When the weather begins to cool off, you are probably wondering about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses can add up to a large portion of your monthly electric bill. To figure out new ways to reduce costs, some owners look closer at their thermostat. Maybe there’s a setting they should use to boost efficiency?

The bulk of thermostats include both 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 share precisely what the fan setting is and whether you can use it to reduce costs over the summer or winter.

My Thermostat Has a Fan Setting?

For most thermostats, the fan setting signifies that the system’s blower fan remains on. Some furnaces can operate at a low level with this setting, but for the most part heating or cooling isn’t being made. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will run the fan over a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off after the cycle is over.

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

Advantages to using the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in each room more uniform by enabling the fan to keep running.
  • Indoor air quality can increase because steady airflow will keep moving airborne pollutants through 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 typically part of the furnace, this means you can avoid needing furnace repair.

Downsides to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A constant fan will likely increase your energy bills slightly.
  • Constant airflow could clog your air filter in a shorter amount of time, increasing the frequency you should 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 persist in unfinished spaces including the attic or an attached garage. If you use the fan setting, your HVAC system may pull this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to work more to keep up with the preferred temperature. In extreme heat, this may lead to needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear increases.

The reverse can happen over the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which will eventually flow 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 try the fan/on setting, remember that every home and family’s comfort needs are different. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on may be best for you if:

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

Your home experiences 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 should help minimize these changes by constantly refreshing each room’s airflow.