From: Chuck Sanders

Do you have to have the fan mode in the on setting?

Hi Chuck – Thanks for being the first person to contact us on our site. No, you don’t have to have your fan in the on setting. There are times when you might not want to run the fan on continuous operation. Like my home, during nice weather I throw open the windows and enjoy the fresh mountain/ocean air. I turn the system off during those times. There is no problem running the system in the auto mode. It won’t hurt the FanHandler. The blower will then operate in the intermittent mode and turn off during periods when the thermostat is not calling for heat or cooling. People who have allergies etc. will not get the full benefit of the FanHandler if the blower is run intermittently. Remember, when the blower shuts off, everything connected to the system also becomes inoperative. UV (germicidal) lamps turn off and no longer kill mold spores. Filters and electronic air cleaners no longer catch ugly stuff.

Let me make one recommendation. If you want to run the blower intermittently, then install a time delay (off) relay in the fan circuit. These are inexpensive. Here is what you’ll gain. Lets say you run the fan for ten minutes after the air conditioning compressor turns off. The FanHandler will drop down to a fairly low speed as soon as the compressor shuts off and then it will glide down to the minimum speed you set. This may take ten minutes for the blower to reach the minimum speed. All during that time, the FanHandler will allow the pressure equalizing cycle to produce cooling that would normally be wasted. Not much cooling but otherwise it would be wasted. AND the water that comes out of the air during this period is truly impressive. The same thing goes for heating. If you run the blower for ten minutes after the burner shuts off, then you’ll extract every bit of heat energy stored in the heat exchanger and ductwork. You won’t blow a cold draft because the blower’s speed is keyed to the temperature being delivered to the home or office.

Please visit our web page and review the product we have developed called N****B****, and notify me if you are interested in manufacturing/marketing. One version of the product is market-ready, and other versions are under development with California and federal funding.

Thanks, that is a very big compliment. Our answer has to be no because we made up our minds long ago that we’d concentrate only on the FanHandler and do that the best we possibly can. We are so close to some other major uses for the FanHandler that I can taste it. We are aware of what you are doing and would appreciate more detailed information on the mechanics. i.e. Are you using water storage as a cooling source? This seems somewhat like the technology they use in the large commercial buildings for off-hour heat/cool storage. This should work well on the Oregon coast as well. Our nighttime lows are usually in the low 50’s. Send us more information and we’ll be happy to include a link to your web site. A lot of top-notch companies are becoming regular visitors and, who knows, you might connect.

From:  Tom Jacobson

Homeowner in Atlanta, Georgia

I live in Atlanta and found your website and am interested in the Fan Handler for the HVAC system(s) in my new home. The builder wants many more $$$ for upgrading to a high-end furnace just to get a multi-speed blower. Where can buy a Fan Handler in the Atlanta area? I would prefer to install it myself (if possible), as I have had bad luck with local HVAC contractors in the past.

Keep in mind that what they claim is a multi-speed blower on high-end furnaces is usually a timed speed change and not full range modulation. A certain amount of time on low and then, wham, full-speed. Also ask about the replacement cost of those motors and controllers. This is just a guess, but I’ll bet that about 5% of our FanHandler sales are to replace these “high-end” motors with the FanHandler and standard PSC motor.

 We get many requests from homeowners who want to install the FanHandler themselves. We don’t have the slightest idea as to their capabilities so we have to say no. Our policy is that we will sell only to heating & air conditioning professionals. Usually, the contractors that buy from us are a whole lot better at their profession because they know the basics. Here is a person in the Atlanta area who knows the FanHandler well. He’s had a FanHandler in his own home for about five years. He has sold the FanHandler ever since. He is: 

Bernie Kordsmeier

Aire Force Services Inc.

