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Keep your HVAC system running efficiently with our expert insights on furnace blower motor replacements costs. Fan Motor For Ac Unit
A furnace blower motor is a crucial component of any functioning forced-air heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. It keeps your home cozy in winter and cool in summer, and you’ll notice right away if it stops working.
Get to know your blower motor before trouble hits with the help of two industry experts, Joshua Smith from Berkshire Heating and Air Conditioning and Alexander Siv from Amherst Plumbing and Heating. Learn all about furnace blower motors, how to tell if yours is going bad, and how much it costs to have it replaced.
A furnace blower motor turns the blower fan to distribute conditioned air through ductwork in a forced-air HVAC system. “It’s the main mechanism to get the air circulating through the ductwork and through your house,” Siv says.
Only forced-air systems rely on a blower motor to heat or cool your home.
Ten to 20 years, on average. “Motors are designed by the manufacturer to live as long as the life of the appliance,” Smith says. This can be 12 to 15 years, or 18 to 20 years with proper maintenance and care, according to Siv.
There are universal motor replacements for electric and gas-powered furnaces. However, which one you buy will also depend on your existing motor’s horsepower, voltage and rotations/revolutions-per-minute (rpm).
“You have to match everything up,” Smith says, “You can’t just walk into a store and ask for a universal blower motor.” You must know the specifics of the motor you are replacing.
If it stops working completely, conditioned air can’t move, and the furnace or AC will not heat or cool as directed.
Homeowners can conduct a simple test. Siv says to switch your thermostat to ‘fan’ mode, then feel your supply vents for air flow. If there’s no air, “that’s a sign your blower motor may not be working,” he says. Convey this information to an HVAC pro who can diagnose the problem.
Further testing of the blower motor’s electrical functioning should be conducted by a pro technician with specialized tools. This is not a regular maintenance task, but is usually done to diagnose a problem with the furnace.
“An average blower motor can cost anywhere from $500 to $1,500,” Smith says, “The more horsepower your motor has, the more expensive the replacement will cost.” This price range includes parts and labor.
Residential blower motors are usually one-quarter, one-third or one-half horsepower (hp). A one-half hp motor will cost more than a one-quarter hp motor, but labor costs are the same regardless of motor size.
No. That’s a job for an HVAC pro.
“It’s not something I recommend [for DIYers],” Smith says. Siv agrees. “It requires a lot of tools and knowledge about the whole system,” he says, “Furnaces are complex equipment.”
Diagnosis alone is a nuanced and complicated process. “It could be all kinds of stuff that causes a blower motor to stop working,” Siv says. “It could be a relay switch or a safety switch that’s not connected.”
HVAC pros also carry the right tools to do the job. “Just to get the motor wheel off the blower, you’ll need special tools that a typical homeowner just won’t have available,” Smith says.
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