As the weather is cooling off, you are probably wondering about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC bills routinely make up a large portion of your monthly electric bill. To figure out new ways to save, some owners look closer at their thermostat. Could there be a setting they should use to improve efficiency?

Most thermostats have a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is on during a regular cycle, what will the fan setting offer for an HVAC system? This guide should help. We’ll share precisely what the fan setting is and how you can use it to reduce costs during the summer or winter.

How Do I Access the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For most thermostats, the fan setting signifies that the air handler’s blower fan remains on. A few furnaces will generate heat at a low level with this setting, but for the most part heating or cooling isn’t being generated. The ‘Auto’ setting, in contrast, will run the fan during a heating or cooling cycle and shut it off once the cycle is complete.

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

Advantages to trying the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in each room more consistent by permitting the fan to keep generating airflow.
  • Indoor air quality will be highest as continuous airflow will keep passing airborne particles into the air filter.
  • Fewer start-stop cycles for the HVAC fan helps lengthen its life span. As the air handler is often a component of the furnace, this means you might minimize the risk of needing furnace repair.

Downsides to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A constant fan can raise your energy expenses somewhat.
  • Nonstop airflow could clog your air filter soon, increasing the frequency you will want to replace it.

Should My Thermostat Be on? Fan or Auto in Summer/Winter

Through the summer, warm air can persist in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you use the fan setting, 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 set temperature. In severe heat, this may result in needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear gets worse.

The opposite can happen during the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which will eventually flow into the rest of your home. Keeping the fan on will sometimes pull more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to remain warm.

If you’re still trying to determine if you should use the fan/on setting, don’t forget that every home and family’s comfort needs will vary. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on might work for you if:

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

Your home has hot and cold spots. Lots of homes deal with difficult 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.