Norcross GA

(770) 592-1089

Suggestions from: Tom Jacobson – Atlanta

I spoke with you on the phone that I found your website via a Internet news group. If it wasn't for the newsgroup I wouldn't have known your phone number, since you company phone and address is not (that I could find) on the website. You may wish to add these to the "contact us" page. An "about us" section would be beneficial too. Another useful item is a "locate a dealer" section, if that is your preferred supply chain.

It’s hard to buy your product if it is hard to contact you and/or a dealer.

I’d like to visit the newsgroup, please furnish the address.

Tom, I remember the call. We don’t include the phone number in the web site because, even though we wish we could, we just do not have time to answer that many questions. Nobody at FanHandler gets near the phone unless they have lots of experience. That usually means that I’m the one. Maybe sometime in the future we can be equipped to do this.

We just got the site on the web and it is still rough. I worked on it for about three years and the more I worked on it the worse it got. Finally I went to Roger who runs Visual Media and when he saw it I think he sort of panicked. Like anyone who is super good he’s busy and we’ll be making improvements as we can.

We’ll work on a “Locate Dealer” section. I’ll talk to Roger today.

From: Allen Tate

Are there any problems using the FanHandler with Goodman furnaces?  I have heard that some furnaces have motors that do not work well with the FanHandler and the motor then needs to be changes.  The model of the Goodman furnace is GMNT080-4.

Thanks for your interest in the FanHandler (How Comfort Gets Done). There is no way we can tell what motor on any particular brand of furnace is a compatible motor. In the past, we attempted to keep up with who was putting what motor in their equipment. We'd buy the different motors and test them. We had so many motors around here that we were tripping over them. Here is what we learned: NOT MUCH. Motors will vary from one batch to another and from one motor to the other within the same batch. Some don't have enough iron and copper and rely almost totally on rate of spin for counter emf. These are dogs to begin with. When you realize that the Iron laminates cost about a dollar an inch, and that shaving a half inch off the laminates you can turn a good motor into a piece of cheap junk by saving 50 cents. Fifty cents multiplied by say a quarter million or a million or two units can run into some real serious money. (Let the contractor take care of the warranty service) Another motor might have been put together sloppily and the rotor is out of line with the stator and it growls to the point that it is unacceptable. Other motors have been banging on and off for years and never oiled or cleaned.

 We got tired of the FanHandler getting blamed for crappy results from crappy motors so here is what we did: We called Baldor (the top industrial motor manufacturer in the business) and asked them to build us a motor and then tell us what it cost. We shipped them some FanHandler controls and they came back with samples and prices. The motors are great and the prices were not that much more than the cheapies. Why did we go to Baldor? Because they probably forgot more about making motors in the last ten minutes than we'll ever learn. My recommendation is to spend a little extra and get an industrial quality Baldor motor, and be done with it, if you have heartburn over whether or not your motor is compatible or not.

Now for your question concerning Goodman. I installed a FanHandler on a Goodman heat pump about two years ago. I had a Baldor with me just in case I needed to change out the motor that was in the unit. However, when I turned the system back on, the old AO Smith sleeve-bearing motor was very quiet and worked beautifully. That motor has been running non-stop for over two years and is still going fine. (minimum speed is about 290 rpm)

 We hope that this helps a little.

From: Dustin

Is there a warranty on the FanHandler itself and/or the blower motor you install it on?  Also, does run off Variable Speed Drives technology where voltage and frequency are altered or is this rheostat technology.  I guess what I’m getting at is this going to shorten the lifespan of customer’s blower motors.  I saw the deal about Baldor motors, I personally have been installing GE motors, any problems with GE's.  Then the last question, whats my cost, list price, and etc. for the equipment.

 Hi Dustin - Thanks for your interest in the FanHandler line of controls (How Comfort Gets Done). The attached price list gives you information on prices and the various models along with contact information. We usually ship the same or next day after we receive orders. Please call ***-***-**** with any questions. We hope to hear from you soon and often.

