As the weather begins to cool off, you might be concerned about how you’ll make the most of your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC expenses routinely add up to a big portion of your monthly electric bill. To learn new ways to lower their HVAC bill, some people take a closer look at their thermostat. Is there a setting they can use to increase efficiency?

The majority of thermostats have a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is on during a regular cycle, what does 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 save money during the summer or winter.

What Is the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For the bulk of thermostats, the fan setting means that the air handler’s blower fan stays on. Some furnaces may continue to run at a low level with this setting, but in most cases heating or cooling isn’t being generated. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will turn on the fan during a heating or cooling cycle and shut it off once the cycle is finished.

There are pros and cons to switching on the fan setting on your thermostat, and whether you do or don’t {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 allowing the fan to keep circulating air.
  • Indoor air quality should improve as continuous airflow will keep passing airborne particles through the air filter.
  • A smaller amount of start-stop cycles for the HVAC fan helps expand its life span. Since the air handler is typically a component of the furnace, this means you can minimize the risk of needing furnace repair.

Downsides to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • A continuous fan can increase your energy costs somewhat.
  • Nonstop airflow can clog your air filter in a shorter amount of time, increasing the frequency you will want to replace it.

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

In the summer, warm air can linger in unfinished spaces such as 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, pushing the HVAC system to work more to maintain the set temperature. In severe heat, this could result in needing AC repair more quickly as wear and tear gets worse.

The reverse can happen during the winter. Cooler spaces such as a basement will hold onto cooler air, which may eventually flow into the rest of your home. Keeping the fan on will sometimes pull more cold air upward, increasing the amount of heating you need to keep warm.

If you’re still trying to determine if you should switch to the fan/on setting, keep in mind that every home and family’s comfort needs are different. Leaving the HVAC system’s fan on could be best for you if:

Someone in your household deals with allergies. Allergies and similar respiratory conditions can be hard 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. Many homes wrestle with stubborn hot and cold spots that quickly evolve to a temperature different from the rest of the house. The fan setting might help lessen these changes by constantly refreshing each room’s ventilation.