Is your furnace blower
not turning on? Worry not; you might be able to repair it yourself. To help you
fix your furnace blower motor, here’s the troubleshooting guide.
1.
Check
the wires
You have to inspect
the wires of your furnace to check whether the power cord or fuse has melted or
blown out. If you do not see anything wrong with the cables, try unplugging the
fan for a few minutes and plug again. This process can help reset the motor,
and your furnace may start running properly. If this method does not work, then
check the fuse box. Sometimes, due to a surge of electricity, the system
overloads, and the breaker pops. When you check your fuse box and find popped
breakers, switch it on.
2.
Inspect
the Vents and the Filters
Sometimes, the blower
motors cannot circulate air because there is no air to move. You need to check
the vents and filters to ensure the blower won’t have a hard time working
properly. Inspect the air filter’s housing and look out for markings on the
filter. Check whether the arrows on the HVAC filter are pointing towards the
correct direction or not. If you notice they are pointing at the wrong
direction, fix them.
Moving on, inspect the
vents around your furnace blower to see whether they are clogged. If you notice
that the blower is too dirty or dusty, wipe it away using a rag or spray the
dust away with compressed air.
3.
Examine
the thermostat and make sure it is working correctly
The thermostats are mostly
set in the ‘auto’ mode when you buy your furnace. However, your thermostat may
start malfunctioning as it gets old. To make sure it is set properly, you have
to implement a manual override. Select the “on” switch from the three settings:
‘on,’ ‘off,’ and ‘auto.’ This will result in the lock of the fan to set into an
always-on state. But after switching the
thermostat control to ‘on’, if nothing happens, you can try replacing the
thermostat batteries. If this does not work, try setting the temperature
controls to 2-5 degrees above the room temperature. If you try out all of these
and still the thermostat does not work, try calling for an expert
technician.
4.
Make
sure to check the Drive Belt of your furnace blower
Switch off the power of your furnace at the circuit breaker panel to check whether the blower motor belt is damaged. Then check the belt that runs the blower of the furnace. You will notice the belt is cracked and has to be replaced. You have to check for belt crack even if the fan is malfunctioning.
Reset the Furnace
Blower
If you cannot figure
out the problem with your furnace blower motor. Try resetting the blower. If
you hear a humming sound out of your furnace, you should try to reset the
blower. The steps are simple so follow the instructions:
1.
Switch
off the power of your furnace by shutting off the breaker connected to your
furnace.
2.
Take
off the blower cover by unscrewing the screws around the front. Usually, there
are 3-4 screws to unscrew.
3.
Next,
allow the blower to cool down. It is important to wait for the metal components
to cool down, so you can touch them safely.
4.
Now
search for the reset button, which is usually red. Once you find the button,
check if it is popped. Push it back in if popped.
5.
There
is a small circuit breaker connected to the reset button inside your blower.
Sometimes due to the overloading of electricity, it pops. Check and see if it
popped, push it back if it is.
6.
Now,
call for motor repair after you have successfully reset your blower motor and yet
the motor is not working.
Conclusion:
Even after
troubleshooting, your furnace blower motor won't turn on; the actual situation
might be even worse. You can call for technicians to repair your furnace. They
have the necessary tools and proper training to repair or tune-up your furnace
in no time. So don't risk waiting longer; give a call to the HVAC experts for
fixing your furnace blower.
See the summary of
this content here in an infographic – Troubleshooting
Furnace Blower Motor [Infographic]
