What Happens When Blower Motor Goes Out?
To better design and tuning of blower motors, airflow speed through ventilation systems has dramatically increased. Some device failures may mimic some symptoms or another of blower motor failures, and accurate diagnosis depends on their identification.
What happens when blower motor goes out? It will not operate if the heater blower motor burns out. This will result in zero airflows for the device. To restore proper operation to the machine, the blower motor would typically have to be replaced.
This article will provide you with an idea of the potential things that could happen when the blower motor goes out. However, you should understand how it operates further to understand the effect of a burnt-out motor blower.
Blower Motor Defined
The part within the HVAC system of a home is a blower motor. When the heating system works, the engine blasts hot air through vents. Conversely, when the air conditioning system is in operation, certain blower engines blast cold air.
Two major types of blower engines exist:
- Single-speed
- Variable-speed motors
At one speed, single-speed blower motors blast air. At different speeds, variable speed motors change their speed for blowing air.
A properly working blower motor remains a vital part of the HVAC system in your home. In terms of maintaining a comfortable temperature inside your house, the blower motor is critical.
How A Blower Motor Works
To control the temperature, thermostats work with the home heating and cooling systems. It signals the furnace to get to work when the temperature drops below the thermostat setting.
Hot or cold air is produced by the furnace, which then needs to circulate throughout your house’s different rooms. This is when it engages the blower engine.
To ensure that the temperature reaches what is required on the thermostat, a blower motor takes the heated or cooled air produced within the furnace and circulates it throughout the house.
It achieves this by spinning a ventilator, which blasts the air into your home’s ventilation system. A large volume of air can drive even a small blower motor.
Single-speed motors run at one speed and when in operation, have maximum energy power. The thermostat tells the motor of your blower when to turn on and off.
Occasionally, since they only operate when indicated by the thermostat, single-speed engines result in cold spots. On the other hand, variable speed engines blast air at higher and lower speeds, if desired.
Therefore this engine helps to create a temperature spread more uniformly in your house. Besides, variable-speed engines are generally more energy-efficient than a single-speed engine, which helps you save on your monthly energy bills.
Things That Happen When The Blower Motor Goes Out
As it experiences more wear and tears over time, the blower motor may become more vulnerable to mechanical failures.
There’s a fair chance the blower motor is in trouble if your air conditioner is aging and becoming increasingly troublesome. The stuff that could happen when the blower motor goes out are below:
Low Airflow From The Vents
Typically, this is the first sign that you might have a defective blower engine. If the airflow coming out of the vents is slow, it can mean that it is having difficulties.
Your blower motor won’t be strong enough to force air through the ducts to reach your desired temperature.
A lot of potential explanations for why this occurs are listed below:
- Accumulation of dirt and dust
- A bad condenser
- Aging engine
You should call an HVAC technician to repair the issue if your blower motor is dirty or has a weak capacitor. You can start searching for a new motor if your motor is near the end of its service life.
It’s important to remember that dirty or leaky ducts or a clogged filter may also result in poor airflow.
Higher Energy Bills
The blower motor is the part of your HVAC system that uses the most electricity. Therefore, if you see a big increase in your utility bills, it could very well be the culprit.
To efficiently circulate conditioned air in your house, an aged, problematic, or dirty motor has to work harder. This contributes to higher energy usage.
If your air-conditioner is way past its prime, consider replacing the motor with a smart variable-speed model.
This type of blower motor can automatically adjust its energy usage to satisfy your home’s varying cooling needs. Aside from this, it could also reduce the amount of energy wasted.
Zero Airflow
If you do not sense any airflow coming out of the vents, it can mean that a problem has formed with the blower motor to the point that the part is fully inoperable.
You’ll have to replace it with a new motor in this situation. Hiring a trained technician to test the device is the best way to ascertain the problem’s cause.
Other causes can be:
- Bad relay or battery
- Fan control problem
- Defective thermostat
- Absence of airflow
Overheating
For a variety of reasons, your blower motor can overheat. Surrounding the engine, dirt, and grime will accumulate and prevent it from venting itself, allowing heat to build up over time. By employing a specialist to service your engine, you can solve this issue.
Often the greatest threat to an HVAC system is age. It will have a tougher time keeping your home cool if your blower motor is too old and worn out.
Overheating, breakdowns, and higher energy costs may result from the added strain. In such a case, the best fix is to get a new blower motor.
You can see some very strong signs that your blower motor is overheating. A burning smell coming from the vents is one of the typical signs of overheating. A complete shutdown of the machine normally follows this.
To avoid damage and electrical hazards, an air-conditioner with an overheating blower motor can shut itself off.
You can shut down the machine if you see any of these signs and immediately contact an HVAC company.
Strange Noises
Many irregular sounds that come from an HVAC system could be indicative of a blower motor problem. A specialist may fix some of the problems that cause strange noises, while others can need motor replacement.
Squealing or screeching sounds, for example, can mean that there is a broken belt or bearing problem in the blower motor.
This can be solved by removing the belt or lubricating the bearings. It could be because of a loose or missing component if the motor makes rattling, clanking, or banging noises.
Loud banging sounds are particularly alarming since they’re typically a sign that something is broken or disconnected. This could require the blower motor to be replaced.
Switch the system off and contact an HVAC technician immediately, regardless of the kind of weird noises you hear. Problems like a loose or broken belt and bad alignment can be easily fixed.
However, if you don’t fix them promptly, they can cause damage to the blower motor or its surrounding components. You may conduct a detailed inspection of your blower motor by a qualified technician.
They will let you know whether it needs to be fixed or replaced.
Replacing Your Blower Motor
If your HVAC system’s blower motor needs to be replaced, an HVAC company will help you find the correct replacement model.
They will give you a quote and make plans for the installation until the company has decided on your blower motor’s right replacement.
There are cost-effective universal models that, if wired correctly, can work in a wide range of environments. The contractor needs to take a range of factors into account to get the unit’s correct blower motor. Factors include:
- Type of drive
- Motor diameter
- Direction of rotation
- Horsepower
- Voltage
- Speeds
- Capacitor size
Estimated Cost Of Replacing The Blower Motor
It costs an average of $450 to replace an HVAC blower motor, but anywhere from $150 to $2,000 to replace it. If you have a gas furnace, electric, or heat pump, it doesn’t matter if they all use an air handler blower motor.
There is no air handler for Radiated Heat and Mini-Split Devices. In each room, these systems use radiated heat and don’t need ducts.
Hire A Specialist VS DIY
For the typical DIYer, you’ll find this a difficult job but doable. You could be replacing a perfectly good engine, but you have little chance of harming other equipment or yourself. Before tackling this, you may want to ask a few questions:
- How do you know that this is the blower motor that went out?
- Have you solved the root problem, which might cause another engine to blow if left alone?
Complex devices with several points of failure from the generator to the circuit are modern ACs and heaters. Until you know what the problem is, do not replace something. For a full inspection, call an HVAC professional near you.
Tips In Finding HVAC Specialists
A replacement blower motor is a major investment and plays an important role in your home in providing a pleasant and safe atmosphere.
A reliable air-conditioning contractor that provides high-quality goods and installation services should make sure you get a good blower motor. Here are a few techniques to choose the right HVAC contractor:
- Establish A Shortlist
- Look for companies authorized and accredited
- See to it that the contractor conducts an inspection
Conclusion
Replacing an aging or malfunctioning blower motor will dramatically improve your HVAC system’s efficiency. If any of the above signs are displayed by your blower motor, consider calling an expert to arrange an inspection or replacement.
