When the weather starts to cool off, you may be concerned about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs frequently contribute a significant chunk of your monthly electric bill. To try and find ways to lower their HVAC bill, some people look closely at their thermostat. Is there a setting they should use to increase efficiency?

Most thermostats have a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is running during a regular cycle, what can the fan setting offer for an HVAC system? This guide will help. We’ll walk through precisely what the fan setting is and how you can use it to save money over the summer or winter.

My Thermostat Has a Fan Setting?

For the majority of thermostats, the fan setting means that the HVAC blower fan stays on. Certain furnaces can run at a low level in this setting, but in most cases heating or cooling isn’t being produced. The ‘Auto’ setting, in contrast, will start the fan through a heating or cooling cycle and shut it off when the cycle is finished.

There are benefits and drawbacks to using the fan setting on your thermostat, and the ideal option {will|can|should]] depend on your unique comfort needs.

Advantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in every room more balanced by enabling the fan to keep generating airflow.
  • Indoor air quality can increase since continuous airflow will keep passing airborne pollutants through the air filter.
  • Fewer start-stop cycles for the system’s fan helps lengthen its life span. As the air handler is typically a component of the furnace, this means you could minimize the risk of needing furnace repair.

Downsides to using the Fan/On setting:

  • A constant fan could increase your energy costs by a small margin.
  • Constant airflow may clog your air filter soon, 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 can stick around in unfinished spaces such as the attic or an attached garage. If you use the fan setting, your HVAC system can draw this warm air into the rest of your home, compelling the HVAC system to work more to maintain the preferred temperature. In serious heat, this could result in needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear gets worse.

The reverse can occur in the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which can eventually drift into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan running may draw more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to remain warm.

If you’re still trying to decide 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 ideal for you if:

Someone in your household suffers from allergies. Allergies and other 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 has hot and cold spots. All kinds of homes wrestle with stubborn hot and cold spots that quickly shift to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting might help limit these changes by constantly refreshing each room’s ventilation.