As the weather begins to cool off, you may be wondering about how you’ll make the most of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC bills frequently contribute a significant piece of your monthly electric bill. To figure out new ways to lower their HVAC bill, some people look closely at their thermostat. Could there be a setting they could use to improve efficiency?

The majority of thermostats come with a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is going during a normal cycle, what does the fan setting provide for the HVAC system? This guide should help. We’ll share just what the fan setting is and when you can use it to reduce costs in the summer or winter.

What Is the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For the majority of thermostats, the fan setting means that the HVAC blower fan stays on. Some furnaces can operate at a low level with this setting, but in general heating or cooling isn’t being produced. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will start the fan through a heating or cooling cycle and shut it off once the cycle is finished.

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

Advantages to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature throughout your home more balanced by allowing the fan to keep generating airflow.
  • Indoor air quality will be highest because continuous airflow will keep passing airborne particles into the air filter.
  • A smaller amount of start-stop cycles for the HVAC fan helps extend its life span. As the air handler is typically connected to the furnace, this means you could prevent the need for furnace repair.

Drawbacks to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • A constant fan could raise your energy costs by a small margin.
  • Constant airflow may clog your air filter soon, 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

In 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 might gradually move this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to run longer to maintain the desired temperature. In serious heat, this could result in needing AC repair more often as wear and tear grows.

The opposite can take place over the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which may eventually flow into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan setting on will sometimes 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 use the fan/on setting, don’t forget that every home and family’s comfort needs will vary. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on might work for you if:

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

Your home experiences hot and cold spots. Lots of homes wrestle with persistent 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.