Once the weather is cooling off, you may be thinking about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs frequently make up a big piece of your monthly electric bill. To figure out new ways to lower their HVAC bill, some owners look closer at their thermostat. Is there a setting they should use to improve efficiency?

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

What Is the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For most thermostats, the fan setting means that the air handler’s blower fan stays on. Certain 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, on the other hand, will start the fan during a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off once the cycle is over.

There are benefits and drawbacks to using the fan setting on your thermostat, and whether you do or don’t {will|can|should]] depend on your distinct comfort needs.

Advantages to using the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in each room more balanced by allowing the fan to keep running.
  • Indoor air quality can increase as continuous airflow will keep moving airborne particles into the air filter.
  • Fewer start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps lengthen its life span. As the air handler is usually connected to the furnace, this means you might avoid needing furnace repair.

Drawbacks to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A nonstop fan could increase your energy bills somewhat.
  • Constant airflow can 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 Summer/Winter

During the summer, warm air will sometimes stick around in unfinished spaces including 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, compelling the HVAC system to work harder to maintain the set temperature. In serious heat, this could lead to needing AC repair more often as wear and tear gets worse.

The reverse can occur in the winter. Cooler spaces such as a basement will hold onto cooler air, which will eventually make its way into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan running may 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 are different. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on may be ideal for you if:

Someone in your household has allergies. Allergies and other respiratory conditions can be hard 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. Many homes wrestle with persistent hot and cold spots that quickly return to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting can help minimize these changes by steadily refreshing each room’s supply of air.