A couple of months ago, the HVAC unit in my home started malfunctioning. The temperature inside my home soared to over eighty degrees Fahrenheit, even though my air conditioning system ran nonstop. After inspecting my air conditioning unit, my knowledgeable HVAC contractor recommended I purchase a new system. He discussed the pros and cons of installing different sizes of HVAC units with me. After considering my HVAC contractor’s advice, I decided to purchase a three and a half ton HVAC unit. Shortly after my HVAC contractor installed my new air conditioning unit, my house started feeling more comfortable. On this blog, I hope you will discover how an HVAC contractor can help you select the right air conditioning unit for your home. Enjoy!
A large number of furnaces being manufactured today contain a component called the draft inducer. The purpose of the draft inducer is to accelerate the movement of flue gases out of your home, thus reducing the risk of poisoning should those gases escape into the air of your home. In addition, a draft inducer acts to boost furnace efficiency by promoting airflow within the heat exchanger.
While a draft inducer brings with it many undeniably positive benefits, it is also susceptible to certain problems all its own. Therefore, it is wise to educate yourself about the signs that your draft inducer may be experiencing problems. If you would like to improve your basic furnace troubleshooting skills, read on. This article will outline two frequently encountered draft-inducer issues.
Loud Or Unusual Noises
If your furnace has suddenly begun to make a lot more noise than it usually does, there is a good chance that the draft inducer may be the source of the problem. There are several potential things going on here. First of all, the draft inducer may have become physically blocked in some manner. This is often the result of birds or small mammals that have built nests inside of the flue pipe. Because such animal homes can only be constructed when the furnace is not being actively used, this problem is most commonly encountered when firing up the furnace for the first time in the fall.
If your draft inducer has begun to emit strange noises smack dab in the middle of the heating season, it's likely that something else is going on. Oftentimes the problem is a blower wheel that has become damaged. If this is the case, a professional HVAC technician will need to install a new blower wheel.
No Draft Inducer Movement
It is fairly easy to tell when the draft inducer is working properly. All you have to do is go down to the basement, locate the section of the vent pipe where the inducer is installed, and listen as the furnace starts up. You should be able to detect the sound of whirring as the fan inside of the vent pipe starts to spin.
Sometimes, however, the inducer will fail to move as expected. In some cases, this is the result of bad wiring or other problems that are keeping the inducer from receiving the necessary signal to start up. But if you can feel that the draft inducer's motor is giving off heat, the more likely explanation is that the motor bearings have gone bad. Unfortunately, this problem generally requires that a new draft inducer be installed. Contact an HVAC contractor as soon as possible to make a more detailed diagnosis.
Share