As the weather begins to cool off, you may be concerned about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses frequently add up to a large piece of your monthly electric bill. To try and find ways to lower their HVAC bill, some people take a closer look at their thermostat. Could there be a setting they could use to increase efficiency?

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

What Is the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For most thermostats, the fan setting signifies that the air handler’s blower fan keeps running. A few furnaces will operate at a low level in this setting, but in most cases heating or cooling isn’t being made. The ‘Auto’ setting, on the other hand, will start the fan through a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off after the cycle is complete.

There are advantages and disadvantages to trying the fan setting on your thermostat, and what’s ideal {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 balanced by allowing the fan to keep circulating air.
  • Indoor air quality will be highest because steady airflow will keep passing airborne pollutants through the air filter.
  • A smaller number of start-stop cycles for the HVAC fan helps extend its life span. Since the air handler is typically a component of the furnace, this means you could avoid needing furnace repair.

Drawbacks to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • A nonstop fan can increase your energy bills by a small margin.
  • Constant airflow may clog your air filter soon, 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 Summer/Winter

During the summer, warm air will sometimes persist in unfinished spaces such as the attic or an attached garage. If you leave the fan on, your HVAC system may pull this warm air into the rest of your home, compelling the HVAC system to work harder to keep up with the desired temperature. In serious heat, this could lead to needing AC repair more often as wear and tear grows.

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 pull more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to remain warm.

If you’re still trying to figure out if you should try the fan/on setting, don’t forget that every home and family’s comfort needs are different. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on may be ideal 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 improve indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

Your home has 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 should help minimize these changes by consistently refreshing each room’s airflow.