As the weather starts to cool off, you are probably concerned about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs routinely make up a big piece of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to lower their HVAC bill, some owners look closer at their thermostat. Could there be a setting they should use to improve efficiency?

Most thermostats have a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is going during a regular cycle, what does the fan setting offer for your HVAC system? This guide will help. We’ll review precisely what the fan setting is and how you can use it to save money in the summer or winter.

What Is the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For the majority of thermostats, the fan setting means that the air handler’s blower fan stays on. A few furnaces may continue to run at a low level with this setting, but in most cases heating or cooling isn’t being made. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will start the fan through a heating or cooling cycle and shut it off after the cycle is finished.

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 using the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in each room more consistent by permitting the fan to keep circulating air.
  • Indoor air quality should improve as steady airflow will keep moving airborne contaminants into the air filter.
  • A smaller number of start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps lengthen its life span. Because the air handler is often connected to the furnace, this means you can prevent the need for furnace repair.

Disadvantages to using the Fan/On setting:

  • A continuous fan can raise your energy expenses slightly.
  • Nonstop airflow may clog your air filter up more quickly, increasing the frequency you should 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 can stick around in unfinished spaces including 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, compelling the HVAC system to work more to keep up with the set temperature. In severe heat, this can result in needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear grows.

The reverse can take place in the winter. Cooler spaces such as a basement will hold onto cooler air, which may eventually flow into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan setting on could pull more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to remain warm.

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

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