Once the weather starts to cool off, you may be wondering about how you’ll take full advantage of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs routinely contribute a significant portion of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to lower their HVAC bill, some homeowners look closely at their thermostat. Is there a setting they should use to increase efficiency?

The majority of thermostats come with a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is on during a normal cycle, what can the fan setting provide for your HVAC system? This guide can help. We’ll review just what the fan setting is and how you can use it to cut costs in the summer or winter.

My Thermostat Has a Fan Setting?

For the majority of thermostats, the fan setting signifies that the system's blower fan stays on. A few furnaces will run at a low level in this setting, but for the most part heating or cooling isn’t being produced. The ‘Auto’ setting, in contrast, will turn on the fan through a heating or cooling cycle and shut it off once the cycle is finished.

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

Advantages to using the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in each room more consistent by permitting the fan to keep running.
  • Indoor air quality should improve since constant airflow will keep moving airborne pollutants through the air filter.
  • A smaller amount of start-stop cycles for the HVAC fan helps expand its life span. Since the air handler is often connected to the furnace, this means you could avoid needing furnace repair.

Disadvantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A constant fan could increase your energy bills somewhat.
  • Constant airflow may clog your air filter soon, increasing the frequency you should 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 linger in unfinished spaces including the attic or an attached garage. If you use the fan setting, your HVAC system can pull this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to work more to preserve the desired temperature. In serious heat, this could lead to needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear gets worse.

The reverse can take place during the winter. Cooler spaces such as a basement will hold onto cooler air, which may eventually drift 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 switch to the fan/on setting, remember that every home and family’s comfort needs are different. 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 hard on the family. Leaving the fan on is more likely to increase indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

Your home has hot and cold spots. All kinds of homes deal with stubborn hot and cold spots that quickly return to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting can help minimize these changes by steadily refreshing each room’s ventilation.