Once the weather begins to cool off, you may be wondering about how you’ll make the most of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC bills can contribute a big piece of your monthly electric bill. To figure out new ways to lower their HVAC bill, some homeowners take a closer look at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they could use to improve efficiency?

Most thermostats come with a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is running during a typical cycle, what can the fan setting offer for your HVAC system? This guide will help. We’ll share precisely what the fan setting is and whether you can use it to reduce costs over the summer or winter.

Should I Use My Thermostat’s Fan Setting?

For the bulk of thermostats, the fan setting indicates that the air handler’s blower fan remains on. A few furnaces can run at a low level with this setting, but in general heating or cooling isn’t being produced. The ‘Auto’ setting, on the other hand, will turn on the fan over a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off after the cycle is finished.

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

Advantages to using the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in each room more balanced by permitting the fan to keep circulating air.
  • Indoor air quality can increase since continuous airflow will keep moving airborne pollutants through the air filter.
  • A smaller amount of start-stop cycles for the system’s fan helps lengthen its life span. Because the air handler is usually part of the furnace, this means you can avoid needing furnace repair.

Drawbacks to using the Fan/On setting:

  • A continuous fan can increase your energy bills slightly.
  • Nonstop airflow may clog your air filter soon, 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 Summer/Winter

Through the summer, warm air may linger in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you leave the fan on, your HVAC system might draw this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to work harder to maintain the preferred temperature. In serious heat, this may lead to needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear increases.

The opposite can take place during the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which will 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 determine if you should try the fan/on setting, keep in mind 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 deals with allergies. Allergies and similar respiratory conditions can be stressful on the family. Leaving the fan on should help to increase indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

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