
  • Indoor air quality will be highest since constant airflow will keep passing airborne pollutants into the air filter.
  • A smaller amount of start-stop cycles for the system’s fan helps lengthen its life span. Since the air handler is typically a component of the furnace, this means you could prevent the need for furnace repair.

Drawbacks to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • A constant fan can increase your energy costs somewhat.
  • Continuous airflow can clog your air filter in a shorter amount of time, 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 Each Season

In the summer, warm air may stick around in unfinished spaces such as the attic or an attached garage. If you keep the fan running, your HVAC system can draw this warm air into the rest of your home, forcing the HVAC system to work harder to preserve the preferred temperature. In severe heat, this could result in needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear increases.

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

If you’re still trying to decide 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 might be ideal for you if:

Someone in your household suffers from allergies. Allergies and other respiratory conditions can be hard on the family. Leaving the fan on can help to increase indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

Your home has hot and cold spots. Lots of homes deal with stubborn 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 supply of air.