As the weather begins to cool off, you may be thinking about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses routinely add up to a big chunk of your monthly electric bill. To figure out new ways to lower their HVAC bill, some people take a closer look at their thermostat. Is there a setting they can use to increase efficiency?

The majority of thermostats include both a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is on during a regular cycle, what can the fan setting offer for an HVAC system? This guide should help. We’ll review what exactly the fan setting is and when you can use it to cut costs in the summer or winter.

How Do I Access the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For most thermostats, the fan setting signifies that the air handler’s blower fan remains on. A few furnaces may continue to run at a low level with 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 advantages and disadvantages to switching on the fan setting on your thermostat, and whether you do or don’t {will|can|should]] depend on your personal comfort requirements.

Advantages to trying the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature throughout your home more consistent by enabling the fan to keep generating airflow.
  • Indoor air quality can increase since continuous airflow will keep moving airborne contaminants into the air filter.
  • Fewer start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps expand its life span. As the air handler is typically part of the furnace, this means you can minimize the risk of needing furnace repair.

Downsides to using the Fan/On setting:

  • A nonstop fan can increase your energy expenses slightly.
  • Nonstop airflow can clog your air filter up more quickly, 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 can stick around in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you leave the fan on, your HVAC system might draw this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to work harder to maintain the set temperature. In extreme heat, this could lead to needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear increases.

The reverse can take place during the winter. Cooler spaces such as a basement will hold onto cooler air, which will eventually flow into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan running could draw more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to remain warm.

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

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

Your home experiences hot and cold spots. Lots of homes deal with persistent hot and cold spots that quickly return to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting should help minimize these changes by constantly refreshing each room’s ventilation.