When the weather begins to cool off, you might be thinking about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC bills can contribute a large chunk of your monthly electric bill. To figure out new ways to lower their HVAC bill, some homeowners look closely at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they could use to improve efficiency?

The bulk of thermostats have a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is going during a normal cycle, what can the fan setting offer for your HVAC system? This guide should help. We’ll walk through just what the fan setting is and how you can use it to reduce costs in 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 can operate at a low level in this setting, but in general heating or cooling isn’t being made. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will turn on the fan over a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off once the cycle is over.

There are advantages and disadvantages to switching on the fan setting on your thermostat, and the ideal option {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 allowing the fan to keep generating airflow.
  • Indoor air quality will be highest because steady airflow will keep moving airborne pollutants into the air filter.
  • A smaller amount of start-stop cycles for the system’s fan helps lengthen its life span. As the air handler is usually connected to the furnace, this means you can minimize the risk of needing furnace repair.

Disadvantages to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • A constant fan will likely raise your energy expenses slightly.
  • Constant airflow could 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 Summer/Winter

Through the summer, warm air may persist in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you use the fan setting, your HVAC system may draw this warm air into the rest of your home, forcing the HVAC system to work more to keep up with the desired temperature. In serious heat, this could lead to needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear grows.

The opposite can occur over the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which can eventually make its way into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan setting on could draw more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to stay 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 will vary. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on may be best for you if:

Someone in your household deals with 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. Lots of homes wrestle with difficult hot and cold spots that quickly return to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting can help lessen these changes by consistently refreshing each room’s airflow.