What Should You Do If Your Blower Motor Fails?
Your HVAC system relies on a blower motor to distribute conditioned air throughout your home. In the winter, this means pushing warm air away from the furnace's heat exchanger. In the summer, your blower moves air over your air conditioner's evaporator coils. In either case, proper airflow is essential to keep your home comfortable and protect your HVAC equipment.
Since your blower is a mechanical part, it can wear out from age, usage, or improper maintenance. Stressing your blower can cause it to fail more quickly, but these items tend to break down on older systems even when well-maintained. Unlike a failed compressor, a faulty blower doesn't necessarily mean that it's time to replace your entire air conditioning system.
How Do You Know if Your Blower is Dying?
If your blower dies, there won't be much room for doubt: you'll no longer get any air from your vents. You may still hear the compressor engage, but it won't usually stay on for long. Without air blowing across the evaporator, it can become too cold, ultimately impacting the refrigerant cycle. The extra strain on the compressor will typically cause the system to go into a safety shut down mode.
However, you don't need to wait for your blower to stop working altogether before taking action. Faulty blowers usually produce some early warning signs, such as unusual screeching or grinding noises. Pay special attention to any sounds you hear when your air conditioning system first turns on. These noises may indicate a failing electric motor or an old, worn-out blower belt.
Since most people install their air handler units in basements or other inconspicuous locations, you may only hear faint noises through your vents. If anything sounds out of place, it's always a good idea to take a quick visit to your air handler unit for a closer listen. Stay nearby for an entire cycle so you can hear the blower as it turns on, runs, and then shuts off again.
What Can You Do About a Bad Blower?
The solution to blower problems will depend on the underlying cause. If your air conditioner uses a belt-driven blower, you may only need to replace the belt. However, in most cases, the problem is usually the blower motor itself. The cost to replace a blower motor will vary significantly based on the type of AC in your home, but it's typically relatively inexpensive for many models.
If your AC system is relatively young or otherwise in good shape, then repairing your bad blower is usually a worthwhile investment. You should only consider replacing the entire system if your air conditioner is getting old. For more insight, contact air conditioning repair services.
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