Once the weather begins to cool off, you are probably wondering about how you’ll make the most of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC bills routinely add up to a big portion of your monthly electric bill. To try and find ways to save, some owners take a closer look at their thermostat. Is there a setting they could use to improve efficiency?

The bulk of thermostats have a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is running during a regular cycle, what does the fan setting provide for an HVAC system? This guide should help. We’ll review just what the fan setting is and how you can use it to cut costs during the summer or winter.

How Do I Access the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For most thermostats, the fan setting indicates that the air handler’s blower fan stays on. Certain furnaces will generate heat at a low level in this setting, but for the most part heating or cooling isn’t being produced. The ‘Auto’ setting, in contrast, will turn on the fan over a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off when the cycle is complete.

There are benefits and drawbacks to switching on 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 throughout your home more uniform by allowing the fan to keep circulating air.
  • Indoor air quality will be highest because constant airflow will keep passing airborne contaminants into the air filter.
  • A smaller number of start-stop cycles for the HVAC fan helps extend its life span. As the air handler is often part of the furnace, this means you can avoid needing furnace repair.

Disadvantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A constant fan will likely increase your energy bills slightly.
  • Continuous airflow could clog your air filter in a shorter amount of time, increasing the frequency you should replace it.

{Choosing Between|Should My Thermostat Be on|Which Setting for My Thermostat? Fan or Auto in Each Season

Through the summer, warm air will sometimes stick around in unfinished spaces such as the attic or an attached garage. If you use the fan setting, your HVAC system may gradually move this warm air into the rest of your home, forcing the HVAC system to work harder to maintain the preferred temperature. In serious heat, this can lead to needing AC repair more often as wear and tear gets worse.

The reverse can take place over 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 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 not the same. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on may 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 should help to increase indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

Your home deals with hot and cold spots. Many homes wrestle with persistent hot and cold spots that quickly return to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting should help lessen these changes by consistently refreshing each room’s supply of air.