"Jeff Wisnia" wrote in message
...
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"


thanks for getting back. i have open ceiling in the basement, i haven't
gotten that far in finishing it off yet and the openess of the ceiling
allows the heat from t he fireplace to warm the floor upstairs, so anywhere
thy can run a switch is open for discussion.

i know about the seperate switches on the thermostats, for *auto* and *fan*
but, i'm looking for a thermostat that can be programmed to just engage the
fan for a certain period of time just to cycle the air outta the basement
and through the house so i don't have to run upstairs and shut it off or
remember to turn it off if we leave the house.

i'll make a note of the info. you gave me and try some pros. after Christmas
and the New Year holiday. thanks.......


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