Furnace Blower Motor Repair and Maintenance Tasks
- Accessing the Blower Motor. Any blower motor maintenance or repair starts with locating and inspecting these parts. ...
- Cleaning the Fan and Motor. A great many air circulation problems are caused simply because the squirrel cage wheel and motor get caked with dust and dirt.
- Resetting the Blower Motor. Simple overheating of the motor, often caused by a buildup of dirt, may have caused the motor to shut down.
- Adjusting or Replacing the Drive Belts. Older furnaces may have a blower design in which the motor is bolted to the side of the blower, with a drive belt that ...
- Oiling the Motor and Blower Fan. On older furnaces, there may be oil ports on the blower motor, which may call for periodic oiling of the motor bearings during your ...
- Replacing an Old Motor. The most extreme repair will come if all other solutions fail to solve the problem. ...
How much does it cost to replace a blower motor?
Replacing a blower motor will cost you between $250 to $800. However, if your unit is still under warranty, you may only have to pay for labor costs which are about $150. The cost will depend on the contractor you hire, the size of your unit, and whether or not you do it yourself.
Why is my furnace blower motor not working?
What to Do When a Furnace Blower Fan Won't Start
- Blower Relay. One of the most common problems with furnace fans is a bad blower relay. The first thing to do is check the relay or voltage from the board.
- Fan Control. This is another common reason behind faulty blower fans. ...
- Thermostat. Another way to diagnose the problem is by jumping out the thermostat. ...
How to troubleshoot your furnace?
How to Troubleshoot your Furnace
- Is your heat on? To troubleshoot a furnace, start with the obvious. ...
- Are your batteries low? A low thermostat can easily make your system act strangely. ...
- Is your furnace switch working? ...
- Do you have a tripped breaker? ...
- Is your front panel door secure? ...
- Is your pilot light on? ...
- Are your filters clogged? ...
- Are your vents and registers closed or blocked? ...
How much does it cost to clean a furnace blower?
You should also:
- Change your filter once a month during the heating season.
- Clean the blower fan once a year.
- Check the air ducts for leaks and dirt annually.
- Clean the ignitor and flame sensors at least every other year.
Can a blower motor be repaired?
There are a number of things that can go wrong with your heating system, but if the air stops blowing altogether and the same is true on cold air settings, a blower motor replacement is likely in order. The good news is that it's a fairly straight forward repair.
How do I know if my furnace blower motor is bad?
What Are Signs Your Blower Motor Needs to Be Replaced?Poor or Airflow from Air Vents. This will be the first and most obvious sign your blower motor has a problem. ... No Airflow At All From Vents. ... Skyrocketing Energy Bills. ... Strange Noises When You Turn on the Heat. ... Overheating Blower / Weird Smells.
How much does it cost to repair a furnace blower motor?
On average nationwide, a furnace blower motor replacement costs $400 to $600, including parts and labor. A single-speed blower motor costs around $450 to replace while a variable-speed motor costs $600 or more. You'll also need to budget labor, about $75 to $125 per hour.
What causes a furnace blower to stop working?
To figure out if the blower motor belt is damaged, turn off the furnace at the circuit breaker panel in your home. Next, head back to the furnace and inspect the belt that runs the blower. When the fan in a furnace is not working, this is an indicator of a worn down or cracked belt that needs to be replaced.
Can a furnace blower motor be repaired?
Replacing a Furnace Blower Motor And all you need to make sure is that you have all the required parts according to the model and you are good to go with replacing the motor all by yourself. The Blower Furnace units are always designed in a way that you can replace the parts individually in case it goes faulty.
Can you run furnace without blower?
The blower fan motor The furnace can produce heat inside the combustion chamber—but that heat won't go anywhere if the blower fan isn't running. Because there's a danger of the furnace overheating without the blower fan, the furnace won't operate unless the blower has power.
What causes blower motor failure?
Blower motor breakdown can be the result of anything from old age to failed bearings, high amp draw, electrical failure in the windings, dirt accumulation, and more. “The most common cause is dirt accumulation due to lack of maintenance,” said Tom Beaulieu, president of Bay Area Services Inc.
How long should a furnace blower motor last?
10 to 20 yearsBlower motors are designed to last just as long as your furnace itself, anywhere from 10 to 20 years. Just as with any HVAC system, the better maintained and serviced your equipment is by experienced HVAC technicians the longer it will last and the fewer repairs you'll face.
