As the weather is cooling off, you may be concerned about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC bills can contribute a significant chunk of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to reduce costs, some people look closely at their thermostat. Is there a setting they can use to improve efficiency?

Most thermostats come with a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is going during a regular cycle, what can the fan setting offer for your HVAC system? This guide should help. We’ll review what exactly the fan setting is and when you can use it to reduce costs over the summer or winter.

What Is the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For the majority of thermostats, the fan setting signifies that the air handler’s blower fan keeps running. Some furnaces may continue to operate at a low level in this setting, but in general heating or cooling isn’t being generated. The ‘Auto’ setting, in contrast, will run the fan during a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off when the cycle is finished.

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

Advantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in every room more consistent by permitting the fan to keep circulating air.
  • Indoor air quality can increase since steady airflow will keep moving airborne contaminants into the air filter.
  • A smaller amount of start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps lengthen its life span. Because the air handler is typically a component of the furnace, this means you might prevent the need for furnace repair.

Drawbacks to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A constant fan will likely add to your energy expenses slightly.
  • Constant airflow could clog your air filter up more quickly, 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

Through the summer, warm air will sometimes stick around in unfinished spaces such as 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 keep up with the preferred temperature. In serious heat, this can result in needing AC repair more often as wear and tear grows.

The reverse can take place in the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which will eventually flow 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 keep warm.

If you’re still trying to figure out 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 be best for you if:

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

Your home has hot and cold spots. All kinds of homes wrestle with stubborn hot and cold spots that quickly evolve to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting can help lessen these changes by steadily refreshing each room’s supply of air.