When the weather begins to cool off, you are probably wondering about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses routinely add up to a large piece of your monthly electric bill. To try and find ways to lower their HVAC bill, some owners look closely 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 will the fan setting provide for your HVAC system? This guide should help. We’ll review what exactly the fan setting is and whether you can use it to reduce costs over the summer or winter.

How Do I Access the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For the bulk of thermostats, the fan setting signifies that the air handler’s blower fan keeps running. Some furnaces may continue to operate at a low level in this setting, but in general heating or cooling isn’t being produced. The ‘Auto’ setting, on the other hand, will start the fan during a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off when the cycle is complete.

There are benefits and drawbacks to using the fan setting on your thermostat, and what’s ideal {will|can|should]] depend on your unique comfort preferences.

Advantages to switching to the Fan/On setting:

• You can keep the temperature throughout your home more consistent by allowing the fan to keep generating airflow.
• Indoor air quality can increase because constant airflow will keep moving airborne contaminants through the air filter.
• Fewer start-stop cycles for the HVAC fan helps lengthen its life span. As the air handler is usually connected to the furnace, this means you might avoid needing furnace repair.

Drawbacks to using the Fan/On setting:

• A nonstop fan will likely increase your energy expenses somewhat.
• Nonstop airflow may clog your air filter up more quickly, 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

In the summer, warm air may stick around in unfinished spaces such as the attic or an attached garage. If you keep the fan running, your HVAC system can gradually move this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to run longer to preserve the set temperature. In severe heat, this could lead to needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear grows.

The reverse can take place over the winter. Cooler spaces such as a basement will hold onto cooler air, which can eventually drift into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan setting on could pump 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, don’t forget that every home and family’s comfort needs are different. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on could be ideal for you if:

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

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