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

Most thermostats have a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is going during a normal cycle, what will 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 cut costs over the summer or winter.

How Do I Access the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For the majority of thermostats, the fan setting signifies that the HVAC blower fan stays on. A few furnaces will operate at a low level in this setting, but for the most part heating or cooling isn’t being made. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will turn on the fan during a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off once the cycle is finished.

There are pros and cons to trying the fan setting on your thermostat, and whether you do or don’t {will|can|should]] depend on your distinct comfort preferences.

Advantages to trying the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature throughout your home more balanced by enabling the fan to keep circulating air.
  • Indoor air quality will be highest since constant airflow will keep passing airborne particles into the air filter.
  • A smaller number of start-stop cycles for the system's fan helps expand its life span. Since the air handler is usually a component of the furnace, this means you can avoid needing furnace repair.

Disadvantages to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • A nonstop fan can increase your energy bills slightly.
  • Continuous airflow may clog your air filter in a shorter amount of time, increasing the frequency you will want to replace it.

{Choosing Between|Should My Thermostat Be on|Which Setting for My Thermostat? Fan or Auto in Each Season

During 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 might pull this warm air into the rest of your home, forcing the HVAC system to work harder to preserve the set temperature. In serious heat, this can result in needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear grows.

The reverse can occur during the winter. Cooler spaces such as a basement will hold onto cooler air, which may eventually make its way into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan running will sometimes pull 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 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 work for you if:

Someone in your household has allergies. Allergies and other respiratory conditions can be tough on the family. Leaving the fan on can help to improve indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

Your home experiences hot and cold spots. All kinds of homes wrestle with persistent hot and cold spots that quickly evolve 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.