How An HVAC Contractor Will Fix A Worn Ball Bearing In Your Blower Motor

Is your air conditioner making a rattling or grinding noise when it's blowing out cold air? Chances are, there is a worn ball bearing in your blower motor. This is one of the most common things that go wrong with air conditioners, and luckily, it is something that HVAC contractors can fix with relative ease. Here are some questions you may have about the process of replacing a worn ball bearing in your AC unit's blower motor.

Where is the ball bearing located? 

If you venture down into the basement or the area where your AC unit is located, you can then look for the unit that connects directly to your main duct. This is the blower motor. It's basically a big fan that blows the cooled air out into your home's ducts. Like all fans, this one has parts that move and slide over one another. There are ball bearings between those parts. They serve to reduce friction so the parts can move freely over each other without scraping or dinging each other. The ball bearings are located inside the motor; there are several of them.

How will an HVAC contractor replace the worn ball bearing?

After shutting off the power to your blower, your AC contractor will remove the housing that covers your blower. This will expose the motor. They will then locate the ball bearings. Most blowers have four of them, but some blowers have a different number. The HVAC contractor should be able to tell by looking at which ball bearing is worn. Sometimes, more than one bearing might be worn and flat. There will be a screw that secures the ball bearing in place; your HVAC contractor will loosen that screw. They can then use a screwdriver to essentially pry the old, worn ball bearing out of place. Then, they will pop some new ball bearings into the empty spots. They'll finish by tightening the screws to hold those new bearings in place.

Your AC contractor will then put the housing back over the blower motor and reconnect the power.

How long does this repair take?

This should be a relatively quick repair. It will take a few hours at the very most, and often less time than that. Ball bearings are also inexpensive as a part, which means the fee for this work should be pretty affordable.

If you have a worn ball bearing, call an AC repair contractor near you for service.