When the weather starts to cool off, you may be thinking about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC bills frequently make up a big chunk of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to reduce costs, some owners take a closer look at their thermostat. Is there a setting they could use to improve efficiency?

Most thermostats have a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is on during a typical cycle, what will the fan setting offer for the HVAC system? This guide can help. We’ll share precisely what the fan setting is and whether you can use it to cut 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 remains on. Certain furnaces may continue to operate at a low level in this setting, but for the most part heating or cooling isn’t being made. The ‘Auto’ setting, on the other hand, will turn on the fan over a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off once the cycle is over.

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

Advantages to trying the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in every room more balanced by permitting the fan to keep generating airflow.
  • Indoor air quality can increase as constant airflow will keep forcing airborne pollutants into the air filter.
  • A smaller number of start-stop cycles for the HVAC fan helps extend its life span. Because the air handler is often a component of the furnace, this means you could prevent the need for furnace repair.

Drawbacks to using the Fan/On setting:

  • A continuous fan will likely raise your energy costs slightly.
  • Constant airflow may 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 Summer/Winter

During the summer, warm air will sometimes stick around in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you use the fan setting, your HVAC system can pull this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to run longer to preserve the preferred temperature. In extreme heat, this could result in needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear increases.

The opposite can take place 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. Leaving the fan running could pull more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to keep warm.

If you’re still trying to decide if you should try the fan/on setting, keep in mind that every home and family’s comfort needs will vary. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on might be ideal for you if:

Someone in your household has allergies. Allergies and other respiratory conditions can be stressful on the family. Leaving the fan on is more likely to improve indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

Your home experiences hot and cold spots. All kinds of homes deal with persistent hot and cold spots that quickly evolve to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting might help lessen these changes by steadily refreshing each room’s ventilation.