Once the weather is cooling off, you might be thinking about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs routinely contribute a large piece of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to lower their HVAC bill, some people look closer at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they can use to boost efficiency?

The bulk of thermostats come with a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is going during a regular cycle, what does the fan setting provide for an HVAC system? This guide can help. We’ll review just what the fan setting is and how you can use it to cut costs in the summer or winter.

How Do I Access the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For most thermostats, the fan setting signifies that the HVAC blower fan stays on. A few furnaces can operate at a low level in this setting, but in general heating or cooling isn’t being produced. The ‘Auto’ setting, on the other hand, will start the fan through a heating or cooling cycle and shut it off once the cycle is complete.

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

Advantages to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature throughout your home more uniform by permitting the fan to keep circulating air.
  • Indoor air quality can increase because continuous airflow will keep passing airborne particles into the air filter.
  • Fewer start-stop cycles for the system’s fan helps extend its life span. Because the air handler is often part of the furnace, this means you can minimize the risk of needing furnace repair.

Downsides to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A constant fan could increase your energy expenses somewhat.
  • Constant airflow could 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 may stick around in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you leave the fan on, your HVAC system can pull this warm air into the rest of your home, forcing the HVAC system to run longer to maintain the preferred temperature. In serious heat, this could result in needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear gets worse.

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

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

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

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