 The FanHandler carries a 5-year warranty. Besides that, we offer a 60-day money back guarantee to contractors on their first FanHandler control. If they don’t think it’s the best thing ever to happen to indoor comfort, we want it back and will buy it back from that contractor) Baldor warranties their motors for 1 year. These motors are industrial quality and the house will probably fall down before the motor gives up. We have no idea what motor is going on what equipment. Lately, there have been some very good motors. Example: The Lennox water coil air handler that I just installed in my home has a very good motor. I was ready to change it out with a Baldor, but when I turned it on, it ran really good and super quiet.

 The FanHandler is a phase control device. It is very precise. It is not a frequency drive and it is not a rheostat. It is what you need to make an off/on furnace A/C comfortable.

 To answer your GE question, GE helped us develop the FanHandler back in 1960. We have a soft spot in our heart for GE. The GE engineer that was helping me gave me the best advice ever. He said ("ALWAYS OVERBUILD”) They make a jillion different models. I've installed on GE's that were perfect and on GE's that weren't compatible with the FanHandler. You don't know until you try it. We sell to contractors that install 50 or a hundred FanHandlers per year and they don't buy motors and others who buy a motor just about every time. A motor swap-out isn't a big deal because you can always use the new equipment motor as a service motor for those uncomfortable off/on jobs.

 Keep in touch, we are here to help you in any way we can.

 From: David

 Hello,

I am a contractor in Westbrook CT. and would like to find out where to purchase the Fan Handler. Is the fan handler available directly to a homeowner? Also the customer I am trying to solve the air noise and uneven heat problem has a Trolatemp zone system. Do I use the fan handler and the zone handler in conjunction with one another? I also will need the cost of the unit and shipping.

Thank you for your response

David

 Hi David -

Sorry for the delay in answering, we have not had power for the last three days.

 Thanks for your interest in the FanHandler (How Comfort Gets Done). Sales are mostly directly to the contractor. We usually ship the same day as the order. To answer your question about homeowners buying direct. The answer is absolutely not. If we find out that a homeowner has installed a FanHandler and we can track down who sold them that FanHandler, that's the last FanHandler that company will ever get from us.

 The answer to the FanHandler/ZoneHandler question: These are two separate products. The FanHandler will probably level-out temperatures throughout the home to the point that the zones will not be very active, Thus reduce noise and make things much more comfortable and quiet (your cost $*** + $*** shipping). The ZoneHandler works on the principle that when Zones close down and the static pressure would normally increase and cause air noise/comfort and a host of other problems, the ZoneHandler keeps the static pressure the same by adjusting fan speed to hold a steady duct pressure. Thus the ridiculous problems of diverting too much air to the remaining outlets, dump zones and/or bypass dampers is eliminated.

 The attachments to this e-mail will give you more information. If any questions remain, please call us at ***-***-****

 November 6, 2003

I would like to try your FanHandler in my house before trying it in my
customer’s homes. I fully agree with the concept and can't think of a
reason it would not work, but I've found out the hard way, what seems to
be a good idea can through you a curve that you never thought of. Please
send price and delivery information.
I am listed in the greater Houston SBC yellow pages under
air-conditioning contractors.

Thank You,
Tom

Hi Terry - Thanks for your interest in the FanHandler line of controls (How Comfort Gets Done). The attached price list gives you information on prices and the various models along with contact information. We usually ship the same or next day after we receive orders. I know what you mean by wanting to try first. We've been building this same circuit since 1962. That's why we can give a 60-day money back guarantee on your first trial control. Please call ***-***-**** with any questions. We hope to hear from you soon and often.

From: Chris 

 My name is chris and I am a service technician for ******** Heating and Cooling Inc.  We are located in ******** Ohio.  I learned of your product on the web site hvac-talk.com.  Sounds like a great product, great option for all blower change outs.  We would like to have any information possible, and prices for equipment.  Also will this product work will fuel oil furnaces?  Thank you for any information and help you can provide.                                                                                    Thank You,  Chris

Hi Chris - Thanks for your interest in the FanHandler line of controls (How Comfort Gets Done). The attached price list gives you information on prices and the various models along with contact information. We sell direct to the contractor and usually ship the same or next day after we receive orders. Please call ***-***-**** with any questions. We hope to hear from you soon and often.

