As the weather is cooling off, you may be thinking about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC bills frequently contribute a significant portion of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to save, some people take a closer look at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they could use to increase efficiency?

The bulk of thermostats have a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is going during a typical cycle, what can the fan setting provide for the HVAC system? This guide can help. We’ll walk through precisely what the fan setting is and when you can use it to reduce costs over 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 air handler’s blower fan keeps running. Some furnaces can run at a low level in this setting, but for the most part heating or cooling isn’t being produced. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will start the fan during a heating or cooling cycle and shut it off after the cycle is complete.

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

Advantages to trying the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature throughout your home more uniform by allowing the fan to keep generating airflow.
  • Indoor air quality should improve as steady airflow will keep forcing airborne pollutants through the air filter.
  • A smaller number of start-stop cycles for the HVAC fan helps lengthen its life span. Because the air handler is often connected to the furnace, this means you could avoid needing furnace repair.

Disadvantages to using the Fan/On setting:

  • A continuous fan will likely increase your energy costs slightly.
  • Continuous airflow can 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

Through 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 might draw this warm air into the rest of your home, compelling the HVAC system to work more to maintain the desired temperature. In serious heat, this could result in needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear grows.

The opposite can take place over the winter. Cooler spaces such as a basement will hold onto cooler air, which can eventually flow into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan setting on will sometimes pull 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 might 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 enhance indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

Your home has hot and cold spots. All kinds of homes wrestle with persistent hot and cold spots that quickly evolve to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting should help minimize these changes by constantly refreshing each room’s ventilation.