A motor that runs the furnace motor impeller is the costliest part of the blower; when a drive mechanism is damaged, there is no point in repairing the mechanism. The furnace blower motor replacement cost approaches the cost of the electric motor itself. It is easier to change the device to a new one by contacting a qualified contractor.
A price to replace furnace blower motor
At first glance, the price to replace furnace blower motor is terrifying: if you have an ordinary household blower, be prepared to give $700–$1,500 for its replacement; removing a motor in an advanced device with smart stuffing increases the cost to $2,000–2,400. But considering what exactly costs are covered by the bill you get from a contractor, the cost of replacing a furnace blower motor seems quite reasonable:
- buying a new electric motor of the same make and size: $100–$800
- work of a technician: $200–$400 (given the hourly rate of $75–$150)
- minimum cost per departure: $75–$200.
An average cost to replace a furnace blower motor
Looking at the websites aggregators for the average cost to replace furnace blower motor, one could find even more optimistic prices: from $300 to $900. But you should understand that the average cost is formed based on all available offers, which also would include the prices of a large number of small firms without licenses. Larger and certified contractors have higher prices than the America-average but it is definitely cheaper to replace only a blower instead of the entire motor.
A gas furnace blower motor replacement cost
All types of furnaces, including those working on gas, propane, oil fuel, electricity, and combined, have the same models of the blowers. That’s why the gas furnace blower motor replacement cost is the same as for the rest of the models of furnaces working on other fuel types. It is important that you select the motor of the same make with analogical characteristics.
Find a local specialist, which can replace a furnace blower motor
To repair a blower, it is better to find a local contractor among the certified ones — those working in your region know its specificity well, are prone to long-term collaboration, and their reputation is easier to verify. Due to the simplified logistics, local companies are able to cope with their orders faster and the cost to replace a furnace blower motor is lower than it is in the branches of large network companies.
The cost to replace a blower condenser
The condenser is responsible for supplying the required voltage at the start moment of an electric motor; without it, the blower won’t start or won’t get to the necessary speed. You cannot use an old condenser after having installed a new motor. The cost of buying and changing the device with similar characteristics is around $150-$450; along with that, the condenser should be of the same make as the electric motor because otherwise, the device won’t function correctly.
The cost of the motor for one-speed and multiple-speed blower
One-speed motors with the same rotation frequency are the simplest and cheapest. They are usually installed in low-power devices. Low-noise blowers with adjustable speeds are more cost-effective since by switching among the speeds, one could control the energy consumption as requested and keep the constant temperature and humidity thanks to automated modulation. Changing the motor for one-speed blower costs from $400 to $500; the multiple-speed is nearly half costlier: $600–$1,000 or even higher.
PSC and ECM motors
The condenser design and the application of electronic devices for winding switching affect the productivity, functionality, and cost of electric motors. PSC motors with a constantly turned-on condenser are designed for one-speed, two-speed, and three-speed blowers in the old furnaces. Modern furnaces with an efficiency of 95% are equipped with multi-speed blowers, which have the ECM motor with electronic modulation, which reduces the electric energy consumption by 75%.
The cost to repair the electric motor of a blower
The repair of the electric motor of a blower is expedient if you can limit it to a relatively small sum. For instance, one could replace a transmission belt or adjust its tension for only $50. In the case of a serious malfunction, when a shaft, impeller, or pulley breaks, focus on the cost of the motor: it is hardly expedient to invest in a drive that would cost lesser than $300.
The price of electric motors of blowers by brands
The difference between the cost of branded and non-branded motors or some universal model is quite significant; also, the cost of products of different brands is also different. Some companies make the devices of an economy class, others are focused on mid-class consumers, and others promote high-tech luxury devices. The status of the brand itself also affects the cost of replacing furnace blower motor: a device of a little-known brand of electric motors is cheaper than that of respectable large brands, even though the quality is the same.
The cost of the motor blower by Carrier
The Carrier brand is one of the oldest in the US but that does not guarantee the failure-free work of the branded equipment: when a motor is overloaded, the blower quite promptly breaks. The company produces equipment of various price ranges and so the cost of its electric motors widely varies: from $100 to $1,600. The cost of the installation starts at $300 for economy models and ends at $2,000 in a lux segment.
The cost of the motor blower by Trane
The Trane Company specializes in commercial HVAC systems. However, after the merger with the American Standard, the assortment of the company also received household HVAC equipment. The price of blower motors varies between $175 and $2,000, depending on the size and type. But you should consider you’ll spend a minimum of $300 for low-power motors and up to $2,400 for massive models.
The cost of the motor blower by Rheem
The products of the Rheem brand are known for their reliability and longevity: the original devices can serve up to 20-25 years. Equipment is easy to install, access to the main nodes is well thought out, and the spare parts are cheaper than one would expect from a premium segment. It’s possible to buy an electric motor for $130-$1,300 while the replacement costs are from $330 to $1,700.
The cost of the motor blower by Lennox
Brand Lennox offers elegant energy-saving solutions for all price categories but their standard spare parts are costly. The cost of furnace blower motor replacement varies between $300 and $2,000 but you have to pay for the motor itself from $150 to $1,600.
