Once the weather starts to cool off, you might be wondering about how you’ll make the most of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs frequently add up to a big chunk of your monthly electric bill. To try and find ways to reduce costs, some homeowners take a closer look at their thermostat. Is there a setting they can use to boost efficiency?

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

How Do I Access the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For the majority of thermostats, the fan setting indicates that the HVAC blower fan keeps running. Some furnaces can run at a low level with this setting, but in most cases heating or cooling isn’t being made. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will start the fan over a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off once the cycle is complete.

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 needs.

Advantages to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in every room more consistent by allowing the fan to keep generating airflow.
  • Indoor air quality will be highest since continuous airflow will keep passing airborne contaminants through the air filter.
  • Fewer start-stop cycles for the blower fan helps extend its life span. Since the air handler is often connected to the furnace, this means you might minimize the risk of needing furnace repair.

Drawbacks to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • A nonstop fan could raise your energy bills somewhat.
  • Constant airflow could clog your air filter up more quickly, 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

During the summer, warm air will sometimes stick around in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you keep the fan running, your HVAC system might pull this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to work more to keep up with the preferred temperature. In serious heat, this can lead to needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear grows.

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

If you’re still trying to decide if you should try 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 work for you if:

Someone in your household deals with allergies. Allergies and other respiratory conditions can be hard on the family. Leaving the fan on is more likely to enhance indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

Your home experiences 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 should help minimize these changes by consistently refreshing each room’s ventilation.