When the weather begins to cool off, you might be wondering about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC bills can add up to a significant chunk of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to save, some homeowners take a closer look at their thermostat. Could there be a setting they should use to improve efficiency?

Most thermostats come with a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is on during a regular cycle, what can the fan setting provide for an HVAC system? This guide can help. We’ll walk through precisely what the fan setting is and how you can use it to reduce costs during the summer or winter.

My Thermostat Has a Fan Setting?

For the bulk of thermostats, the fan setting signifies that the air handler’s blower fan remains on. Certain furnaces will generate heat at a low level in this setting, but in most cases heating or cooling isn’t being generated. The ‘Auto’ setting, on the other hand, will start the fan over a heating or cooling cycle and shut it off after the cycle is over.

There are benefits and drawbacks to using the fan setting on your thermostat, and whether you do or don’t {will|can|should]] depend on your unique comfort needs.

Advantages to trying the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in each room more consistent by permitting the fan to keep generating airflow.
  • Indoor air quality will be highest since constant airflow will keep moving airborne pollutants through the air filter.
  • Fewer start-stop cycles for the system’s fan helps expand its life span. Since the air handler is often connected to the furnace, this means you can minimize the risk of needing furnace repair.

Drawbacks to using the Fan/On setting:

  • A nonstop fan could raise your energy bills slightly.
  • Constant airflow can clog your air filter up more quickly, 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

Through the summer, warm air can stick around in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you leave the fan on, your HVAC system can draw this warm air into the rest of your home, compelling the HVAC system to work harder to maintain the desired temperature. In extreme heat, this could lead to needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear gets worse.

The reverse can happen during the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which can eventually make its way into the rest of your home. Keeping the fan on may draw more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to remain warm.

If you’re still trying to figure out if you should try the fan/on setting, remember that every home and family’s comfort needs are different. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on might 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 is more likely to enhance indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

Your home has hot and cold spots. All kinds of homes deal with persistent hot and cold spots that quickly return to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting should help lessen these changes by consistently refreshing each room’s airflow.