The cost of the motor blower by Goodman
Goodman brand produces good-quality mid-segment devices. The quality of spare parts is on par with top brands while the prices are significantly cheaper. The furnace blower motor costs up to $1,200 and, considering the installation works, the general cost of its replacement is from $300 to $1,600.
DIY vs. hiring a professional
When you repair the blower and/or change its motor on your own, you could save on work costs but you will lose the right to a warranty service. Main large brands have the blower warranty for 10 years, which covers the cost of buying a new one; the warranty service allows you only to pay for work.
Factors that define the cost to replace a furnace blower motor
The final cost to replace furnace blower motor is affected by a multitude of factors: a brand and the year of manufacture, hardness of getting to the nodes to fix or replace them, and technical characteristics of the device (power, number of speeds, a type of a condenser, and so on). Also, additional circumstances play their role: the warranty, the need for additional repairs, the level of well-being of the local population, etc.
The type of motor of a furnace blower
Construction differences between ECM and PSC motors result in a different cost to replace furnace blower motor, depending on the level of a condenser. The presence of electronic modulation complicates the construction of a drive, that’s why one has to pay $300–$1,100 for the repair of a PSC motor and $600–$1,500 for an ECM motor.
The cost of the motor by spare parts
The cost of an electric motor depends on its configuration — in addition to the drive cost ($85–$830) and condenser cost ($10–$30), other elements are also important: shaft cost ($50-$200), impeller cost ($70-$215), bearing cost ($20-$150), pulley cost ($50-$250), transmission belt cost ($5-$100), hull cost ($100-$300), and mounting kit cost ($10-$20). If the repair prolongs the exploitation term of an expensive motor model, then the repair with the change of faulty parts is justified.
The cost of the motor by the size
The size of a blower defines its power: the more powerful and massive the device is, the costlier it is, and the cost of the installation of a new device is bigger. Household models of furnaces of low power have blowers of 0.25 horsepowers (the cost is $70–$500). Given the cost of the installation work, the total cost will be $270–$900. Blowers of 0.5 horsepowers cost more: $120–$1,000 and the total installation costs are $320–$1,400. The installation of blowers of 1 horsepower costs $450–$2,400.
The cost of the motor by speed
The more speeds the drive has, the more complex it is to install it and it increases the cost of buying and installing a new motor. The low-budget segment is filled with one-speed motors with the cost of $100–$315. A multiple-speed device (with 2 or 3 speeds) costs around $190–$700. The adjustable speed motors cost even more: $500–$1,000 and up
The cost of the motor, depending on the brand
Electric motors of different brands may vary in price even if they take the same price niche. For instance, York and Trane brands are the costliest. Lennox and Carrier are insignificantly cheaper. Goodman, Rheem, and Comfortmaker brands are the cheapest (considering the top brands).
Signs of malfunction of a furnace blower motor
If your blower starts functioning intermittently, then you shall find out the cost for furnace blower motor replacement just in case, so the failure isn’t taking you by surprise. Before the blower stops turning on at all and leaves you without heating, you might notice some of the following characteristic signs of its faulty work:
- weak airflow from the blower grill openings
- unusual noise when the blower’s working
- frequent overheating of the blower
- bad smells inside the premises
- increased energy bills.
How to check a furnace blower motor?
Before you order a new electric motor, make sure it is the motor’s fault, not other elements — probably, you could avoid the overhaul. Noise, overheating, and weak air traction could be caused by dust deposits on the way of movement of air masses. So, at first, check the patency of ventilation and the condition of filters. The next step would be to disassemble the internal block of a split system, take off and clean the blower. Then assemble it back and try to start it. If the device works, as it should, then you don’t need to change your motor. If the impeller does not rotate, then you should check the motor windings with a tester to prevent the short circuit and contacts damage.
What’s the difference between the furnace blower motor and an air conditioner fan?
The same models of blowers with the identical design of the electric drive are used across furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps, and other HVAC types. In combined HVAC devices, the heat exchanger of a furnace and air conditioner is served by the same air blower, which is positioned in the inner block.
How long do the motors of blowers serve?
If your furnace has been produced and installed quality, the motor of the blower is capable of working for 10-20 years, given the regular technical maintenance and the normal functioning of the device. Prevent clogging of the blower and monitor the indices of the temperature and humidity in order to prevent the blower from overloading. If the level of dustiness disturbs you, ponder the installation of an air purification device.
How much time does it take to repair the motor of a blower?
The time needed to replace the electric motor depends on the hardness of access to its nodes and the qualification of a technician. An experienced one can finish the job within 2-3 hours. The more details are positioned before the drive, the more time it takes to disassemble and assemble the device. Therefore, a more complex design of the blower affects the bigger cost of the service.
Reliable contractor to replace a blower motor in Denver and Colorado
Replacing the motor of a blower in your HVAC system in cold Denver and snowy Colorado is the task of a highly qualified specialist. Contact the Best Heating Cooling & Air Company — a certified NATE contractor, which has the approval of Xcel Energy — and we’ll replace the motor upon request so as to make your furnace continue its work as fast as possible and leave the cold outside your house. We use only licensed spare parts for all our repairs and provide a 100% warranty for all our works because we are assured in our technicians the same as our clients are assured in excellent heating of their homes after our work!
