When the weather is cooling off, you may be concerned about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC bills frequently make up a large piece of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to reduce costs, some homeowners take a closer look at their thermostat. Could there be a setting they can use to increase efficiency?

The majority of thermostats include both a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is going during a normal 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 during the summer or winter.

What Is the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For most thermostats, the fan setting signifies that the air handler’s blower fan remains on. Some furnaces will operate at a low level with this setting, but for the most part heating or cooling isn’t being made. The ‘Auto’ setting, in contrast, will run the fan over a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off when the cycle is complete.

There are advantages and disadvantages to trying the fan setting on your thermostat, and whether you do or don’t {will|can|should]] depend on your unique 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 circulating air.
  • Indoor air quality can increase since steady airflow will keep passing airborne particles through the air filter.
  • Fewer start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps expand its life span. Because the air handler is usually part of the furnace, this means you can minimize the risk of needing furnace repair.

Disadvantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A continuous fan will likely increase your energy bills by a small margin.
  • Continuous airflow could 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

During the summer, warm air will sometimes persist in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you leave the fan on, your HVAC system may draw this warm air into the rest of your home, forcing the HVAC system to run longer to maintain the set temperature. In extreme heat, this can result in needing AC repair more often as wear and tear gets worse.

The reverse can happen in the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which will eventually flow into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan running 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, don’t forget that every home and family’s comfort needs are not the same. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on could work for you if:

Someone in your household deals with allergies. Allergies and similar respiratory conditions can be tough on the family. Leaving the fan on is more likely to increase indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

Your home deals with 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 can help lessen these changes by constantly refreshing each room’s airflow.