When the weather is cooling off, you are probably wondering about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC bills routinely add up to a large portion of your monthly electric bill. To figure out new ways to lower their HVAC bill, some owners look closer at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they should use to boost efficiency?

The bulk of thermostats come with a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is going during a typical cycle, what does the fan setting offer for your HVAC system? This guide will help. We’ll review just what the fan setting is and whether you can use it to cut costs during the summer or winter.

My Thermostat Has a Fan Setting?

For the majority of thermostats, the fan setting means that the system’s blower fan stays on. Some furnaces may continue to run at a low level in this setting, but in general heating or cooling isn’t being produced. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will turn on the fan during a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off once the cycle is over.

There are advantages and disadvantages to switching on the fan setting on your thermostat, and the ideal option {will|can|should]] depend on your distinct comfort requirements.

Advantages to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature throughout your home more consistent by permitting the fan to keep running.
  • Indoor air quality will be highest since steady airflow will keep passing airborne particles into the air filter.
  • A smaller number of start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps extend its life span. As the air handler is often a component of the furnace, this means you could minimize the risk of needing furnace repair.

Drawbacks to using the Fan/On setting:

  • A nonstop fan could add to your energy expenses by a small margin.
  • Constant airflow could clog your air filter soon, 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 Summer/Winter

Through the summer, warm air may stick around in unfinished spaces including the attic or an attached garage. If you keep the fan running, your HVAC system might gradually move this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to work harder to preserve the set temperature. In severe heat, this may result in needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear increases.

The opposite can occur in the winter. Cooler spaces such as a basement will hold onto cooler air, which will 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 keep warm.

If you’re still trying to decide if you should switch to 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 work for you if:

Someone in your household has allergies. Allergies and other respiratory conditions can be tough 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. All kinds of homes deal with persistent hot and cold spots that quickly return to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting can help limit these changes by constantly refreshing each room’s ventilation.