As the weather is cooling off, you might be concerned about how you’ll prepare your heating and cooling. After all, HVAC costs frequently add up to a significant chunk of your monthly electric bill. To figure out new ways to save, some people look closer at their thermostat. Could there be a setting they can use to improve efficiency?

The bulk of thermostats include both a ‘Fan’ or ‘Fan On’ setting. But if the fan is running during a typical cycle, what will the fan setting provide for an HVAC system? This guide will help. We’ll share what exactly the fan setting is and how you can use it to save money over the summer or winter.

How Do I Access the Fan Setting on My Thermostat?

For most thermostats, the fan setting indicates that the air handler’s blower fan stays on. Some furnaces may continue to generate heat at a low level with this setting, but in most cases heating or cooling isn’t being made. The ‘Auto’ setting, conversely, will run the fan through a heating or cooling cycle and switch it off when the cycle is over.

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

Advantages to switching to the Fan/On setting:

  • You can keep the temperature throughout your home more uniform by allowing the fan to keep generating airflow.
  • Indoor air quality can increase since steady airflow will keep passing airborne particles through the air filter.
  • Fewer start-stop cycles for the system’s fan helps extend its life span. As the air handler is typically a component of the furnace, this means you can prevent the need for furnace repair.

Disadvantages to utilizing the Fan/On setting:

  • A constant fan can increase your energy expenses somewhat.
  • Continuous airflow may clog your air filter soon, increasing the frequency you’ll need to replace it.

Which Setting for My Thermostat? Fan or Auto in Each Season

Through the summer, warm air may stick around in unfinished spaces like the attic or an attached garage. If you keep the fan running, your HVAC system may draw this warm air into the rest of your home, compelling the HVAC system to work harder to preserve the desired temperature. In severe heat, this may lead to needing AC repair more regularly as wear and tear gets worse.

The reverse can happen in the winter. Cooler spaces like a basement will hold onto cooler air, which will eventually drift into the rest of your home. Leaving the fan setting on will sometimes pump 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, remember 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 other respiratory conditions can be tough 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. Many homes deal with persistent 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 steadily refreshing each room’s supply of air.