Once the weather starts to cool off, you are probably concerned about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC bills frequently make up a significant piece of your monthly electric bill. To try and find ways to reduce costs, some owners look closer at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they could use to increase 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 provide for your HVAC system? This guide can help. We’ll share just what the fan setting is and whether you can use it to save money in the summer or winter.

How Do I Access 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, in contrast, will start the fan over a heating or cooling cycle and shut it off once the cycle is complete.

There are advantages and disadvantages to using the fan setting on your thermostat, and the ideal option {will|can|should]] depend on your personal comfort needs.

Advantages to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in each room more consistent by enabling the fan to keep circulating air.
  • Indoor air quality will be highest since constant airflow will keep passing airborne particles through the air filter.
  • A smaller number of start-stop cycles for the system’s fan helps extend its life span. Because the air handler is usually a component of the furnace, this means you might minimize the risk of needing furnace repair.

Disadvantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A nonstop fan could raise your energy expenses by a small margin.
  • Nonstop 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

During the summer, warm air can persist in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you leave the fan on, your HVAC system may gradually move this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to work more to keep up with the preferred temperature. In serious heat, this may lead to needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear gets worse.

The reverse can take place in 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 may draw more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to remain warm.

If you’re still trying to decide if you should use the fan/on setting, remember that every home and family’s comfort needs will vary. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on could work for you if:

Someone in your household deals with allergies. Allergies and other respiratory conditions can be tough 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 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.