As the weather starts to cool off, you might be concerned about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs frequently add up to a big piece of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to lower their HVAC bill, some homeowners look closely at their thermostat. Could there be a setting they can use to improve efficiency?

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

Should I Use My Thermostat’s Fan Setting?

For the majority of thermostats, the fan setting indicates that the system’s blower fan stays on. Certain furnaces can operate at a low level in this setting, but in most cases heating or cooling isn’t being generated. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will run the fan over a heating or cooling cycle and shut it off after the cycle is finished.

There are pros and cons to switching on the fan setting on your thermostat, and whether you do or don’t {will|can|should]] depend on your personal comfort requirements.

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 since steady airflow will keep passing airborne pollutants through the air filter.
  • A smaller number of start-stop cycles for the HVAC fan helps expand its life span. Since the air handler is often a component of the furnace, this means you might minimize the risk of needing furnace repair.

Disadvantages to using the Fan/On setting:

  • A nonstop fan could add to your energy bills somewhat.
  • Constant airflow may clog your air filter up more quickly, increasing the frequency you should replace it.

{Choosing Between|Should My Thermostat Be on|Which Setting for My Thermostat? Fan or Auto in Summer/Winter

In the summer, warm air can linger in unfinished spaces such as the attic or an attached garage. If you keep the fan running, your HVAC system can gradually move this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to work more to maintain the desired temperature. In extreme heat, this can lead to needing AC repair more often as wear and tear gets worse.

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 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, don’t forget that every home and family’s comfort needs will vary. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on could be best for you if:

Someone in your household has allergies. Allergies and other respiratory conditions can be stressful on the family. Leaving the fan on is more likely to enhance indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

Your home deals with hot and cold spots. All kinds of homes deal with stubborn hot and cold spots that quickly return to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting should help lessen these changes by steadily refreshing each room’s supply of air.