When the weather begins to cool off, you may be thinking about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses can add up to a large chunk of your monthly electric bill. To try and find ways to lower their HVAC bill, some people take a closer look at their thermostat. Could there be a setting they could use to boost efficiency?

The bulk of thermostats have a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is going during a typical cycle, what does the fan setting provide for your HVAC system? This guide should help. We’ll share what exactly the fan setting is and whether you can use it to reduce costs during the summer or winter.

What Is the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For the bulk of thermostats, the fan setting means that the air handler’s blower fan keeps running. Certain furnaces can operate at a low level with this setting, but in most cases heating or cooling isn’t being produced. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will turn on the fan during a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off when the cycle is finished.

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

Advantages to using the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature throughout your home more consistent by enabling the fan to keep generating airflow.
  • Indoor air quality should improve since constant airflow will keep forcing airborne contaminants into the air filter.
  • A smaller amount of start-stop cycles for the HVAC fan helps extend its life span. Since the air handler is typically a component of the furnace, this means you might prevent the need for furnace repair.

Disadvantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A constant fan will likely add to your energy expenses by a small margin.
  • Constant airflow may clog your air filter up more quickly, increasing the frequency you’ll need to 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 may persist in unfinished spaces such as the attic or an attached garage. If you keep the fan running, your HVAC system might draw this warm air into the rest of your home, compelling the HVAC system to work more to preserve the preferred temperature. In serious heat, this could lead to needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear increases.

The opposite can take place in 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 could pump more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to remain warm.

If you’re still trying to decide if you should try the fan/on setting, remember that every home and family’s comfort needs are different. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on might be ideal for you if:

Someone in your household deals with allergies. Allergies and similar respiratory conditions can be tough on the family. Leaving the fan on should help to increase indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

Your home has hot and cold spots. Lots of homes wrestle with stubborn hot and cold spots that quickly shift to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting can help lessen these changes by steadily refreshing each room’s airflow.