The Bearings In Your Furnace Blower Motor Can Go Bad And Need To Be Replaced

If your furnace makes unusual noises when it kicks on, the problem might be with the blower motor. Some furnaces have belt-driven motors, and those can make loud noises when the belt goes bad. However, newer furnaces have direct-drive motors, so odd noises are likely to be from the bearings instead. Here's a look at furnace motor bearings and when they may need to be replaced.

What Causes Furnace Bearings To Go Bad

A motor in a newer furnace probably has bearings that are meant to last for years without needing extra lubrication. The oil is encased in the bearing, and in normal conditions, the oil provides continuous lubrication and keeps the motor working.

If the furnace motor overheats, the bearings and motor can be damaged. Overheating can be caused by a dirty filter or blower cage. So, one way to reduce the risk of furnace motor trouble is to change your filter regularly. If the bearings in the motor start to go bad, you'll probably hear odd noises every time your furnace kicks on. Rather than run your furnace with this problem, call a furnace repair technician to fix the motor so your furnace can operate safely.

How A Furnace Blower Motor Problem Is Repaired

The furnace repair technician can probably tell by the type of noise what's causing the problem with your furnace. Electrical problems, worn belts, and bad bearings have distinctive sounds that help the technician pinpoint the problem. However, the technician may pull out the motor to examine the various parts to find out what's wrong.

Since a dirty fan cage can cause the motor to overheat and cause damage to the bearings, the cage may need to be removed and cleaned so the problem won't return once the bearings have been replaced. Unless the motor itself has damage too, the only repairs needed might be to replace the bearings.

Replacing the motor bearings is a matter of taking out the old bearings and shaft and replacing them with new parts. However, the type of bearings and the age of your furnace matter since older furnaces have bearings that need to have lubrication added annually. If no parts are ruined, lubricating the old bearings may fix the problem. In other cases, it may be necessary to replace the entire blower motor to get your furnace functional again.

The repair technician will diagnose the problem with the motor and determine if replacing the motor is advisable or if minor repairs are possible. Since running your furnace when it's having problems could cause further damage to the motor, call for help right away when you notice unusual noises. The repair service may advise you to turn the furnace off to prevent further damage to the motor and the need for more costly repairs.

To learn more, contact a furnace repair contractor.