Once the weather starts to cool off, you may be thinking about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC bills can make up a large piece of your monthly electric bill. To figure out new ways to lower their HVAC bill, some people look closer at their thermostat. Is there a setting they could use to increase efficiency?

Most thermostats come with a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is going during a normal cycle, what does the fan setting offer for the HVAC system? This guide will help. We’ll review what exactly the fan setting is and when you can use it to reduce costs during the summer or winter.

How Do I Access the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For the bulk of thermostats, the fan setting means that the system’s blower fan keeps running. Certain furnaces can generate heat 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 turn on the fan over a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off once the cycle is complete.

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

Advantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature throughout your home more balanced by permitting the fan to keep generating airflow.
  • Indoor air quality should improve since constant airflow will keep forcing airborne particles through the air filter.
  • A smaller amount of start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps lengthen its life span. As the air handler is typically connected to the furnace, this means you can avoid needing furnace repair.

Drawbacks to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A continuous fan will likely raise your energy bills slightly.
  • Continuous airflow can 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

In the summer, warm air will sometimes stick around in unfinished spaces including the attic or an attached garage. If you leave the fan on, your HVAC system might gradually move this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to work more to keep up with the preferred temperature. In serious heat, this can lead to needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear increases.

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 setting on could pump more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to keep warm.

If you’re still trying to figure out if you should switch to the fan/on setting, remember that every home and family’s comfort needs will vary. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on may be best for you if:

Someone in your household suffers from allergies. Allergies and similar respiratory conditions can be stressful on the family. Leaving the fan on can help to enhance indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

Your home experiences hot and cold spots. All kinds of homes deal with difficult hot and cold spots that quickly return to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting can help limit these changes by consistently refreshing each room’s supply of air.