How Do I Know If My Furnace Blower Motor Is Bad?

1. A “hot” or burning smell from vents in the home. This symptom is often coupled with the furnace shutting off completely. …
2. Loud humming and other unusual noises. We have many homeowners call us mentioning humming and other odd sounds. …
3. Furnace cycles off and refuses to restart.

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 much should it cost to replace 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?

Sometimes the furnace blower isn't working because

the thermostat is set too low

. Over the summer or more recently, someone may have accidentally lowered the thermostat temperature. With all the new digital thermostats and digital controllers, this can and does happen. The third easy fix is a clean furnace filter.

What causes blower motor failure?

The main causes of failure are

loss of lubricant, a failed run capacitor, a failed bearing in a belt drive, a little water dripping into the windings or a voltage problem

. So technicians should carefully check to find the cause of a failure before changing the motor.

What happens when blower motor goes bad?

The blades of the fan are made of plastic and they can get damaged easily. If it happens,

you will hear unusual noises like slapping or sudden pop coming from behind the vent

. Problems with the airflow have signs such as ongoing whirring, getting louder when you increase the fan speed.

How do you know if your blower motor needs to be replaced?

1. Poor or Airflow from Air Vents. This will be the first and most obvious sign your blower motor has a problem. …
2. No Airflow At All From Vents. …
3. Skyrocketing Energy Bills. …
4. Strange Noises When You Turn on the Heat. …
5. Overheating Blower / Weird Smells.

How do you troubleshoot a blower motor?

How long do furnace blower motors last?

Variable-speed blower motors can have a life expectancy of

15-20 years

. But when they do break down, variable-speed blower motors are more expensive to replace than PSC motors.

How much does it cost to replace a blower motor?

A blower motor replacement costs

$300 to $900 on average if not under warranty or $200 to $400 for labor when under warranty

. Replacing a large or variable-speed HVAC blower motor costs $600 to $1,500. Furnace or AC blower motor prices are $100 to $500 on average for the part alone.

Is my blower motor going out?

You might also hear

ongoing whirring noises, or noises that change or get louder if you increase the fan speed

. These are all signs of problems with the blower motor. In some cases, you may even notice smoke or smells of burning while driving, in which case you should pull over immediately.

Is it hard to replace a blower motor?

If you don't want to sweat or shiver, then find a good mechanic.

The replacement of the blower motor is common and straightforward

, so most shops will perform the repair — many on the same day.

Are furnace blower motors universal?

Yes, most blower motors are designed to be universal

, meaning that they can typically be swapped in furnaces of a different brand. This means that if you have a Goodman furnace, you may be able to purchase a blower motor that isn't made by Goodman as a replacement.

How much is a blower motor capacitor?

Blower Motor Capacitor

The capacitor stores energy to spin the motor and get it going in your furnace. The average cost to repair or replace a blower motor capacitor is

$150–$450

.

Where is the blower motor reset button?

Locate the reset button on the furnace and press it to reset the furnace. It is usually located

inside the blower compartment on the side of the blower motor

. Be cautious as the housing may be hot. If the button is popped up, press it down.

How do you test a furnace blower motor?

1. Step 1: Turn off all power to the furnace. …
2. Step 2: Remove the Furnace Access Panels. …
3. Step 3: Use your voltage tester to ensure no electricity is flowing through the furnace. …
4. Step 4: Feel the area near the blower motor to determine if it's hot.

Do all furnace blower motors have a capacitor?

Capacitors are used in many but not all electric motors

including air conditioners, heat pumps, furnace or air conditioner blower fan motors, refrigeration equipment compressors, and well pumps.