When the weather begins to cool off, you may be concerned about how you’ll make the most of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC bills can make up a significant portion of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to reduce costs, some owners look closer at their thermostat. Is there a setting they can use to boost efficiency?

Most thermostats have a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is going during a regular cycle, what will the fan setting provide for an HVAC system? This guide will help. We’ll review what exactly the fan setting is and when you can use it to save money over the summer or winter.

How Do I Access the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For the bulk of thermostats, the fan setting signifies that the HVAC blower fan stays on. Some furnaces may continue to generate heat at a low level with 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 during a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off once the cycle is complete.

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

Advantages to utilizing 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 should improve because steady airflow will keep forcing airborne pollutants through the air filter.
  • Fewer start-stop cycles for the HVAC fan helps expand its life span. Since the air handler is often part of the furnace, this means you might prevent the need for furnace repair.

Disadvantages to using the Fan/On setting:

  • A continuous fan could raise your energy expenses slightly.
  • Continuous airflow could clog your air filter in a shorter amount of time, 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 Summer/Winter

During the summer, warm air can persist in unfinished spaces including the attic or an attached garage. If you keep the fan running, your HVAC system might pull this warm air into the rest of your home, compelling the HVAC system to work more to keep up with the set temperature. In extreme heat, this could lead to needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear grows.

The opposite 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 pump more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to keep warm.

If you’re still trying to determine if you should switch to the fan/on setting, remember that every home and family’s comfort needs are not the same. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on could be ideal for you if:

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

Your home experiences hot and cold spots. Lots of homes wrestle with stubborn hot and cold spots that quickly evolve to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting might help limit these changes by consistently refreshing each room’s ventilation.