A draft inducer is a fan that’s located inside of your furnace near the heat exchanger. … By turning on before your furnace ignites its burners, the draft inducer is able to clear out any combustion gases that might be lingering in the heat exchanger from the previous heating cycle.

How much does it cost to replace a furnace inducer motor?

Average Draft Inducer Motor Replacement Cost The average furnace inducer motor cost is around $245, when the part is under warranty and you pay only the labor to have it installed. The replacement cost is $465 when the warranty has expired and you pay for the furnace inducer motor.

What causes inducer motor failure?

Most inducer motors failures are simply attributed to the older age of the furnace. In most cases, the internal bearings wear out and since the unit is a sealed unit, there is no way to repair the original motor. Instead the unit is simply replaced with a new one.

How do I know if my furnace inducer motor is bad?

One of the first indications of a bad draft inducer motor is likely to be the sound it makes. A failing inducer motor may create a noise shortly after a heating cycle begins. This could be a tapping noise, or a humming or whirring sound.

How long should a furnace inducer last?

A: On average, you can expect a well-built inducer motor to last around 20 years.

What happens when furnace inducer motor goes out?

When an inducer goes bad, it will be hot to the touch after trying several times to start the furnace. If the motor remains cool, your problem is most likely in one of the peripherals attached to the motor or in the electrical parts that drive its operation.

What does an inducer motor cost?

Your furnace’s draft inducer motor removes toxic gases like carbon monoxide from the heat exchanger. The average cost to repair or replace a draft inducer motor is $200–$1,500.

What happens if inducer motor stops working?

If the inducer motor doesn’t turn on when it’s supposed to, the furnace will recognize this and shut down. It will wait a bit and try again. If the motor doesn’t start after 3 to 5 tries, the control board will stop sending voltage to the inducer motor, and essentially locking it out from attempting it anymore.

Can you run a furnace without an inducer motor?

Vibrating noises are another sign of a bad inducer motor. … Because the inducer motor helps your furnace run safely, the furnace will usually shut off if the motor won’t turn on. However, a bad inducer motor isn’t the only reason a furnace would shut off.

Are inducer motors loud?

A draft inducer (or vent blower) is the most common problem on a gas furnace or boiler to cause a noticeable noise. … The small motor mounted within the housing can begin to make noise when there is buildup on the wheel (such as sulfur or creosote) or when the motor is close to the end of its usable life.

Article first time published on

Where is the inducer motor on a furnace?

The Draft Inducer A draft inducer is, in essence, a small fan located inside of the exhaust flue at the far end of a furnace’s heat exchanger. Electrical wires connect this fan to the furnace, such that it will turn on between 30 and 60 seconds before ignition commences.

Why am I not getting power to my inducer motor?

If the draft inducer does not start then you probably either have a thermostat , thermostat wiring problem, electrical problem, control board problem or a bad draft inducer. … Tape the blower door safety switch shut (if equipped) and set your thermostat so it is calling for heat.

How much does a furnace cost for a 1500 square foot house?

For example, a 700- to 1,500-square-foot home will require a BTU rating between 40,000 and 60,000, which will cost between $2,000 and $3,000. A furnace for a home ranging in size from 2,000 and 5,000 square feet will need between 125,000 and 150,000 BTUs and will cost in the neighborhood of $3,300 to $6,500.

What is the cost of replacing a furnace?

How Much Does a Furnace Cost? A new furnace costs $1,500 to $6,500, depending on the model you choose. The average cost of installing a mid-efficiency furnace is $1,500 to $2,500. Mid-efficiency furnaces have an annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating of 80% to 89%.

How long does it take to replace a furnace blower motor?

An HVAC technician runs $75 to $125 per hour. It typically takes 1.5 to 2.5 hours to do the job, including inspection, diagnosis, removal, installation and final testing.

What does a inducer control board do?

As its name suggests, the control board is the central hub for circulating power throughout your furnace. This flat panel located inside your furnace takes the electricity coming from outside your furnace and sends it to the inducer motor, ignitor, gas valve, and other furnace components.

Will a cracked heat exchanger symptoms?

If you have a crack in the heat exchanger, you are likely to hear a rattling noise as your thermostat turns on the heat. Because the heat exchanger is made out of metal, as it is heated cracks will expand/contract, and can cause rattling, popping, and/or banging noises. Presence of Carbon Monoxide.

What is the purpose of the inducer motor and what switch closes after it starts?

When the inducer motor is running it creates small vacuum inside the furnace combustion chamber which makes sure all toxic gases are vented. For safety, a pressure switch is used to tell if the inducer motor has turned on. It does this by sensing the vacuum that the inducer motor creates and closes a switch.

How long does the inducer motor run?

Simply put, an inducer fan should start up when your thermostat calls for heat. It will do this anywhere from 30 seconds to one minute. What is this? It then stays running for as long as your system is heating the house and shuts off when your system cycles off.

Why does my furnace buzz?

Your furnace has a transformer box. If it is dying or not secured properly, it can buzz. … If the blower motor has blown, it will often buzz or hum when the power to the furnace is turned on.

What is induced draft furnace?

Induced-draft. An induced-draft burner uses a blower to pull air into the burner, and through the combustion chamber and heat exchanger. The fan then pushes the flue gases out through the vent. This creates negative pressure in the furnace, and may create positive or negative pressure in the venting systems.

Why is my furnace exhaust fan so loud?

Damaged Motor Bearings The inducer fan motor includes bearings that can go bad and cause a very loud, constant noise. … When you don’t oil them, the bearings can go bad to the point that adding more oil won’t help. They need to be replaced. Sealed bearings don’t have to be oiled, but they can still go bad.

What does pressure switch open with inducer on mean?

The pressure switch monitors the draft inducer to make sure it’s properly getting rid of those gases. … If there is an issue with your draft inducer motor, your pressure switch will open (or “turn off”), shutting down your furnace down by preventing it from igniting.