Can I Put a Bigger Blower Motor in My Furnace?
A furnace houses several intricate components working to make your home feel cozy when temperatures cool. One of the most essential components is the blower motor. It’s the powerhouse pushing and directing heated air through your duct network.
Many homeowners appreciate the benefits that more appliance strength offers. Their desire to make their furnaces work faster and more efficiently makes them wonder, “Can I put a bigger blower motor in my furnace?” At JC Heating & Cooling, our technicians provide reliable furnace repair in Western Springs, IL. We solved the mystery of blower sizes below.
What Do Blower Motors Do?
The blower consists of two integral parts: the blower motor and the fan. The motor supplies power to the fan. Then, the fan pushes warm air out, directing it into your ductwork. The heated air follows the ductwork to the supply vents in each room of your home.
Your furnace likely has one of two blower variations: single-speed and variable-speed. A single-speed blower operates at one unchanging speed. Their variable-speed counterparts adapt their speed to the furnace settings and household needs.
Do I Need To Replace My Blower Motor?
Any practical mechanic specializing in HVAC technology knows that most blower motors have the same lifespan as the entire HVAC system. Therefore, your blower motor should last between 10 and 20 years before it causes issues. Replacing the furnace usually offers a more economical solution than switching the old blower for a new one.
However, extenuating circumstances sometimes develop. Your blower may stop working long before your furnace lifespan ends if it overheats or gets exposed to excessive moisture.
Overheating
Do you live in a dusty home? Your blower has a higher likelihood of overheating. The motor, fan, and smaller components may develop a film of debris. This grime forces them to work much harder than they should, causing the small parts to burn out.
Too Much Moisture
If your home has too much humidity, the atmosphere may contribute to an untimely blower replacement. Atmospheric humidity could settle on electrical networks. Those connections will short out, sending too much power to the motor. Excess electricity destroys the blower.
Signs of Blower Motor Failure
You can tell whether blower failure is inevitable by checking for the following indicators:
- Weak or no airflow: When grime clogs your blower’s inner workings, it prevents the fan from spinning as quickly as needed. Your supply vents produce inadequate airflow as a result. Sometimes, you may turn your furnace on only to find no air flowing through the vents. This indicates a total blower failure.
- Burning smells: When your furnace operates, it shouldn’t produce an unpleasant, smoky smell. Burning components often produce this concerning smell, which indicates overheating parts.
- Startling noises: Your furnace should only emit a soft, constant hum as it operates. If you hear alarming sounds like screeching, banging, squealing, or rattling, you should ask a technician about blower motor replacement.
- Expensive utility bills: As your blower continues failing, its components will work harder to produce air at the correct temperature. Therefore, it uses more gas and electricity. While energy bills frequently spike in the winter, they shouldn’t exceed your expectations.
If you notice any of the above-listed signs, consider blower motor replacement.
How Do I Choose a New Blower Motor?
Here’s a pro tech tip: do not purchase and replace your blower motor without a technician’s assistance. Choosing and installing the wrong blower components will devastate your wallet and remaining system components. Follow your HVAC company’s lead instead.
Can I Put a Bigger Blower Motor in My Furnace?
You might ask, “Can I put a bigger blower motor in the furnace? Will my system have more power if I do?”
No, you should not put a bigger blower motor in your furnace. The manufacturer designed the system to house and power specific components. Mixing and matching these components could have disastrous consequences.
Instead, ask your technician about an upgraded motor. Modernized components often have advanced features and give you more control over how your furnace operates. However, you may need other updated components to match the new motor. These expenses will increase your repair bill.
Alternatively, your technician might acquire a used blower motor that matches your system specs. This approach will cost less. Your used component should last until you replace your whole furnace system.
What Happens If I Install the Wrong Size?
If you embark upon blower replacement alone, you might choose the wrong-sized component. When a person connects a mismatched component to an HVAC system, they risk the following consequences:
- Uncomfortable air temperatures: When an HVAC system contains parts that are too large, it can overheat a building. Conversely, undersized parts result in underheated indoor areas. You’ll struggle to find the sweet spot of perfect comfort.
- Shortened system lifespan: Furnaces can last up to 20 years, possibly longer, with adequate maintenance and care. Inappropriate part replacements will significantly shorten its lifespan rather than lengthen it. You’ll pay for a component that ultimately drains your wallet.
- Increased repair needs: Not only will you replace your furnace much sooner, but you’ll also shell out more money to repair the subsequent component failures after installing an oversized blower motor.
- Inappropriate cycles: Most furnaces operate for about 10 to 15 minutes per cycle. A cycle lasting longer or shorter than this period indicates severe component problems and inefficient energy usage. An oversized blower motor will cause the furnace to short cycle since the motor has too much power. An undersized motor forces the system to cycle for too long because the motor works harder to reach the temperature setting.
Ask JC Heating & Cooling’s Crew About Blower Motor Replacement
“Can I put a bigger blower motor in my furnace?” you asked.
Our technicians highly recommend that you don’t. Let the experts at JC Heating & Cooling handle the problem instead. We’ll also solve other mysteries, like why your furnace keeps tripping or why filters are so important. Call 708-367-3199 to schedule a service.