Once the weather begins to cool off, you might be wondering about how you’ll make the most of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs frequently contribute a significant piece of your monthly electric bill. To figure out new ways to save, some homeowners take a closer look at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they should use to boost efficiency?

The bulk of thermostats come with a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is on during a typical cycle, what does the fan setting provide for the HVAC system? This guide will help. We’ll share precisely what the fan setting is and when you can use it to reduce costs in the summer or winter.

How Do I Access the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For the bulk of thermostats, the fan setting means that the system’s blower fan keeps running. A few furnaces will operate at a low level with this setting, but for the most part heating or cooling isn’t being generated. The ‘Auto’ setting, on the other hand, will run the fan through a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off after the cycle is complete.

There are benefits and drawbacks to trying the fan setting on your thermostat, and whether you do or don’t {will|can|should]] depend on your unique comfort needs.

Advantages to using the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature throughout your home more balanced by permitting the fan to keep running.
  • Indoor air quality will be highest since continuous airflow will keep passing airborne contaminants into the air filter.
  • A smaller number of start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps extend its life span. As the air handler is typically connected to the furnace, this means you can minimize the risk of needing furnace repair.

Downsides to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • A continuous fan will likely add to your energy bills somewhat.
  • Nonstop airflow may clog your air filter up more quickly, increasing the frequency you’ll need to replace it.

Which Setting for My Thermostat? Fan or Auto in Each Season

In the summer, warm air will sometimes stick around in unfinished spaces such as 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, compelling the HVAC system to work more to preserve the desired temperature. In serious 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 such as a basement will hold onto cooler air, which may eventually flow into the rest of your home. Keeping the fan on will sometimes pump 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 try the fan/on setting, don’t forget 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 suffers from allergies. Allergies and other 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. Many homes wrestle with difficult hot and cold spots that quickly return to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting can help minimize these changes by constantly refreshing each room’s airflow.