Once the weather is cooling off, you may be wondering about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC bills routinely contribute a large chunk of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to save, some homeowners look closely at their thermostat. Could there be a setting they could use to improve efficiency?

The majority of thermostats come with a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is going during a typical cycle, what will the fan setting offer for your HVAC system? This guide should help. We’ll share just what the fan setting is and when you can use it to save money over the summer or winter.

What Is the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For most thermostats, the fan setting means that the HVAC blower fan remains on. Some furnaces will run at a low level in this setting, but in general heating or cooling isn’t being generated. The ‘Auto’ setting, in contrast, will start the fan through a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off once the cycle is finished.

There are advantages and disadvantages to switching on the fan setting on your thermostat, and the ideal option {will|can|should]] depend on your personal comfort preferences.

Advantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in every room more uniform by permitting the fan to keep running.
  • Indoor air quality should improve because continuous airflow will keep passing airborne particles into the air filter.
  • A smaller amount of start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps lengthen its life span. As the air handler is usually part of the furnace, this means you might avoid needing furnace repair.

Downsides to using the Fan/On setting:

  • A constant fan could raise your energy expenses somewhat.
  • Constant airflow could 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 Each Season

In the summer, warm air may stick around in unfinished spaces including the attic or an attached garage. If you keep the fan running, your HVAC system might pull this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to work more to preserve the preferred temperature. In serious heat, this could lead to needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear increases.

The opposite 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. Leaving the fan setting on may draw more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to remain warm.

If you’re still trying to decide if you should use the fan/on setting, don’t forget 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 tough on the family. Leaving the fan on is more likely to increase indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

Your home has hot and cold spots. All kinds 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 should help lessen these changes by constantly refreshing each room’s supply of air.