Once the weather begins to cool off, you are probably thinking about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC bills can contribute a big chunk of your monthly electric bill. To try and find ways to reduce costs, some owners look closely at their thermostat. Is there a setting they could use to improve efficiency?

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

How Do I Access the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For most thermostats, the fan setting signifies that the system’s blower fan stays on. Certain furnaces can run at a low level with 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 switch it off after the cycle is finished.

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

Advantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in every room more uniform by enabling the fan to keep generating airflow.
  • Indoor air quality will be highest since continuous airflow will keep forcing airborne pollutants into the air filter.
  • A smaller number of start-stop cycles for the HVAC fan helps extend its life span. Because the air handler is usually connected to the furnace, this means you might prevent the need for furnace repair.

Downsides to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A nonstop fan could increase your energy bills slightly.
  • Constant airflow could 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

During the summer, warm air can persist in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you use the fan setting, your HVAC system may pull this warm air into the rest of your home, forcing the HVAC system to work more to keep up with the desired temperature. In serious heat, this can result in needing AC repair more often as wear and tear grows.

The reverse can happen over the winter. Cooler spaces such as a basement will hold onto cooler air, which will eventually flow into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan running may pump more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to remain warm.

If you’re still trying to figure out 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 has allergies. Allergies and other respiratory conditions can be stressful on the family. Leaving the fan on should help to improve indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

Your home experiences hot and cold spots. Lots of homes wrestle with persistent hot and cold spots that quickly return to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting can help limit these changes by constantly refreshing each room’s airflow.