Once the weather starts to cool off, you are probably wondering about how you’ll make the most of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs can add up to a big chunk of your monthly electric bill. To try and find ways to lower their HVAC bill, some owners take a closer look at their thermostat. Could there be a setting they can use to increase efficiency?

Most thermostats include both a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is running during a normal cycle, what does the fan setting offer for an HVAC system? This guide can help. We’ll review what exactly the fan setting is and whether you can use it to cut costs in the summer or winter.

My Thermostat Has a Fan Setting?

For the majority of thermostats, the fan setting means that the air handler’s blower fan keeps running. A few furnaces will generate heat at a low level with this setting, but in most cases heating or cooling isn’t being made. The ‘Auto’ setting, in contrast, will start the fan over a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off after the cycle is over.

There are pros and cons to trying the fan setting on your thermostat, and what’s ideal {will|can|should]] depend on your distinct comfort requirements.

Advantages to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in each room more consistent by allowing the fan to keep running.
  • Indoor air quality can increase because continuous airflow will keep forcing airborne contaminants 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 connected to the furnace, this means you can prevent the need for furnace repair.

Downsides to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A nonstop fan could increase your energy bills by a small margin.
  • Continuous airflow may clog your air filter in a shorter amount of time, 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

During 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, forcing the HVAC system to work more to keep up with the desired temperature. In extreme heat, this could lead to needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear grows.

The opposite can take place over 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 will sometimes 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, keep in mind that every home and family’s comfort needs are not the same. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on might work for you if:

Someone in your household suffers from allergies. Allergies and similar respiratory conditions can be hard on the family. Leaving the fan on should help to improve indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

Your home has hot and cold spots. Many homes wrestle with stubborn hot and cold spots that quickly return to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting might help minimize these changes by constantly refreshing each room’s airflow.