Once the weather is cooling off, you are probably concerned about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs routinely add up to a big piece of your monthly electric bill. To figure out new ways to lower their HVAC bill, some owners look closely at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they can use to boost efficiency?

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

My Thermostat Has a Fan Setting?

For the majority of thermostats, the fan setting indicates that the system’s blower fan remains on. Some furnaces will generate heat at a low level in this setting, but in most cases heating or cooling isn’t being produced. The ‘Auto’ setting, in contrast, will start the fan through a heating or cooling cycle and shut it off after the cycle is over.

There are benefits and drawbacks to switching on the fan setting on your thermostat, and what’s ideal {will|can|should]] depend on your personal comfort preferences.

Advantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in each room more uniform by permitting the fan to keep generating airflow.
  • Indoor air quality should improve as continuous airflow will keep passing airborne contaminants through the air filter.
  • A smaller number of start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps expand its life span. As the air handler is often a component of the furnace, this means you could avoid needing furnace repair.

Disadvantages to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • A nonstop fan could add to your energy bills 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 Each Season

In the summer, warm air will sometimes persist in unfinished spaces such as the attic or an attached garage. If you keep the fan running, your HVAC system can pull this warm air into the rest of your home, compelling the HVAC system to work harder to maintain the set temperature. In serious heat, this could lead to needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear increases.

The reverse can take place in the winter. Cooler spaces such as a basement will hold onto cooler air, which will eventually flow 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 remain warm.

If you’re still trying to figure out if you should switch to the fan/on setting, keep in mind that every home and family’s comfort needs are different. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on could be best for you if:

Someone in your household deals with allergies. Allergies and similar respiratory conditions can be tough on the family. Leaving the fan on can help to increase 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 shift to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting should help lessen these changes by constantly refreshing each room’s airflow.