When the weather starts to cool off, you are probably wondering about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses routinely add up to a large piece of your monthly electric bill. To try and find ways to lower their HVAC bill, some owners look closer at their thermostat. Could there be a setting they can use to increase efficiency?

Most thermostats have a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is on during a normal cycle, what does the fan setting provide for an HVAC system? This guide should help. We’ll share precisely what the fan setting is and whether you can use it to cut costs during the summer or winter.

My Thermostat Has a Fan Setting?

For the majority of thermostats, the fan setting means that the air handler’s blower fan stays on. Some furnaces may continue to operate at a low level with this setting, but in general heating or cooling isn’t being made. The ‘Auto’ setting, in contrast, will turn on the fan through a heating or cooling cycle and turn it off when the cycle is over.

There are benefits and drawbacks to switching on the fan setting on your thermostat, and the ideal option {will|can|should]] depend on your unique comfort needs.

Advantages to trying the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in every room more consistent by permitting the fan to keep circulating air.
  • Indoor air quality should improve as steady airflow will keep passing airborne particles into the air filter.
  • Fewer start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps lengthen its life span. Because the air handler is typically a component of the furnace, this means you could minimize the risk of needing furnace repair.

Downsides to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A nonstop fan could raise your energy bills slightly.
  • Nonstop 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

Through the summer, warm air may linger in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you use the fan setting, your HVAC system might draw this warm air into the rest of your home, forcing the HVAC system to run longer to maintain the desired temperature. In serious heat, this could result in needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear grows.

The opposite can take place in the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which may eventually make its way into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan setting on will sometimes pump 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, keep in mind that every home and family’s comfort needs are not the same. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on could be best for you if:

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

Your home experiences hot and cold spots. All kinds of homes wrestle with stubborn hot and cold spots that quickly shift to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting might help lessen these changes by steadily refreshing each room’s airflow.