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

The bulk of thermostats have a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is on during a typical cycle, what can the fan setting provide for an HVAC system? This guide can help. We’ll share precisely what the fan setting is and when you can use it to cut costs over the summer or winter.

What Is the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For the bulk of thermostats, the fan setting means that the system’s blower fan stays on. A few furnaces may continue to generate heat at a low level in this setting, but for the most part heating or cooling isn’t being produced. The ‘Auto’ setting, on the other hand, will start the fan during a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off after the cycle is finished.

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

Advantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in each room more uniform by allowing the fan to keep circulating air.
  • Indoor air quality will be highest as continuous airflow will keep moving airborne particles through the air filter.
  • Fewer start-stop cycles for the system’s fan helps expand its life span. As the air handler is typically a component of the furnace, this means you can avoid needing furnace repair.

Disadvantages to using the Fan/On setting:

  • A nonstop fan could increase your energy bills by a small margin.
  • Constant airflow could clog your air filter soon, increasing the frequency you should replace it.

{Choosing Between|Should My Thermostat Be on|Which Setting for My Thermostat? Fan or Auto in Summer/Winter

In the summer, warm air may linger in unfinished spaces such as the attic or an attached garage. If you use the fan setting, your HVAC system can draw this warm air into the rest of your home, compelling the HVAC system to work harder to keep up with the set temperature. In extreme heat, this can result in needing AC repair more often as wear and tear increases.

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

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

Someone in your household deals with allergies. Allergies and other respiratory conditions can be tough on the family. Leaving the fan on is more likely to increase indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

Your home has hot and cold spots. Many homes wrestle with stubborn hot and cold spots that quickly shift to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting can help limit these changes by consistently refreshing each room’s airflow.