When the weather begins to cool off, you may be wondering about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC bills routinely contribute a large chunk of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to lower their HVAC bill, some owners look closely at their thermostat. Could there be a setting they could use to boost efficiency?

Most thermostats have a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is running during a normal cycle, what does the fan setting provide for your HVAC system? This guide should help. We’ll walk through precisely what the fan setting is and whether you can use it to save money in the summer or winter.

What Is the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For most thermostats, the fan setting signifies that the system’s blower fan remains on. A few furnaces may continue to generate heat at a low level with this setting, but in general heating or cooling isn’t being generated. The ‘Auto’ setting, in contrast, will run the fan over a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off when the cycle is over.

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

Advantages to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in each room more balanced by permitting the fan to keep running.
  • Indoor air quality can increase as constant airflow will keep forcing airborne particles into the air filter.
  • A smaller number of start-stop cycles for the system’s fan helps extend its life span. As the air handler is typically connected to the furnace, this means you can minimize the risk of needing furnace repair.

Drawbacks to using the Fan/On setting:

  • A continuous fan could increase your energy costs somewhat.
  • Continuous 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

Through the summer, warm air can linger in unfinished spaces including the attic or an attached garage. If you leave the fan on, your HVAC system can gradually move this warm air into the rest of your home, compelling the HVAC system to work harder to maintain the desired temperature. In serious 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 such as a basement will hold onto cooler air, which can eventually flow into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan running will sometimes draw more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to keep warm.

If you’re still trying to decide if you should switch to the fan/on setting, keep in mind that every home and family’s comfort needs will vary. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on may be ideal for you if:

Someone in your household deals with allergies. Allergies and similar respiratory conditions can be hard on the family. Leaving the fan on is more likely to improve indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

Your home experiences hot and cold spots. Many 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 lessen these changes by steadily refreshing each room’s ventilation.