Once the weather starts to cool off, you may be thinking about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses routinely contribute a big chunk of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to reduce costs, some people take a closer look at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they could use to boost efficiency?

Most thermostats come with a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is going during a normal cycle, what will the fan setting offer for your HVAC system? This guide will help. We’ll walk through what exactly the fan setting is and when you can use it to save money during the summer or winter.

What Is the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For the majority of thermostats, the fan setting means that the air handler’s blower fan keeps running. Certain furnaces can run at a low level with this setting, but for the most part heating or cooling isn’t being produced. The ‘Auto’ setting, on the other hand, will run the fan during a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off once the cycle is finished.

There are advantages and disadvantages to trying the fan setting on your thermostat, and what’s ideal {will|can|should]] depend on your distinct comfort needs.

Advantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature throughout your home more consistent by permitting the fan to keep generating airflow.
  • Indoor air quality will be highest because steady airflow will keep forcing airborne particles through the air filter.
  • Fewer start-stop cycles for the HVAC fan helps expand its life span. Because the air handler is typically part of the furnace, this means you might avoid needing furnace repair.

Drawbacks to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • A nonstop fan will likely increase your energy bills 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

Through the summer, warm air may persist in unfinished spaces such as the attic or an attached garage. If you use the fan setting, your HVAC system might draw this warm air into the rest of your home, compelling the HVAC system to work harder to keep up with the preferred temperature. In severe heat, this can result in needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear grows.

The reverse can occur over the winter. Cooler spaces such as a basement will hold onto cooler air, which will eventually drift into the rest of your home. Keeping the fan on may draw more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to remain warm.

If you’re still trying to figure out if you should switch to the fan/on setting, keep in mind that every home and family’s comfort needs are different. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on could work 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 is more likely to increase indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

Your home deals with hot and cold spots. All kinds of homes deal with stubborn hot and cold spots that quickly return to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting should help lessen these changes by consistently refreshing each room’s airflow.