How hard is it to replace a blower motor?
The replacement of the blower motor is common and straightforward, so most shops will perform the repair — many on the same day.
How do you troubleshoot a blower motor?
4:286:39Troubleshooting a Faulty Indoor Blower Motor on a Residential ACYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNow if by chance both windings read a measurable resistance that most likely means you have aMoreNow if by chance both windings read a measurable resistance that most likely means you have a mechanical issue with the blower such as a seized blower.
How do you diagnose a bad blower motor?
Detailed below are some obvious signs of a bad car blower motor:FAN BLOWS AT ONLY A CERTAIN SPEED. ... WEAK AIRFLOW OF THE BLOWER MOTOR. ... UNUSUAL NOISES FROM HVAC SYSTEM. ... SMOKE OR SMELL WHEN DRIVING. ... HOW DOES A CAR BLOWER MOTOR WORK?
How do you test a bad blower motor?
1:083:09How to Test Vehicle AC/Heat Blower Motor to Tell if BAD - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd I just connected it to battery terminal one on a hot one on to the on to the neutral. BasicallyMoreAnd I just connected it to battery terminal one on a hot one on to the on to the neutral. Basically one on where you would put your red jumper cable one where you would put your black on that.
How do I know if I need to replace the blower motor or the resistor?
Symptoms of a bad heater blower motor resistorFan does not work at all, so no air comes out of the vents.Fan only works on some speeds and not others.Fan only works on the highest speed.Fan runs all the time and can't be controlled with the fan switch.You see smoke coming out of the vents.More items...•
What does a bad blower motor sound like?
A defective blower motor will make a continuous sound noticeable by the passengers in the vehicle. It can manifest as a knocking, whirring, clunking, vibrating, squealing, or whining noise that persists until the blower motor is replaced.
What is a Furnace Blower?
In a gas forced air furnace, it’s located in a box at the base of the furnace next to the air filter, where it draws return air through the filter. When switched on when requested by the thermostat and control board, the blower and motor push air across the burners in the combustion chamber where it gets heated, then the heat is transferred in the heat exchanger and blown out into the home’s ductwork.
How to prevent blower problems?
The single best thing you can do to prevent furnace blower problems is to have your furnace serviced by a professional HVAC technician annually. He will clean it to remove excess dust buildup, lubricate any moving parts that require it, and replace drive belt if required. It’s always best to have your furnace checked out before you need it – rather than calling us out on the coldest night of the year because your furnace isn’t running.
Why does my blower motor make a noise?
One of the more common problems in a blower motor is the bearings. Bearings surround the motor shaft, allowing it to run smoothly at high RPM with almost no friction. When the bearings go bad, the motor may make a grinding or screeching sound, or not run at all because of the friction preventing the motor from turning.
What happens when a blower blows?
When the blower malfunctions, the central heating and air conditioning system cannot performs its job.
How does a furnace work?
Other furnaces may use a belt-driven system, where the motor shaft connects to a pulley and drive belt, connected to turn the fan. Sometimes the belt can stretch or the tension can slip, preventing from turning the fan at the proper speed. Like a v-belt on your automobile, the belt should be inspected and adjusted regularly and replaced occasionally to ensure the system works properly.
Why does my motor smell like it's burning?
If the motor is packed with dust or dirt, or hasn’t been lubricated in a while (or ever!), the motor may overheat and cause an electrical short of mechanical failure, emitting an “unusual” odor or burning smell.
Can a furnace blower motor break?
Just like any other mechanical device with moving parts, the furnace blower motor is susceptible to breakdowns. Read on to determine if your blower motor is malfunctioning and when to call a professional HVAC contractor to examine, repair or replace it.
What to do if blower motor won't run?
If the blower motor will never run at all, you should first confirm that the motor is receiving power. If it is, then it’s likely the motor has burned out.
Why is my furnace blower noisy?
If the blower motor is noisy, the set screw on the blower wheel potentially loosened. You can fix this problem by tightening or replacing the screw, or changing the blower wheel all in all. A lot of dirt and dust in your furnace system can cause the blower motor to overheat.
Where is the center of the motor on a fan?
Center the motor within the fan wheel and connect bolts and capacitor leads on back.
How to remove a belly band from a motor?
Tighten bolts on sides of hub puller until it grips the shaft firmly. Turn the hub puller clockwise until the motor comes loose. Carefully move the motor out of the housing . Undo screws on motor so that you can take off the belly band.
