Once the weather is cooling off, you may be wondering about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs routinely make up a significant chunk of your monthly electric bill. To figure out new ways to lower their HVAC bill, some owners look closely at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they should use to increase efficiency?

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

My Thermostat Has a Fan Setting?

For most thermostats, the fan setting means that the HVAC blower fan keeps running. Certain furnaces may continue to run at a low level with this setting, but for the most part heating or cooling isn’t being generated. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will turn on the fan during a heating or cooling cycle and shut it off when the cycle is complete.

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

Advantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in every room more balanced by allowing the fan to keep generating airflow.
  • Indoor air quality will be highest as constant airflow will keep forcing airborne pollutants through the air filter.
  • Fewer start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps extend its life span. Since the air handler is typically a component of the furnace, this means you can prevent the need for furnace repair.

Downsides to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A constant fan can increase your energy expenses slightly.
  • Continuous airflow can clog your air filter in a shorter amount of time, 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 can linger in unfinished spaces including the attic or an attached garage. If you use the fan setting, your HVAC system might gradually move this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to work more to keep up with the desired temperature. In severe heat, this may lead to needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear gets worse.

The opposite can happen during the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which can eventually make its way into the rest of your home. Keeping the fan on will sometimes pull more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to keep warm.

If you’re still trying to determine if you should switch to the fan/on setting, keep in mind that every home and family’s comfort needs will vary. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on might be best 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 deals with hot and cold spots. Lots of homes wrestle with persistent hot and cold spots that quickly shift to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting should help minimize these changes by constantly refreshing each room’s ventilation.