When the weather begins to cool off, you might be concerned about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC bills can make up a significant portion of your monthly electric bill. To figure out new ways to reduce costs, some people look closely at their thermostat. Is there a setting they could use to increase efficiency?

The bulk of thermostats include both a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is going during a regular cycle, what can the fan setting provide for the HVAC system? This guide will help. We’ll review just what the fan setting is and how you can use it to reduce costs in the summer or winter.

My Thermostat Has a Fan Setting?

For the bulk of thermostats, the fan setting means that the air handler’s blower fan remains on. Certain furnaces will run at a low level in this setting, but for the most part heating or cooling isn’t being generated. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will start the fan during a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off when the cycle is finished.

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

Advantages to using the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature throughout your home more consistent by enabling the fan to keep running.
  • Indoor air quality should improve since continuous airflow will keep passing airborne contaminants through the air filter.
  • A smaller number of start-stop cycles for the system’s fan helps expand its life span. As the air handler is often connected to the furnace, this means you might minimize the risk of needing furnace repair.

Downsides to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • A nonstop fan could add to your energy bills slightly.
  • Constant airflow can clog your air filter soon, 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

In the summer, warm air can persist in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you keep the fan running, your HVAC system might draw this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to run longer to keep up with the desired temperature. In extreme heat, this can result in needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear increases.

The opposite can take place in the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which may eventually drift into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan running will sometimes draw more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to stay warm.

If you’re still trying to determine if you should switch to the fan/on setting, remember that every home and family’s comfort needs are not the same. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on could work for you if:

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

Your home has hot and cold spots. All kinds of homes wrestle with difficult hot and cold spots that quickly return to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting might help lessen these changes by constantly refreshing each room’s supply of air.