As the weather is cooling off, you may be thinking about how you’ll make the most of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses frequently add up to a significant chunk of your monthly electric bill. To figure out new ways to lower their HVAC bill, some people look closer at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they should use to increase efficiency?

The majority 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 should help. We’ll review just what the fan setting is and whether 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 air handler’s blower fan stays on. Certain furnaces can run at a low level with this setting, but in most cases heating or cooling isn’t being generated. 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 over.

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 switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in every room more consistent by allowing the fan to keep running.
  • Indoor air quality can increase because constant airflow will keep passing airborne pollutants through the air filter.
  • A smaller number of start-stop cycles for the system’s fan helps extend its life span. As the air handler is often a component of the furnace, this means you could avoid needing furnace repair.

Downsides to using the Fan/On setting:

  • A continuous fan can increase your energy bills by a small margin.
  • 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 Summer/Winter

Through the summer, warm air may linger in unfinished spaces including the attic or an attached garage. If you use the fan setting, your HVAC system can pull this warm air into the rest of your home, compelling the HVAC system to run longer to maintain the desired temperature. In severe heat, this could result in needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear grows.

The reverse can happen in the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which may eventually make its way into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan setting on may 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 use the fan/on setting, remember that every home and family’s comfort needs are not the same. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on might be ideal for you if:

Someone in your household deals with allergies. Allergies and similar respiratory conditions can be stressful on the family. Leaving the fan on should help to enhance indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

Your home experiences hot and cold spots. Many homes wrestle with difficult hot and cold spots that quickly return to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting should help limit these changes by constantly refreshing each room’s ventilation.