You may not realize it, but you rely on your furnace blower in the winter and the summer. It’s the component of your HVAC system that distributes conditioned air to the rooms in your home, so it’s vital that you take care of it with regularly-scheduled service. When it’s maintained properly, it’s more reliable, you’ll be more comfortable, and you’ll even save on energy consumption.
As part of your spring and fall system check-ups, a trained and experienced HVAC technician should perform the following service on the blower to ensure it’s functioning as it should:
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Cleaning the blower assembly, and oiling the motor. Friction from a lack of lubrication makes a motor use more
energy, and even worse, it can cause an equipment failure. Keeping the blower assembly clean protects it from damage. -
Testing that the voltage and current reaching the blower motor is within safe limits. This protects it from overheating and burning out, or causing a fire.
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Inspecting the blower belt for cracks or signs of wear, and replacing it if it’s damaged.
In between maintenance visits, problems can develop that point toward a blower issue. Some aren’t serious, and they may not be related to your furnace blower at all. Before you call your HVAC contractor, give the following easy fixes a try:
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Inspect the thermostat. Did you switch it to “A/C” mode at the start of the cooling season? If so, make sure that the temperature called for is lower than the current room temperature. If there’s no life at all in your thermostat, try replacing the battery.
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Change your air filter. If it’s clogged with dust and dirt, your HVAC system may have shut down to protect critical components from the damage caused by overheating.
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Look for a tripped breaker. Check the HVAC system’s breakers in your main electrical panel, and any breakers located inside the blower compartment.
For expert advice about a furnace blower problem, or any other issue related to your home comfort, contact us at Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning Co. We’ve served the HVAC needs of the Twin Cities since 1974.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about furnace blower and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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