Heat Pump Blower Motor Replacement
Heat Pump Blower Motor Replacement Video Transcript
Do you need a heat pump blower motor replacement? In this video, Casey Services will show you bad blower motor symptoms,
[On screen: In this video:]
[On screen: Bad blower motor symptoms]
why it fails,
[On screen: Why it may fail]
the steps in a blower motor replacement,
[On screen: Steps in a blower motor replacement]
plus the cost of parts and labor.
[On screen: Cost of parts & labor]
To watch our full Heat Pump repair series, where we cover major repairs, their symptoms, and costs, you can follow the link.
A heat pump blower motor replacement will keep the air circulating through your home. There are several reasons for a blower motor not running. If you live in Raleigh, Wake Forest, Durham, or the surrounding areas, Casey Services HVAC can troubleshoot and replace a bad blower motor.
Symptoms of a Bad Heat Pump Bower Motor
There are lots of signs of a bad blower motor:
[On screen: Bad heat pump blower motor]
Higher electric bills
[On screen: Higher bills]
the blower motor making strange noises,
[On screen: Strange noises]
or not running at all
[On screen: Not running]
air flow is weak
[On screen: Weak airflow]
the heat pump is cycling on and off,
[On screen: Cycling on/off]
or not heating or cooling effectively.
[On screen: Poor heating/cooling]
A tripped circuit breaker or burnt smell could also indicate the blower motor is bad.
[On screen: Tripped circuit breaker/burnt smell]
Why Did My Heat Pump Blower Motor fail?
So why is your heat pump blower motor not working?
A few of the potential causes are
[On screen: Common causes]
Overheating,
[On screen: Overheating]
electrical failure due to windings,
[On screen: Electr. failure: windings]
locked up bearings,
[On screen: Locked up bearing]
broken or damaged fan blades,
[On screen: Broken fan blades]
rust,
[On screen: Rust]
age,
[On screen: Age]
a bad capacitor,
[On screen: Bad capacitor]
or excessive vibration.
[On screen: Excess vibrations]
You’ll need a tech to do blower motor troubleshooting.
Cost of Heat Pump Blower Motor Replacement
How much is a blower motor for a heat pump? That really depends on how long it takes to replace, and the type of motor. The heat pump blower motor replacement cost is usually between $75-$150 an hour,
[On screen: Replacement cost]
[On screen: Labor: $75-$150/hr]
and it’ll take between 2-3 hours.
[On screen: 2-3 hours]
And a heat pump blower motor cost varies depending on your unit and range from:
$80-$170 for a Standard Blower Motor
[On screen: Standard blower motor: $80-$170]
$120-$200 for a Variable Speed Blower Motor
[On screen: Variable speed motor: $120-$200]
And some newer systems need an ECM Blower Motor, which can cost up to $650
[On screen: ECM motor: $650]
Learn more by checking out our Heat Pump Repair Cost Series.
Don’t Get Scammed
Some companies try to scam you on a heat pump blower motor replacement. When in doubt, ask the tech for the diagnostic report, and take pictures of the damaged blower motor and the new one.
To learn more, check out our series on how to avoid Heat Pump scams.
Replacement Process
Each brand of Heat Pump is different, so the process will vary with different units, but here are the general steps that a reputable technician like ours should take when doing the replacement.
The first step is to turn off the high and low voltage. This prevents damage to the system & the technician.
[On screen: Replacement process]
[On screen: Turn the power off]
Next, the HVAC tech will need access to your blower motor. The placement will vary with different brands, but in this unit it’s located behind the electrical panel.
[On screen: Remove the panel]
Then they’ll unscrew the bolt that mounts the blower to the unit. After removing the unit from its mounted position, it’s then disconnected from the wiring harness to separate the motor from its exterior housing.
[On screen: Separate motor from housing]
The technician must remove this top bracket. For this unit, he’ll remove the bolts at the top and bottom of the housing allowing him to lift the housing off the motor.
