Once 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 bills routinely make up a significant piece of your monthly electric bill. To figure out new ways to reduce costs, some owners look closer at their thermostat. Is there a setting they should 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 offer for your HVAC system? This guide should help. We’ll walk through what exactly the fan setting is and whether you can use it to save money over the summer or winter.

My Thermostat Has a Fan Setting?

For the majority of thermostats, the fan setting signifies that the air handler’s blower fan remains on. A few furnaces may continue to operate at a low level with this setting, but in most cases heating or cooling isn’t being made. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will turn on the fan during a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off when the cycle is over.

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

Advantages to utilizing 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 particles through the air filter.
  • Fewer start-stop cycles for the system’s fan helps lengthen its life span. Because the air handler is often part of the furnace, this means you could prevent the need for furnace repair.

Drawbacks to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A constant fan can raise your energy bills slightly.
  • Constant airflow could clog your air filter up more quickly, increasing the frequency you’ll need to replace it.

Should My Thermostat Be on? Fan or Auto in Summer/Winter

In the summer, warm air will sometimes linger in unfinished spaces including 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, compelling the HVAC system to work harder to keep up with the preferred temperature. In severe heat, this may result in needing AC repair more often as wear and tear increases.

The opposite can happen during the winter. Cooler spaces such as a basement will hold onto cooler air, which will 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 stay 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 may work for you if:

Someone in your household suffers from allergies. Allergies and similar respiratory conditions can be stressful on the family. Leaving the fan on is more likely to increase indoor air quality, helping your family breathe easier.

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