When the weather is cooling off, you might be wondering about how you’ll make the most of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses frequently make up a big piece of your monthly electric bill. To figure out new ways to lower their HVAC bill, some owners look closer at their thermostat. Is there a setting they can use to increase efficiency?

Most thermostats come with a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is on during a regular cycle, what does the fan setting offer for your HVAC system? This guide should help. We’ll walk through precisely what the fan setting is and when you can use it to save money over the summer or winter.

How Do I Access the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For the bulk of thermostats, the fan setting signifies that the HVAC blower fan remains on. Certain furnaces will operate at a low level in this setting, but for the most part heating or cooling isn’t being generated. The ‘Auto’ setting, on the other hand, will start the fan over a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off when the cycle is finished.

There are benefits and drawbacks to using the fan setting on your thermostat, and whether you do or don’t {will|can|should]] depend on your unique 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 generating airflow.
  • Indoor air quality should improve since constant airflow will keep moving airborne particles through the air filter.
  • A smaller amount of start-stop cycles for the system’s fan helps expand its life span. Because the air handler is usually a component of the furnace, this means you might prevent the need for furnace repair.

Disadvantages to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • A continuous fan can raise your energy costs slightly.
  • Continuous airflow can 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 Each Season

Through the summer, warm air may persist in unfinished spaces including the attic or an attached garage. If you leave the fan on, your HVAC system might draw this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to work more to preserve the desired temperature. In serious heat, this may result in needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear gets worse.

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

If you’re still trying to decide if you should try the fan/on setting, don’t forget that every home and family’s comfort needs will vary. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on may work for you if:

Someone in your household deals with allergies. Allergies and other respiratory conditions can be stressful on the family. Leaving the fan on can help to increase 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 return to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting can help lessen these changes by constantly refreshing each room’s airflow.