Once the weather begins to cool off, you might be wondering about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC bills can add up to a large portion of your monthly electric bill. To figure out new ways to save, some people take a closer look at their thermostat. Could there be a setting they can use to boost efficiency?

Most thermostats include both a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is going during a regular cycle, what will the fan setting offer for your HVAC system? This guide should help. We’ll share what exactly the fan setting is and when you can use it to cut costs in the summer or winter.

How Do I Access the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For most thermostats, the fan setting means that the HVAC blower fan keeps running. Some furnaces may continue to operate at a low level with this setting, but in most cases heating or cooling isn’t being produced. The ‘Auto’ setting, on the other hand, will run the fan through 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 distinct comfort requirements.

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 will be highest because constant airflow will keep passing airborne particles through the air filter.
  • Fewer 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 could avoid needing furnace repair.

Drawbacks to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • A continuous fan can add to your energy costs somewhat.
  • Nonstop airflow can clog your air filter up more quickly, increasing the frequency you should replace it.

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

In the summer, warm air can stick around in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you leave the fan on, your HVAC system can pull this warm air into the rest of your home, pushing the HVAC system to work more to preserve the desired temperature. In severe heat, this can lead to needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear increases.

The reverse can occur during the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which may 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 keep warm.

If you’re still trying to decide if you should switch to the fan/on setting, remember that every home and family’s comfort needs are not the same. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on may be best for you if:

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

Your home experiences hot and cold spots. Lots of homes deal with difficult hot and cold spots that quickly evolve to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting should help limit these changes by steadily refreshing each room’s ventilation.