Furnace Repair - How to Troubleshoot the Blower on a Hot Air Furnace

The furnace is hot and every once in a while theIf the wheel is hitting something, then try to see
burner will come on for a short time and then goif it can be fixed. Sometimes the set screw will
off again. But the blower that should be running tojust come lose from the shaft and repositioning
circulate the hot air from the furnace to thethe wheel and tightening the screw will fix the
house is not working. How can you fix that? Itproblem.
really isn't very hard.Sometimes power will be going to the motor and
It does not matter what the fuel of your hot airnothing at all is happening. Replacing the motor is
furnace is. If the blower is not circulating the airthen the only option. The worst case that
through the heater then you are not gettinghappens and is one of the most common
warm. The function of the blower is to move theproblems is for the hub of the blower wheel to
heat from the heater to the space that need tobrake off. This lets the inside of the wheel fall
be heated.down on the motor shaft. The metal from the
A few simple tests can tell you what yourwheel will saw off the shaft of the motor rather
problem is. Do you have power going to thequickly as it is spinning trying to run the blower.
motor that runs the blower? If you have powerThe result of this is a ruined wheel and motor.
going to the motor and it is very hot than maybeThis gives a brief overview of some of the many
the blower wheel has come lose and it is stuck onthings that may happen to your blower in your
something that is keeping it from turning. Try tohot air furnace. I have encountered many other
turn the wheel to see if it is stuck. If the wheel isthings over the years, but these are the most
not hitting anything and just turns hard then thecommon problems. It will give you a few things to
bearings of the motor are bad and the motorlook for if you are having problems. Be very
needs to be replaced. In some rare cases thecareful because many times the edges of the
motor has little tubes to the bearings and some oilmetal pieces are very sharp. You can be cut very
can be worked into the bearings to free them up.easily when checking or handling these parts. I
This is a long a tedious process, but I have doneknow and have the scars to prove it! Do not be
it successfully a few times.in a hurry and be safe.