Any HVAC specialists here? I think my blower motor is shot, small video clip

[JImmyK]

sorry for the file being so unnecessarily large, but I have nothing to compress it and re-encode it with on this laptop.

its a 30 meg file which you can hear the crazy sound in.

I think its the motor, but Im not sure if I have to buy a complete blower, engine, or engine/fan combo.

its got this fan in it that looks like an engine turbine on one of those commuter planes.

http://jjkhan.com/HVAC_blower.AVI

It should be down uploading in 3 mins its currenly 10:51 EST

 

[Scarpozzi]

The video isn't finished yet....but if you need to replace the blower motor it should have a stamp on the side of it that gives you all of the information about what it is and its specification. All you need to do is take that information and start searching for a replacement that has the same performance with both airflow and wattage.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I can't tell what that rattle is.....it depends on if the fan is direct drive or belt driven.

They usually use squirrel cage fans in those things it's like a cylindrical turbine.... It's possible that it's out of balance somehow.....but it is most likely the motor if it has any age on it. There should be a way to remove it and inspect it. Just power it off before you start messing with it so your thermostat doesn't kick on with your fingers in the fan.

 

[boomerang]

The whole housing will slide towards you for removal. You may have to hold some wires and such out of the way.

It sounds like a bearing has gone bad on the motor, but the fan could have come loose on the shaft. It's hard to identify the sound from the video. The fan may have shifted outward and is rubbing on the housing. You will need to remove the assembly regardless, to find out what it is.

As was said, kill power to the furnace first. Also, that oval shaped device you see in the lower right is a capacitor. DO NOT touch any connections on this as you will get one heck of a shock. The connections are insulated. It will probably slide out without having to touch any wires.

Again, as was said, there will be a tag on the motor with the specs. In the phonebook, find an electric motor shop. Take it with you to match it up. Hopefully the fan just came loose.

 

[bernse]

It doesn't really sound like a bearing letting loose (what generally fails when a motor sounds like it is "dying") - sounds more like the squirrel cage (fan) is rubbing against something.

BTW - my crappy work PC just gave me sound on that clip, no video.

 

[boomerang]

Originally posted by: bernse
It doesn't really sound like a bearing letting loose (what generally fails when a motor sounds like it is "dying") - sounds more like the squirrel cage (fan) is rubbing against something.

BTW - my crappy work PC just gave me sound on that clip, no video.

I agree, but if the front bearing has gotten sloppy the fan would be rubbing. The video was just a static picture of the lower part of the furnace with the cover removed.

 

[chusteczka]

I agree with the loose squirrel cage fan that may need replacement, reattachment, or a bearing replacement. A squirrel cage fan looks similar to a gerbil wheel.

 

[JImmyK]

Originally posted by: boomerang
The whole housing will slide towards you for removal. You may have to hold some wires and such out of the way.

It sounds like a bearing has gone bad on the motor, but the fan could have come loose on the shaft. It's hard to identify the sound from the video. The fan may have shifted outward and is rubbing on the housing. You will need to remove the assembly regardless, to find out what it is.

As was said, kill power to the furnace first. Also, that oval shaped device you see in the lower right is a capacitor. DO NOT touch any connections on this as you will get one heck of a shock. The connections are insulated. It will probably slide out without having to touch any wires.

Again, as was said, there will be a tag on the motor with the specs. In the phonebook, find an electric motor shop. Take it with you to match it up. Hopefully the fan just came loose.

Yup I took the beast out used my hand to spin the fan and NO problem (thats what I thought it was at first the fan hitting the casing). I called some basic HVAC guys and they all say a minimum of 400 to 900 depending on the problem. Figured I could do it myself...

all right Ill take it out again and remove the motor...