[On screen: Separate form bracket]
The technician will then examine the blower motor for rust, locked bearings, and other signs of damage. This helps confirm that the blower motor is the cause of the issues.
[On screen: Inspect the blower motor]
This entire process is then repeated in reverse for reinstallation.
[On screen: Repeat in reverse]
The technician will reinstall the bracket. This is the component that mounts the blower to the wall of the unit.
[On screen: Attach motor bracket]
Once the bracket’s attached, the technician will confirm the motor is sitting at the correct point in the housing.
[On screen: Position blower motor]
If the motor’s not aligned correctly, it can rub up against the housing, damaging the housing and the motor.
The final bolt is tightened, locking the motor into place.
[On screen: Lock into place]
The blower is now reinstalled into the unit with the wires reconnected and the housing screwed firmly into place.
The technician will turn on the power to the system and the blower motor will be tested.
[On screen: Test the new blower motor]
Once tested, the new motor should be properly circulating air in the home.
If you want to learn how to test a blower motor, then check out our series.
With the new blower motor up and running, the exterior panel will be reattached & the replacement is complete.
[On screen: Reattach the panel]
Always have a licensed tech work on your heat pump blower motor replacement. This keeps you safe, and is usually required for your warranties and home insurance.
Save money and stay comfortable – learn more with Casey Services.
Share this Article >
TL;DR
Heat pump blower motor replacement is key to keeping your system circulating air through your duct system and into your home. There are several reasons why a motor might fail, like overheating or rust damage. But with the help of a heat pump technician, it can be a straightforward replacement.
Signs of a Bad Heat Pump Blower Motor
If you are wondering if you need heat pump blower motor replacement, you should take a look at some of the symptoms below that both our techs and some of the homeowners we service have experienced.
- High electric bills – Higher than usual electric bills may indicate that the blower is having trouble circulating air inside your home and it’s working overtime to reach your temperature set points.
- Strange noises – If you hear unusual noises, such as grinding, squealing, or humming coming from the blower, it may be a sign the motor needs replacing.
- Weak airflow – A failed blower motor stops the fan from working, so no air moves through your vents. Additionally, if the blower motor is running but the airflow is weak, it could be a sign that the motor is not functioning properly.
- The blower motor is not running at all – If the blower motor is not running at all, it could be caused by a faulty motor or a problem with the electrical circuit.
- Cycling on and off – If the blower motor is turning on and off frequently, it could be a sign of a problem with the motor or the control system.
- The heat pump is not heating or cooling effectively – If the heat pump is not heating or cooling effectively, it could be a sign of a problem with the blower motor or other components of the system.
- Tripped circuit breaker – A bad motor can seize up, which can make your unit continually trip the circuit breaker.
- Burning or burnt smell – When a blower motor fails, it can get overheated, creating a burning or burnt odor you can smell coming from your vents.
Why Is My Heat Pump Blower Motor Not Working?
There could be a few causes for blower motor failure. Before you jump in, keep in mind that replacements or repairs done by non-certified technicians could void your system warranty, your homeowners insurance, and cause a host of other issues. Let your tech do the troubleshooting. Below are some of the most common reasons a heat pump blower motor might fail:
- Overheating – A blower motor can fail due to excessive heat in its operating environment.
- Electrical failure due to windings – As a system ages, the motor winding insulation can degrade. This leads to short circuits in the system.
- Locked-up bearings – A bad bearing normally means the entire motor needs to be replaced because replacing a bearing is more expensive than simply replacing the motor.
- Broken or damaged fan blades – Damaged blades can reduce airflow and damage the entire unit.
- Corrosion – An accumulation of rust on the motor parts eventually leads to motor failure.
- Bad Capacitor – this is a key component to getting the blower motor to start running, producing torque to engage the blower motor fan belt. If the capacitor is not functioning it means that the motor may not have torque, thus not be running.
- Excessive vibration – If the motor is not aligned correctly or the unit is on an uneven surface, it can make it shake and vibrate and lead to parts eventually cracking and breaking.
