As the weather begins to cool off, you might be wondering about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs routinely contribute a big piece of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to lower their HVAC bill, some owners take a closer look at their thermostat. Could there be a setting they could use to increase efficiency?

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

What Is the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For the majority of thermostats, the fan setting indicates that the air handler’s blower fan keeps running. Some furnaces may continue to generate heat at a low level in this setting, but in general heating or cooling isn’t being generated. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will start the fan through a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off once the cycle is complete.

There are benefits and drawbacks to using the fan setting on your thermostat, and the ideal option {will|can|should]] depend on your distinct comfort preferences.

Advantages to using the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in each room more uniform by permitting the fan to keep circulating air.
  • Indoor air quality will be highest as steady airflow will keep forcing airborne particles into the air filter.
  • A smaller number of start-stop cycles for the system’s fan helps lengthen its life span. Because the air handler is typically connected to the furnace, this means you could avoid needing furnace repair.

Drawbacks to using the Fan/On setting:

  • A continuous fan can raise your energy bills somewhat.
  • Nonstop airflow can clog your air filter up more quickly, increasing the frequency you will want to replace it.

{Choosing Between|Should My Thermostat Be on|Which Setting for My Thermostat? Fan or Auto in Each Season

During the summer, warm air may stick around in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you leave the fan on, your HVAC system can draw this warm air into the rest of your home, compelling the HVAC system to work harder to preserve the set temperature. In extreme heat, this can result in needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear gets worse.

The opposite can take place over the winter. Cooler spaces such as a basement will hold onto cooler air, which will eventually make its way into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan running will sometimes pull more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to remain warm.

If you’re still trying to determine if you should try the fan/on setting, keep in mind that every home and family’s comfort needs will vary. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on might be ideal for you if:

Someone in your household has allergies. Allergies and similar 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 experiences hot and cold spots. Many homes wrestle with persistent hot and cold spots that quickly evolve to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting might help minimize these changes by steadily refreshing each room’s ventilation.