![]() ![]() See the image below.Īt this point, the motor wiring is attached, and we are ready to go to install it. The wiring harnesses are pretty straightforward to connect, as they only fit in a certain way. I am replacing a 115v motor, so I used the white plug, as indicated in writing on the side of the motor. Use the yellow plug for 230v and the white for 115v. For a detailed description of how to assemble the wiring harness to the motor, follow the calm voice of the presenter in this video. The motor is packaged along with a wiring harness, several jumper wires, voltage selector plugs, and an instruction manual. ![]() Replacing a Blower Motor – Step by StepĪlright, let’s get started! The first step is to unbox your new blower motor. I estimate that hiring someone to perform this repair will cost about $1000-$1500, depending on where you live. ![]() This repair will take about 2-3 hrs and cost about $200 to $300 if you do it yourself. In large part due to the fact that the motor ramps up more slowly rather than just abruptly turning on and stressing the motor and the entire HVAC system. The average useful life of an ECM is more than twice that of a PSC motor ( ref). The price of a replacement motor is fairly comparable if you compare the OEM replacement PSC to the ECM motor, especially when you consider that with the PSC motor you should also replace the large capacitor. If you’re not sure which motor to get to replace yours, you can use this online selector tool. ![]() It is also significantly quieter to operate. The motor I am installing in this guide is the EC Max motor which is an ECM made by Packard (I’ve had good luck with Packard when I replaced my furnace’s flow inducer motor.) It is 80% efficient as compared to the 55-65% efficiency of the PSC motor that was in my system originally. They have the added advantage of more control in operation.ĭue to the increased efficiency of these motors, the US government has mandated the installation of ECMs in all gas and oil burning furnaces (as of July 2019) to reduce energy consumption. Because they require power to generate the induction field, they are less efficient than Electronically Commutated Motors (ECMs).ĮCMs use a brushless DC permanent magnet and so require less energy to run, and can decrease energy usage by as much as 75% ( ref – nih.gov). These are induction-type motors and both windings are energized during operation. Many older home furnace and A/C units use traditional Permanent Split Capacitor (PSC) motors to power the fan. It is also more likely to fail in a shorter amount of time. The fan is balanced for smooth operation, if damage has occurred so that it is no longer balanced, it can become noisy and reduce system efficiency. If the fan has been damaged in any way, you may need to replace it. Check to make sure nothing is blocking free motion of the fan. If something has blocked the fan, this can also cause the motor to short out. You can tell that through visual inspection. If the capacitor is bad, it will often bulge or leak. Often there will be a buzzing sound indicating that the motor is unable to start and has overheated.Ī couple of things you should check are the capacitor and the fan itself. Eventually the system will just stop blowing air altogether. One of the most common indicators that you need to replace your furnace and AC blower motor is that it will become very noisy. How to Know When Your Furnace/AC Motor Needs to be Replaced In addition, I received the Packard EC Max motor shown in this guide at no-cost in exchange for my unbiased evaluation. Note: If you purchase something through one of our affiliate links I may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. The following post consists of a detailed picture guide for replacing a worn-out or failing blower motor in your home furnace and/or air-conditioning system. ![]()
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