As the weather begins to cool off, you might be thinking about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs frequently make up a big chunk of your monthly electric bill. To try and find ways to lower their HVAC bill, some people take a closer look at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they should use to improve efficiency?

The majority of thermostats include both a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is running during a regular cycle, what can the fan setting offer for your HVAC system? This guide will help. We’ll review precisely what the fan setting is and when you can use it to reduce costs in the summer or winter.

My Thermostat Has a Fan Setting?

For most thermostats, the fan setting means that the air handler’s blower fan keeps running. A few furnaces can run at a low level with this setting, but in most cases heating or cooling isn’t being generated. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will start the fan during a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off after the cycle is over.

There are pros and cons to trying the fan setting on your thermostat, and the ideal option {will|can|should]] depend on your unique comfort preferences.

Advantages to using the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in every room more uniform by enabling the fan to keep circulating air.
  • Indoor air quality can increase as constant airflow will keep forcing airborne pollutants into 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 typically part of the furnace, this means you can avoid needing furnace repair.

Drawbacks to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • A nonstop fan could raise your energy bills somewhat.
  • Nonstop airflow could 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 Each Season

Through the summer, warm air may linger in unfinished spaces such as the attic or an attached garage. If you keep the fan running, your HVAC system may gradually move this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to work harder to preserve the set temperature. In serious heat, this can lead to needing AC repair more often as wear and tear increases.

The opposite can take place in the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which may eventually drift into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan setting on may draw more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to stay warm.

If you’re still trying to figure out if you should switch to the fan/on setting, keep in mind that every home and family’s comfort needs are different. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on might be ideal 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 is more likely to enhance indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

Your home experiences hot and cold spots. All kinds of homes wrestle with difficult 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 steadily refreshing each room’s supply of air.