Enjoy relaxing by your favorite vent on a warm afternoon or maybe during a cool, winter evening. Whatever the situation, it is the blower motor that is forcing this air out of the system. The rest of your system could be brand new and working with perfection, but if that
blower motor is out or down, you aren’t going to get the proper airflow. The blower motor is usually located in the air handler or furnace, so some individuals commonly refer to it as the air handler or furnace. Regardless, it is this component of the unit that is responsible for distributing the warm and cool air throughout the home or building.
Unfortunately, air handler and furnace problems are not uncommon, meaning you will likely experience one or two in your lifetime. And, given the constant moving of the blower motor, it is likely that you’ll experience a motor burnout or breakdown. While the motor is designed to handle its load and is conditioned for such situations, there are times when it will break down. Here’s what you need to know if your
blower motor isn’t coming on.
The Motor Is Burned Out
As you can imagine, your ductwork is a massive maze of branches and arms Think of every vent in the home. This is all attached to your ductwork. What’s even more is, this ductwork reduces in size and goes back up while branching off. It’s kind of a nightmare when you think about it, especially for the average individual. This is why it usually takes a mechanical engineer to properly designed one of these systems for a given home or office space.
As you can imagine, it takes a big, powerful blower to force the air through the system and into your home. It does and every time that blower comes on, it puts an incredible amount of strain on the system as well as the unit itself. In fact, the hardest cycle for any motor is during the initial start-up. That first initial push is always the hardest for any motor. This is why there are hard start devices available. These devices are commonly installed on compressors and motors to help give an extra boost when starting. These motors were, however, designed to compensate for this level of stress and strain. It is usually through the bearings.
These components reduce the amount of friction and they are capable of lasting for a long time, as long as they are properly cared for. Making sure they are properly oiled and greased is essential. Most of today’s new motors are all internally sealed and won’t need lubricated or greased in a lifetime, but that doesn’t mean the versions won’t leak oil or grease at some point, which can learn to burnouts. All this being said, when a motor’s bearings aren’t given the proper oil and grease they need, it can lead to burnouts and breakdowns. This may be what’s going on with your unit right now.
If you smell what smells like a burning smell or see oil and grease near the motor, you may be dealing with a
burned-out motor. Is the motor overly hot? This is another indication.
Electrical Shortages
Speak with any
San Diego HVAC tech and he or she will tell you that ninety percent of heating and cooling problems are electrical problems. Most of the components of a heating and air system are powered by electricity or contain some kind of electrical component. Regardless of the type of fuel, you are burning to heat the home, your system will require the assistance of electricity as well as a blower motor to distribute air throughout the home. This means these systems draw a lot of power from the main electrical grid.
Just like any device connected to the electrical grid, they are susceptible to short-circuiting due to power outages. There was once a misconception that furnaces, air handlers, and
HVAC units were impervious to electrical shorts. Unfortunately, this is not the case at all. There are, however, devices available that can be installed within the unit that will absorb electrical jolts. They work in a similar theory to that of a surge protector. However, the thing is, these items will need to be replaced once they have done their job. They are usually inexpensive and easy to install, as they are located right near the main electrical panel.
Installing one of these items could save your compressor or blower motor. If your unit or the blower motor is responding at the thermostat, it is entirely possible that it could be because of an electrical short or surge. This is something that’ll be accompanied by a distinct smell. It might smell like burning rubber or something similar.
Just remember when experiencing problems, you always have the option of picking up the phone and
calling your local San Diego contractor. He or she should be standing by, ready to assist.
