As the weather starts to cool off, you are probably concerned about how you’ll make the most of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses routinely add up to a significant chunk of your monthly electric bill. To figure out new ways to lower their HVAC bill, some homeowners take a closer look at their thermostat. Is there a setting they could use to improve efficiency?

The bulk of thermostats come with a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is on during a typical cycle, what can the fan setting offer for your HVAC system? This guide can help. We’ll share what exactly the fan setting is and when you can use it to reduce costs over the summer or winter.

My Thermostat Has a Fan Setting?

For most thermostats, the fan setting indicates that the air handler’s blower fan stays on. Certain furnaces will operate at a low level in this setting, but in most cases heating or cooling isn’t being made. The ‘Auto’ setting, on the other hand, will turn on the fan during a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off when the cycle is finished.

There are benefits and drawbacks to trying the fan setting on your thermostat, and what’s ideal {will|can|should]] depend on your personal comfort needs.

Advantages to trying the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature throughout your home more balanced by allowing the fan to keep circulating air.
  • Indoor air quality will be highest because continuous airflow will keep passing airborne particles through the air filter.
  • Fewer start-stop cycles for the system’s fan helps lengthen its life span. Since the air handler is often a component of the furnace, this means you might prevent the need for furnace repair.

Drawbacks to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A nonstop fan could increase your energy costs somewhat.
  • Nonstop airflow may 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 Summer/Winter

Through the summer, warm air can stick around in unfinished spaces including the attic or an attached garage. If you leave the fan on, your HVAC system can draw this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to run longer to preserve the desired temperature. In extreme heat, this may result in needing AC repair more often as wear and tear gets worse.

The opposite can happen over the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which will 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 stay warm.

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

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

Your home has hot and cold spots. Many homes deal with persistent hot and cold spots that quickly evolve to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting can help minimize these changes by consistently refreshing each room’s airflow.