As the weather begins to cool off, you are probably thinking about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs routinely add up to a big piece of your monthly electric bill. To try and find ways to save, some owners look closer at their thermostat. Could there be a setting they could use to boost efficiency?

The bulk of thermostats come with 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 can help. We’ll walk through what exactly the fan setting is and when you can use it to cut costs during the summer or winter.

How Do I Access the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For the bulk of thermostats, the fan setting indicates that the HVAC blower fan stays on. Some furnaces can generate heat at a low level with this setting, but for the most part heating or cooling isn’t being made. The ‘Auto’ setting, on the other hand, will run the fan through a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off once the cycle is over.

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

Advantages to using the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature throughout your home more consistent by allowing the fan to keep running.
  • Indoor air quality will be highest because steady airflow will keep forcing airborne pollutants through the air filter.
  • A smaller amount of start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps expand its life span. Because the air handler is typically connected to the furnace, this means you could avoid needing furnace repair.

Downsides to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A continuous fan can raise your energy expenses somewhat.
  • 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

In the summer, warm air can stick around in unfinished spaces such as the attic or an attached garage. If you leave the fan on, your HVAC system can draw this warm air into the rest of your home, forcing the HVAC system to run longer to maintain the preferred temperature. In extreme heat, this can lead to needing AC repair more often as wear and tear grows.

The reverse can take place in the winter. Cooler spaces such as a basement will hold onto cooler air, which will eventually drift 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 figure out if you should switch to the fan/on setting, remember 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 has allergies. Allergies and similar respiratory conditions can be hard on the family. Leaving the fan on should help to enhance indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

Your home deals with hot and cold spots. Lots of homes wrestle with difficult hot and cold spots that quickly return to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting might help lessen these changes by consistently refreshing each room’s ventilation.