The FanHandler is needed by every furnace heat pump and A/C in existence. You mention fuel oil furnaces. There are some fuel oil companies that sell the FanHandler because it keeps customers from changing out to gas or electricity. Homeowners usually change furnaces or fuel type because they want comfort. The FanHandler got its start back when there wasn't much gas heat.

 hvac-talk.com sounds real interesting I'm going to visit it right now. I totally believe that we should all share ideas and knowledge because good HVAC people aren't in competition with each other, they compete against six-way power seats, chrome wheels, bingo, etc., etc. There are millions of big screen TV's in uncomfortable homes.

 (I’m sort of breaking my own rule by using this contractor’s identification, However, Glen and I have talked quite a bit over the last few weeks and these conversations will be somewhat covered in the December Newsletter) Homeowners near Plano should be very happy to have a quality contractor like Glen to call on.)

 From: "Glen Bradley" <bradtexachtg@msn.com>
To: <dick@fanhandler.com>
Subject: FanHandler
Date: Monday, November 03, 2003 4:25 PM

 Hi Guys,

I am an HVAC contractor in Plano, Texas. I am interested in your product for my installations. We service and do change-outs in Plano, Richardson, North Dallas. We've been in business since 1980. Our clientele look to us for advice and quality installations. Most of our installations or upgrades include electronic air cleaners and UV lights.

Contact me with dealer pricing. We currently install Variable speed systems using the GE motor system. If you've got a good product I'd be interested in it.

I heard about your company because I got a mailer with "action cards" in it and came to your website.

Thanks,

Glen Bradley
Bradtex A/C & HTG.
972-423-8431
bradtexachtg@msn.com

 Hi Glen - Thanks for your interest in the FanHandler line of controls (How Comfort Gets Done). I'm attaching both the contractor price list. The FanHandler is a great product, we've been building just about the exact model since 1962. That's why we can give a 60-day money back guarantee. The price list also has our contact information, so please contact us with any questions you might have. We hope to hear from you soon and often.

 Good Afternoon Dick,

I'm interested in your FanHandler product for one of our small residential
air handler products called S********.  You were recommended by a
representative of same product.  What is your pricing structure, in terms
of 100 & 1000 pcs?  How can I first obtain samples for lab / demo trials?

Regards,
Sincerely,

C**** *******
Sr. Project Engineer
M***** E*********
(***) ***-**** 

Hi C*** -

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you and thanks for your interest in the FanHandler (How Comfort Gets Done). There is no venom in the following statement. Before we quote quantity prices, both you and we have to know a lot more than we do now. You have to be confident that the FanHandler does precisely what we claim. Once that is solid, we'll quote attractive pricing that allows both our companies to profit. 

To get samples, we'll do the following: You send us your purchase order for a couple of FanHandler controls. We'll ship them with a 60-day money back guarantee. Either you love them and want to keep and pay for them within the 60 days, or you send them back and we part friends. You'll know the extent of your interest within a few hours of installing the first FanHandler. Your price for this test is $***.00 each. You might also want to look into buying a quality motor through Baldor. A couple of bucks gets you a whole lot more.

 The FanHandler can give you a big leg-up on your competition; both from the functional and price standpoint.

 Thanks again for your interest, and we hope to hear from you soon and often.

Where can I buy fanhandler in the Milwaukee Wisconsin area to install myself for a furnace/air conditioner combo and what can I expect to pay?

Thanks

Chuck

Hi Chuck - Thanks for your interest in the FanHandler (How Comfort Gets Done). The FanHandler is sold through HVAC and Indoor Air Quality professionals. Any FanHandler control not installed by one of these professionals has no warrantee. There is no venom in that policy. There is no way for us to trust the ability of the general public.