When the weather is cooling off, you may be concerned about how you’ll make the most of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC bills routinely add up to a large chunk of your monthly electric bill. To try and find ways to lower their HVAC bill, some owners look closely at their thermostat. Is there a setting they should use to boost efficiency?

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

What Is the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For the majority of thermostats, the fan setting indicates that the HVAC blower fan stays on. Some furnaces can operate 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 run the fan during a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off once the cycle is over.

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

Advantages to trying the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in every room more consistent by enabling the fan to keep running.
  • Indoor air quality can increase since constant airflow will keep passing airborne pollutants through the air filter.
  • A smaller number of start-stop cycles for the system's fan helps lengthen its life span. Since the air handler is usually connected to the furnace, this means you can minimize the risk of needing furnace repair.

Drawbacks to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • A continuous fan could increase your energy costs somewhat.
  • Nonstop airflow can clog your air filter in a shorter amount of time, increasing the frequency you should 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 can linger in unfinished spaces such as the attic or an attached garage. If you leave the fan on, your HVAC system can draw this warm air into the rest of your home, compelling the HVAC system to run longer to preserve the desired temperature. In severe heat, this may result in needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear gets worse.

The opposite can occur in the winter. Cooler spaces such as a basement will hold onto cooler air, which may 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 stay warm.

If you’re still trying to figure out if you should try the fan/on setting, don’t forget that every home and family’s comfort needs are not the same. 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 enhance 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 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.