Cost to Replace a Heat Pump Blower Motor
Here’s a look at what you can expect to pay for both parts and labor for heat pump blower motor replacement. The costs below can be good starting points for most homeowners in the Raleigh, Durham, & Wake Forest areas that are looking for replacements or repairs.
How Much Does a Heat Pump Blower Motor Cost?
A new heat pump blower motor varies in price depending on the type of unit and motor you have. Below is a graph showing how much the cost of the part has varied over the last few years. To learn more about the massive jump in price as shown below, check out our blog on the industry wide HVAC parts shortage.
Average Costs for Different Blower Motors
- Standard Blower Motor – $80-$170
- Variable Speed Blower Motor – $120-$200 (see image below)
Note: You may be able to find an inexpensive motor on your own, but many companies will not install parts that you purchase online due to the risks of the parts being defective. When getting replacements through a licensed HVAC company, they can get special warranties that both follow their systems manufacturers’ guidelines and cover more than what the average homeowner can buy.
Labor Cost to Replace a Heat Pump Blower Motor
The average labor cost is between $75-$150 an hour. And for a replacement like this, you are looking at a 2-3 hour job. While this may seem high, these rates also include the cost of the certifications and insurance of the technician.
Am I Being Scammed?
Everyone has heard a story about someone getting scammed by a local service provider. To avoid some of the most common scams related to heat pumps, review the tips we’ve listed below:
- Ask if the bearings are locked-up – Locked-up bearings in a blower motor normally means it needs to be replaced because replacing a bearing is more expensive than replacing the motor altogether.
- “Show me” – Ask the technician to show you the damaged motor. See if they can compare it with a working one.
- “Explain the process” – Ask your technician what their process will be and see if they’re knowledgeable of the heat pump blower motor replacement steps—which we’ll discuss in the next section.
- Ask about a blown fuse – If connecting the blower motor to power repeatedly blows a fuse, then the motor they’ve installed is likely bad and needs replacement, as it can’t push out the correct amount of voltage for the system.
How to Replace a Heat Pump Blower Motor
If the blower motor needs to be replaced, here are the steps that your technician should take when doing the replacement.
- Turn power off to the heat pump – The first step is to turn off the high and low voltage. This prevents damage to the system and the technician.
- Remove the exterior panel – Next, your technician will need access to your blower motor, which is located behind the electrical panel.
- Separate motor from housing – The technician will then unscrew the bolt that mounts the blower to the unit. After removing the unit from its mounted position, it’s then disconnected from the wiring harness to separate the motor from its exterior housing.
- Separate from bracket – The technician must remove the top bracket by unscrewing the four bolts at the top of the housing. They will then flip the housing over to remove the final bolt, allowing them to lift the housing off the motor.
- Inspect the blower motor – The technician will then examine the blower motor for rust, locked bearings, and other signs of damage. This helps confirm that the blower motor is the cause of the issues. This entire process is then repeated in reverse for reinstallation.
- Install the new blower motor – Start by attaching the motor to the bracket, properly positioning it in the housing, then reinstalling the blower into the heat pump and reconnecting the wires.
- Attach motor bracket – The technician reinstalls the bracket. This is the component that mounts the blower to the wall of the unit.
- Position blower motor – Once the bracket is attached, the technician will test to confirm the motor is sitting at the correct point in the housing. If the motor is not aligned correctly, it can rub up against the housing, damaging the housing and the motor.
- Lock blower motor into place – The final bolt is tightened, locking the motor into place. The blower is now reinstalled into the unit with the wires reconnected and the housing screwed firmly into place.
- Test the new blower motor – The technician will turn on the power to the system to test the blower motor. The new motor should be properly circulating air in your home.
- Reattach exterior panel – With the new blower motor up and running, the exterior panel will be reattached and the replacement is complete.
Summary
When it comes to heat pump blower motor replacement, it’s smart to call on professionals to make sure the job is done accurately and safely. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms above or even just looking for a second quote, reach out to us and schedule an appointment!
Share this Article >
Need help?
Our Heat Pump Services
