Once the weather begins to cool off, you are probably thinking about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC bills can contribute a large chunk of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to lower their HVAC bill, some people take a closer look at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they could use to increase efficiency?

The bulk of thermostats come with a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is going during a typical cycle, what will the fan setting offer for an HVAC system? This guide will help. We’ll walk through precisely what the fan setting is and whether you can use it to reduce costs during the summer or winter.

How Do I Access the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For the majority of thermostats, the fan setting means that the HVAC blower fan stays on. A few furnaces can operate 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 start the fan over a heating or cooling cycle and shut it off once the cycle is over.

There are advantages and disadvantages to using the fan setting on your thermostat, and what’s ideal {will|can|should]] depend on your unique comfort preferences.

Advantages to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in each room more consistent by permitting the fan to keep generating airflow.
  • Indoor air quality can increase since constant airflow will keep forcing airborne pollutants through the air filter.
  • A smaller number 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 using the Fan/On setting:

  • A constant fan could add to your energy bills slightly.
  • Nonstop 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 stick around in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you keep the fan running, your HVAC system might pull this warm air into the rest of your home, forcing the HVAC system to work harder to maintain the desired temperature. In extreme heat, this can lead to needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear increases.

The reverse can occur in the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which can eventually flow 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 determine if you should switch to the fan/on setting, remember that every home and family’s comfort needs are different. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on could work for you if:

Someone in your household suffers from allergies. Allergies and other respiratory conditions can be stressful 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. 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 can help lessen these changes by steadily refreshing each room’s supply of air.