As the weather is cooling off, you might be thinking about how you’ll make the most of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs frequently make up a large chunk of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to lower their HVAC bill, some homeowners look closer at their thermostat. Could there be a setting they could use to boost efficiency?

The majority of thermostats have a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is running during a regular cycle, what will the fan setting provide for the HVAC system? This guide should help. We’ll walk through precisely 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 most thermostats, the fan setting indicates that the HVAC blower fan stays on. Some furnaces may continue to generate heat at a low level in this setting, but in most cases heating or cooling isn’t being generated. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will run the fan over a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off after the cycle is over.

There are benefits and drawbacks to trying the fan setting on your thermostat, and whether you do or don’t {will|can|should]] depend on your unique comfort requirements.

Advantages to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in each room more uniform by enabling the fan to keep running.
  • Indoor air quality will be highest since 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. Since the air handler is usually connected to the furnace, this means you can minimize the risk of needing furnace repair.

Disadvantages to using the Fan/On setting:

  • A continuous fan could raise your energy bills slightly.
  • Nonstop 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 Each Season

During the summer, warm air will sometimes stick around in unfinished spaces including the attic or an attached garage. If you leave the fan on, your HVAC system may draw this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to work harder to keep up with the preferred temperature. In serious heat, this may lead to needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear gets worse.

The opposite can take place in the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which will eventually drift 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 stay warm.

If you’re still trying to figure out if you should use the fan/on setting, don’t forget that every home and family’s comfort needs are not the same. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on may be ideal for you if:

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

Your home deals with hot and cold spots. All kinds of homes deal with persistent hot and cold spots that quickly shift to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting might help minimize these changes by steadily refreshing each room’s airflow.