Once the weather is cooling off, you are probably wondering about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses frequently make up a large portion of your monthly electric bill. To try and find ways to lower their HVAC bill, some owners look closer at their thermostat. Could there be a setting they could use to improve efficiency?

The majority of thermostats have a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is on during a regular cycle, what will the fan setting offer for an HVAC system? This guide will help. We’ll share precisely what the fan setting is and whether you can use it to reduce costs during 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 stays on. Certain furnaces will run at a low level with this setting, but for the most part heating or cooling isn’t being produced. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will start the fan through a heating or cooling cycle and shut it off when the cycle is complete.

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

Advantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature in every room more balanced by enabling the fan to keep generating airflow.
  • Indoor air quality should improve because constant airflow will keep moving airborne particles into the air filter.
  • Fewer start-stop cycles for the HVAC fan helps lengthen its life span. Since the air handler is often a component of the furnace, this means you might minimize the risk of needing furnace repair.

Drawbacks to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • A continuous fan will likely increase your energy costs somewhat.
  • Nonstop airflow can clog your air filter soon, increasing the frequency you’ll need to replace it.

Should My Thermostat Be on? Fan or Auto in Each Season

During the summer, warm air will sometimes stick around in unfinished spaces including the attic or an attached garage. If you keep the fan running, your HVAC system may pull this warm air into the rest of your home, compelling the HVAC system to run longer to preserve the set temperature. In serious heat, this may result in needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear increases.

The reverse can take place over 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 pump more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to remain warm.

If you’re still trying to decide 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 could be best for you if:

Someone in your household has allergies. Allergies and similar respiratory conditions can be tough 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. All kinds of homes wrestle 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 constantly refreshing each room’s supply of air.