Howden Compressors and Fans: A Scenario-Based Selection Guide (Plus a Honeywell Thermostat Reset)

There isn't one right answer. I know that's not the satisfying way to start an equipment guide, but it's the truth. In my role coordinating urgent replacements for industrial plants, I've watched buyers spend hours comparing the best Howden compressor or the best Howden fan when the real question was: which one fits your operating conditions? The EGO blower and the Shark fan are both part of the Howden portfolio. They're not substitutes. They're different tools.

This guide uses the same logic I use when a client calls with a deadline: classify the situation first, then pick the answer. I'll break it into four common scenarios. Each one has a different recommendation. At the end, I'll give you a quick way to judge which scenario you're in. And yes, I'll cover the Honeywell thermostat reset question, because it has cost us a service call more than once.

Pressure. That's the dividing line. Whether you need Howden compressors or Howden fans starts with pressure. A fan is an air-moving device that works at or near atmospheric pressure. A compressor is a pressure-raising device. A blower sits between the two. That's not a marketing distinction. It changes the mechanical design, the seals, the bearings, and the motor duty.

Why does that matter? Because a mismatch can ruin your efficiency and your timeline. More than once, I've seen an urgent order for a blower turn out to be a fan application. The vendor quotes the wrong machine, the factory produces the wrong unit, and the deadline slips.

The three questions to ask before you open a catalogue

Before you compare models, answer three questions:

• What gas are you moving, and what inlet and outlet pressure does it need?
• What is the flow profile: steady, intermittent, or highly variable?
• How much downtime is already sitting on your shoulder?

If you can answer those, you're already ahead of most emergency requests.

Scenario A: You need pressure, not just volume: Howden compressors

If the job is raising gas pressure, you are in the compressor lane. Howden compressors include screw, diaphragm, and reciprocating designs. The right one depends on gas composition, oil-free requirements, pressure ratio, and flow.

I'm not a process engineer, so I can't tell you which compressor type is best for your gas. What I can tell you from the procurement side is: don't down-select on price before you understand the duty. Most buyers focus on horsepower and inlet size. The overlooked factor is the application envelope: gas temperature, molecular weight, and pressure variation.

In March 2024, I had 36 hours to source a specialized compressor for a hydrogen-cooled generator. Normal lead time was six weeks. We didn't get lucky. We got the spec, found a Howden rep who could configure a match, and made the deadline. The client's alternative was a $50,000 penalty clause. That's when I learned that the fastest answer is not the fastest delivery. It's the most accurate spec.

Scenario B: You need high airflow at low pressure: Howden fans and the Shark fan

If the job is ventilation, combustion air, cooling air, or fume extraction with only a small pressure rise, a fan is the right starting point. Howden fans cover a wide range of industrial duties, and the Shark fan is one of the more common names when people talk about high-volume airflow.

This is where a lot of buyers get stuck. A fan is not a compressor. If you use a high-pressure blower on a low-pressure ventilation system, it can work, but it may run louder and use more energy than a properly selected fan. That's a hidden cost that shows up every month.

When the EGO blower might be the better middle option

Between a fan and a compressor, there's a blower. If your duty needs more pressure than a fan can handle efficiently but less than a compressor requires, the EGO blower is worth looking at. It's not a fan with a bigger motor. It has a different compression principle, and the choice depends on gas density and pressure ratio.

This worked for us, but our situation was a mid-size plant with fairly steady load. If your flow swings a lot, the calculation might be different. That's why I said there's no universal answer.

One old idea still makes the rounds: bigger fan means more airflow. That was partly true before people understood system curves. Today, you can model the fan and pipework before you buy. The plants that do that have fewer surprises and lower energy costs.

Scenario C: The problem is temperature, not airflow

Sometimes the real issue is heat. A pump room is overheating. A product is not cooling fast enough. An ammonia refrigeration loop is dropping pressure. This is where Howden heat exchangers and refrigeration equipment come in. If the thermal duty is wrong, no fan or blower will fix it.

If the problem is a control device, that's different. A Honeywell thermostat lockout can look exactly like a refrigeration failure. Before you order a compressor, check the thermostat.

Scenario D: The thermostat locked up and how to reset Honeywell thermostat

Here's the part that seems unrelated until it stops a compressor skid. A Honeywell thermostat often controls the HVAC unit that cools an electrical room. When it locks up, the room heats up, alarms start, and a plant manager calls me asking for a new chiller. Most of the time, the thermostat is the problem.

How to reset Honeywell thermostat varies by model, but for most battery-powered units, the first thing to try is a power cycle. Remove the faceplate, take out the batteries, wait two minutes, and reinstall. That clears many temporary processor locks without wiping your schedule.

For touchscreen models, look for a Reset option in the menu. Some use Restore Defaults. A full factory reset should be last, because it erases your programmed schedule and settings. According to Honeywell support materials, the exact steps depend on the model. Verify current guidance before you reset.

I'm not a controls contractor, so I won't promise this clears every fault. But a reset is a reasonable field check before you pay for an emergency service visit. If the thermostat keeps locking out, don't blame the thermostat. Check the fan limit switch, the compressor thermal overload, and the supply voltage.

How to tell which scenario you're in

Here's a simple decision guide:

• If the process needs higher gas pressure, start with Howden compressors.
• If the process needs high volume at near-atmospheric pressure, start with Howden fans; the Shark fan is a common fit.
• If you need pressure between the two, the EGO blower may be the right middle path.
• If the problem is temperature or a control lockout, check the heat transfer system and thermostat before buying anything.
• If you're responding to an emergency, stop comparing options. Get one clear spec and one accountable vendor.

That's not a definitive engineering rule. It's a triage method. It has helped us cut emergency turnaround from seven days to roughly two in most cases. But your context may differ.

The efficient answer is the right answer

The plants I see succeed aren't the ones with the biggest catalogue. They're the ones with clear specs, good application support, and control systems that don't create false alarms. Efficiency is a competitive advantage. It's not about cutting corners; it's about avoiding the wrong corner.

If you call me at 4 p.m. about a Honeywell thermostat reset, I'm not going to ask about the brand first. I'll ask what the room temperature was, when the alarm went off, and what the system did next. The answer tells me whether it's a controls problem, a fan problem, or a compressor problem. Once you know your scenario, the equipment choice follows.

If you're not sure which scenario you're in, that's okay. The mistake is pretending a one-size-fits-all solution exists. Get the spec, check the thermostat, and call an application engineer before you call for a quote. It's more time upfront. It's a lot less downtime later.