Once the weather is cooling off, you are probably thinking about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs can contribute a big portion of your monthly electric bill. To figure out new ways to reduce costs, some homeowners look closer at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they could use to boost efficiency?

Most thermostats have a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is running during a normal cycle, what can the fan setting provide for your HVAC system? This guide should help. We’ll review just what the fan setting is and whether you can use it to save money in the summer or winter.

How Do I Access the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For the majority of thermostats, the fan setting signifies that the HVAC blower fan keeps running. Some furnaces will generate heat at a low level with this setting, but in most cases heating or cooling isn’t being generated. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will turn on the fan through a heating or cooling cycle and shut it off once the cycle is finished.

There are benefits and drawbacks to using the fan setting on your thermostat, and the ideal option {will|can|should]] depend on your distinct comfort requirements.

Advantages to using the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature throughout your home more consistent by permitting the fan to keep generating airflow.
  • Indoor air quality should improve since steady airflow will keep moving airborne particles through the air filter.
  • A smaller number of start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps extend its life span. Because the air handler is often part of the furnace, this means you could avoid needing furnace repair.

Disadvantages to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • A continuous fan could increase your energy bills somewhat.
  • Nonstop airflow can 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

Through 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 gradually move this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to work harder to keep up with the desired temperature. In serious heat, this could result in needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear gets worse.

The reverse can occur in the winter. Cooler spaces such as a basement will hold onto cooler air, which will eventually drift into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan running will sometimes draw more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to stay warm.

If you’re still trying to decide 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 best for you if:

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

Your home has hot and cold spots. Many homes deal with stubborn hot and cold spots that quickly return to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting might help minimize these changes by consistently refreshing each room’s supply of air.