When the weather is cooling off, you are probably wondering about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC bills can add up to a big chunk of your monthly electric bill. To figure out new ways to reduce costs, some homeowners look closer at their thermostat. Could there be a setting they should use to improve efficiency?

The majority of thermostats come with a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is going during a normal cycle, what can the fan setting provide for the HVAC system? This guide can help. We’ll walk through just what the fan setting is and when you can use it to save money during the summer or winter.

Should I Use My Thermostat’s Fan Setting?

For the bulk of thermostats, the fan setting means that the system’s blower fan keeps running. Some furnaces will run at a low level in this setting, but for the most part heating or cooling isn’t being generated. The ‘Auto’ setting, in contrast, will turn on the fan over a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off after 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 distinct comfort preferences.

Advantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in each room more consistent by allowing the fan to keep generating airflow.
  • Indoor air quality can increase since steady airflow will keep forcing airborne pollutants through the air filter.
  • A smaller amount of start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps extend its life span. As the air handler is usually a component of the furnace, this means you could prevent the need for furnace repair.

Disadvantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A nonstop fan can raise your energy bills somewhat.
  • Constant airflow could clog your air filter in a shorter amount of time, 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

In the summer, warm air may linger in unfinished spaces such as 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 preserve the desired temperature. In severe heat, this could result in needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear grows.

The reverse can occur in the winter. Cooler spaces such as a basement will hold onto cooler air, which can eventually drift into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan setting on may draw 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 are different. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on may be best for you if:

Someone in your household suffers from allergies. Allergies and similar respiratory conditions can be tough 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. Many homes wrestle with persistent hot and cold spots that quickly return to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting might help lessen these changes by steadily refreshing each room’s airflow.