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[DuluthMN]

This is just so you do not make the same mistake that I almost did. I just had my furnace installed today. Well i had basically decided on just running it off of a switch and not using a thermostat. Basically i would just switch it on when I needed it. Well, the reason that is not a good idea is that the blower fan needs to run after it shuts down in order to take the heat off of the heat exchangers, if not it could result in a cracked heat exchanger...

This may be common knowledge, but I just wanted to pass it along.

 

[haugy]

Ooof, did you learn this the hard way??

 

[DuluthMN]

lol, no. I was there and they inspected my setup. I am going to hook a thermostat to it tonight. It is powered off right now. They just did a test fire of the unit.

 

[ghnl]

A thermostat is just a switch, too. (on/off based on temp settings).

The furnaces I've seen have a device that powers on the blower when furnace warms up (so you don't get a long blast of cold air waiting for it to warm up) and also shuts down the furnace if it gets above a set temperature (safety).

 

[DuluthMN]

A thermostat is just a switch, too. (on/off based on temp settings).

The furnaces I've seen have a device that powers on the blower when furnace warms up (so you don't get a long blast of cold air waiting for it to warm up) and also shuts down the furnace if it gets above a set temperature (safety).

Correct, but the thermostat will shut off, but it will not power down the entire unit. Therefore the blower can continue its cycle and push all the heat/hot air off of the heat exchanger...

 

[must8657]

you don't want to use a switch on the power side of the furnace. but you can use a switch in place of the thermostat. When you turn the switch off, it will be the same thing as the thermostat kicking off. the furnace control board takes care of how long to run the blower fan for after the heat is no longer needed. the thermostat has nothing to do with that.

 

[csp]

Yep, you can run the two wires that you would run to the thermostat to a simple on/off switch.

 

[DuluthMN]

Yep, you can run the two wires that you would run to the thermostat to a simple on/off switch.

ok, right now I have the unit wired to a switch. But it would not take much to remove it and use the switch for the thermostat. Do you recommend using a switch in place of the thermostat? Or should I just get a thermostat with a low temp setting?

 

[larry_g]

ok, right now I have the unit wired to a switch. But it would not take much to remove it and use the switch for the thermostat. Do you recommend using a switch in place of the thermostat? Or should I just get a thermostat with a low temp setting?

Me personally I would not use a switch in place of a thermostat. Forget to turn it off and you overheat the shed, and waste a lot of fuel. A thermostat is cheap for the peace of mind. Consider a remote one as you may want to experiment with placement and/or one with a shutoff so that you can prevent the heater from coming on if you wish.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[NUTTSGT]

How about a programmable thermostat ?

 

[dankicksass]

Having your whole home on one heat-zone isn't very efficient and in most cases won't be very comfortable. You should be using a thermostat and should still have an emergency shutoff switch for the system, they don't make this cover plate just cause it looks cool.

 

[csp]

Do you recommend using a switch in place of the thermostat?

No, just stating how to do it. Thermostats are cheap.

Not that it has anything to do with this application, but any home using one forced air furnace is on one heat zone 99% of the time.