As the weather is cooling off, you may be concerned about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs frequently make up a significant portion of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to lower their HVAC bill, some homeowners take a closer look at their thermostat. Could there be a setting they should use to increase efficiency?

The majority of thermostats include both a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is going during a normal cycle, what can the fan setting provide for an HVAC system? This guide should help. We’ll walk through just what the fan setting is and when you can use it to reduce costs over the summer or winter.

Should I Use My Thermostat’s Fan Setting?

For the bulk of thermostats, the fan setting indicates that the air handler’s blower fan stays on. Some furnaces can generate heat at a low level in this setting, but in general 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 after the cycle is over.

There are benefits and drawbacks to switching on the fan setting on your thermostat, and whether you do or don’t {will|can|should]] depend on your personal comfort needs.

Advantages to trying the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in each room more balanced by enabling the fan to keep circulating air.
  • Indoor air quality can increase because steady airflow will keep moving airborne pollutants into the air filter.
  • Fewer start-stop cycles for the system’s fan helps lengthen its life span. Since the air handler is often connected to the furnace, this means you might minimize the risk of needing furnace repair.

Disadvantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A continuous fan will likely increase your energy expenses by a small margin.
  • Continuous 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 Summer/Winter

During the summer, warm air will sometimes linger 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, compelling the HVAC system to run longer to preserve the desired temperature. In extreme heat, this could result in needing AC repair more often as wear and tear grows.

The opposite can occur during 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 running may draw more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to keep warm.

If you’re still trying to figure out if you should try the fan/on setting, keep in mind that every home and family’s comfort needs will vary. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on could 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 is more likely to enhance indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

Your home has 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 minimize these changes by consistently refreshing each room’s supply of air.