JerseyMike wrote:
is there a thermostat on the market that can be programed to only cycle the
fan on the furnace? we use a gas fireplace in the basement and have a
return in the basement to draw air into the system to cycle through the
house. if there isn't a programable thremostat on the market that will do
this, is there a way to put a switch in the basement to just turn on the fan
wehn i need to? i haven't called in a service person yet because they want
a $50.00 service fee for their time and i cannot get an answer over the
phone.

thanks...

mike................



It's trivial job for someone who knows what they are doing, especially
if you are not asking to have the switch located several rooms away from
the furnace and demand concealed wiring. And if you DO want the switch
located remotely anywhere in the house you can always buy the right
chunks of "X10" control exuipment which will switch things remotely by
radio signals piggybacked on the household line voltage wiring. The X10
stuff isn't that expensive.

Write down the model number of the furnace so you can properly describe
it and keep calling service places until you get someone who is willing
to treat you respectfully and discuss the matter on the phone. Expect to
pay for maybe an hour's time and perhaps $25 worth of materials.

And yes, there are thermostats with separate fan switches on them,
usually labled "Auto" (fan runs only when the furnace is making heat)
and "On" (fan runs continuously). The hitch may be that the wiring from
your furnace location to where your present thermostat is may not have
enough conductors in it to handle a separately controlled fan, so you
couldn't easily swap over to a new thermostat.

Happy Holidays,

Jeff

--
Jeffry Wisnia

(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)

"As long as there are final exams, there will be prayer in public
schools"