Why is my furnace blower not working?
Every furnace blower motor has a capacitor installed beside it to jump-start the motor. Sometimes that capacitor goes bad and it can cause your blower motor to not work properly.
What to do if your control board is not sending power to the blower motor?
If your control board is not sending power to the blower motor then you need to get it to replace or repair.
Where is the blower motor located on a furnace?
In most furnaces, these components will be located behind the lower access panel on the furnace, near the floor. First, turn off the power to the furnace and remove the mounting nuts or screws to remove the access panel.
How long does a furnace blower motor last?
Blower motors can last for as long as 20 years if maintained properly, but replacement after five years is not uncommon if the furnace hasn't seen proper maintenance.
Why doesn't my furnace blower come on?
If the furnace blower doesn't come on at all, it might actually be a problem with the combustion vent system's draft inducer fan, not the main air circulation blower. The draft inducer is a component found on newer standard and high-efficiency furnaces, and problems with it can cause a variety of symptoms.
What is the heart of a forced air HVAC system?
Although the soul of a home's forced-air HVAC system lies in the equipment that heats and cools the air, the heart of the system is the blower motor that circulates the conditioned air through the ductwork and out the various room registers. The blower motor is in many ways the hardest working component in the system since it is pushing air ...
Why does my furnace have a bad air circulation?
A great many air circulation problems are caused simply because the squirrel cage wheel and motor get caked with dust and dirt. Where feasible, it makes the most sense to physically detach these parts from the furnace frame in order to brush and vacuum them, but when this is not possible, do what you can to reach into the blower compartment and brush and vacuum away as much dust and grime as possible.
Why does my blower motor shut down?
Simple overheating of the motor, often caused by a buildup of dirt, may have caused the motor to shut down. After cleaning, you may need to reset the motor — usually, there will be a red button on the side or back of the blower motor, and resetting is just a simple matter of depressing the button.
How does a squirrel cage blower work?
In older furnaces, the motor that drives the squirrel cage blower is sometimes mounted on the side of the blower, and it spins the fan by means of a belt that transfers the spinning motion from the motor's spindle to the fan spindle. With this type, the motor and blower are separate units, and repairs and replacements can involve either ...
Why won't my furnace blower work?
Blower motors are designed to circulate air, so they won’t work if there’s no air to move. You should always check the filters and vents surrounding the blower to make sure that the blower isn’t having a hard time working. Look into your air filter’s housing and check the markings on your filter. If your furnace blower won’t turn on, check to confirm the arrows on the air filter are pointing in the correct direction. When the arrows are pointing in the wrong direction, change the orientation of the filter. Next, check the vents around the blower.
How do you know if your furnace blower is broken?
There are two common signs that you have a broken furnace blower motor—overheating and moisture. We’ll break down both in more detail below.
How to tell if blower belt is broken?
To figure out if the blower motor belt is damaged, turn off the furnace at the circuit breaker panel in your home. Next, head back to the furnace and inspect the belt that runs the blower. When the fan in a furnace is not working, this is an indicator of a worn down or cracked belt that needs to be replaced.
Why won't my furnace turn on?
If your furnace blower motor won’t turn on, the source of the issue may be a damaged capacitor. Once a load becomes too large, a capacitor can break and negatively impact the performance of your furnace. Sometimes, that load becomes too much, and your capacitor will fry itself. You’ll know that your capacitor is bad when ...
How to fix a furnace fan that won't turn on?
Most thermostats will have three settings: “on,” “auto,” and “off.” For our purposes, try switching the thermostat setting to “on.” This adjustment will lock the fan into an always-on state. While this isn’t ideal in terms of power consumption, it will alleviate your furnace fan problems until a professional can get out to you and complete a full inspection and repair. If you switch the thermostat control to “on” and nothing happens, then try replacing the batteries in your thermostat or setting the temperature controls to 3-5 degrees above the temperature in the room. If none of these work, then you should call a repair expert ASAP.
How to prevent moisture damage to furnace?
Any water near wires and electric components can cause a short and damage. The best way to prevent damage to the furnace blower is to place a dehumidifier in your utility room and try to relocate your furnace away from any piping that could potentially drip condensation.
What happens if the red button on the blower motor doesn't pop?
Now, you should’ve successfully been able to reset your blower motor. If the red button on the back of the motor hasn’t popped, then your motor might be bad.
