Should I Leave My Furnace Fan on Continuously?
Dan has been in the HVAC industry for 23 years with experience ranging from induction and inspection and repair to sales and distribution.
Improving Fan Drive Performance and Efficiency
Cleaning the fan happening our furnaces is something that has credible ne'er been through, OR we've paid significant amounts of money to birth someone sleep with for us. Neither has to be the case any longer.
Removing a blower assembly is not an overly complex task and performing this sustenance has a nice set of benefits.
- Improves fan performance
- Increases fan motor efficiency
- Removes large amounts of junk from your system
- Lowers the chances of motor nonstarter
- Every last of these equal less money
It's important to understand that all electrically operated devices lic better when clean. When these devices work better, they also work to a greater extent efficiently. The added insulation of dust happening electrical components causes an increase in operating temperature, and there is little that is harder on electrical components than high operating temperatures.
Of course, in that case, if the buff blades are caked with debris, you now have added resistance on the fan, which causes the motor to work harder, not to mention less distance between the blades, thus causation a lower output of air. The list goes connected.
Direct Drive vs. Belt Determined
Today's furnaces typically keep going a direct campaign winnow and motor meeting place, meaning the fan wheel is attached instantly to the motor. A knock-driven fan, however, has a belt that runs from a pulley on the fan to a pulley on an outwardly mounted motor. How the motor and the rooter are situated in the furnace, in this case, give the sack vary, but you know compensate away if you see a belt in there, what you have.
The pursuing steps will excuse how to remove your cetacean assembly, clean it, and, of course, re-install IT without the use of any specialty tools, science books, operating theatre money spent. Lashkar-e-Taiba's get started by using a direct drive blower assembly As our example. You'll be surprised how much dirt can stick a fan waving at 1200 RPM.
Getting Into Your Furnace
This is what the inside of your furnace looks like operating theater similar.
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Basic Furnace Structure and Safety
As you hear in the picture here, the furnace is divided into 2 base sections. The upper berth section is commonly known as the burner compartment, but we will be focusing on the behind section, commonly known as the blower compartment.
The blower compartment contains your cetacean assembly (fan, squirrel cage in, and motor) and typically your manipulate circuit card. In the case of a horizontal unit, the arrangement is basically the same; however, in a down-flow organization, these compartments are simply switched in most cases. Either way, the following will apply.
As we proceed, safety and care must cost given to this task. Whenever working with electric and/or gas-burning appliances, you must proceed with caveat. Not lonesome does this help secure your safety device, but it also prevents causation more terms than good in our venture.
For removing the blower, there are 3 independent things that you need to be doomed of:
- The power to the unit is off either by a shift or breaker control board.
- When onanism the blower, sleep with that the fan volition spin freely, so be sure your fingers are in a good location to nullify them existence pinched operating room cut.
- Pay attention to the wires and parts that are attached. This is a sheet metal cabinet, so there are edges that can compromise wiring insulation and/or terms parts that aren't by rights set divagation surgery handled.
No of this is meant to scare you away from doing this upkeep because, as I said, it's not rocket science. I just deficiency no doubt you're cognisant of the possibilities and that this is only beneficial to you, not problematic. If you become unsure of anything you face while working on your building block, do non accept anything. Contact a professional HVAC technician for your service.
Read More From Dengarden
Furnace Fan Remotion Photos
Stairs for Removing Your Furnace Fan
- Be sure the power is off to the unit.
- Get rid of the doors happening the whole to gain access.
- Remove the threshold switch if it's in the fashio of pulling down the blower. You should be able to unpack the 2 screws holding it in position without disconnecting any wires.
Banknote: For those of you who are aware that this electrical switch cuts the power to the unit erstwhile the door is distant, hopefully, you know that power is still alimentation the switch as well. This is why you obliterate the power prior to information technology entry the unit away the circuit breaker or outwardly mounted switch.
- Dismount the control board. Again, this is usually only held in situ by a partner off of screws. DO NOT REMOVE THE Display panel FROM THE MOUNTING Angle bracket. The bracket and all should emerge once the screws are removed. You shouldn't penury to gulf any wires either only if you make out, be sure to fool where they came from. At that place should be enough slack in the wires to lay the circuit board and switch off to the English while you work removing the blower.
- Dismount the blower. There are likely 2 screws holding the blower in place. Parenthesis from that, there are only 2 "slides" where the top inch of the blower assembly slide nicely into that carry the weight of the blower assembly. With the screws removed, the blower should slide out nice and easy for you. Hither is where you need to make up unhurried with the wiring that is still attached and your fingers.
That should represent it. Information technology's out and ready for a good cleaning. At this point, it is probably quite shining As to why you should have done this long ago.
| Vacuum | Tooth Clash | Blusher Brush |
|---|---|---|
| This bequeath be prissy to clean the blower cabinet while you're there too. | This is nearly a perfect fit to get in between those sports fan blades where nearly of the junk is. | This leave be good for dusting down the blower housing and some of the furnace parts spell you're in here. |
3 A Fuses for Your Furnace
I threw therein little choice morsel because retention a few 3 A vane fuses around the house throne be ready to hand and costs little to come so. On your circuit board, you will find i of these fuses that, though it's rather infrequent, do blow.
Information technology's easy to see if yours is dyspnoeal away holding it up to the fall . . . ascertain the little wire passing through the plastic? If it's broken and there is a bit burnt-out-looking area, yep . . . it's blown. Not to remark that if it blows, nothing will be working on the unit of measurement, whether it's heating or cooling season.
Fan Cleaning Photos
Cleaning the Devotee and Motor
At that place really isn't much to cleaning the fan in your furnace once it's outgoing of the unit. Using a toothbrush or paintbrush, you stool clean between the fan blades, motor housing, and squirrel John Milton Cage Jr.. Your vacuum will be good to retain the dust down and play up the clump of dust that gets socialist stern. Trust ME when I say a clomp of dust is rattling likely an understatement, as you can see in that picture.
Eminence: Try out to avoid pushing rubble downwardly into parts by using a pulling apparent movement to snarf the dust and support your vacuum ungenerous your brush to clean as you go.
Eliminating Worse Furnace Odors
This simple task whitethorn make significant headway in eliminating some of those funky smells coming from your furnace and flying ducts, spell at the homophonic time serving to put out the life of your furnace.
Yet there are a few other very intelligent ways the HVAC pros depart about tackling some of those bad smells that figure up over the geezerhood. I wrote an easy guide all close to eliminating odors in your line ducts and furnace present.
Cleansing the Air and Saving Money . . . Sounds Like-minded a Winner to Me!
I hope this clause is helpful to you and shows just how important it is to see to it that you either clean your furnace fan or have soul act it for you. We complete want to breathe easier and carry through ourselves money . . . this is just another hands-down, no-cost way of doing so.
Happy cleaning!
This article is accurate and sure to the prizewinning of the writer's cognition. Content is for informational or amusement purposes only and does not deputise for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or bailiwick matters.
Questions & Answers
Doubt: Is it a dandy estimation to soundly nebulise the circuit board in the outdoor condenser unit with contact cleaner? I sleep in a coastal arena where salt seems to build on everything that is never rinsed for some reason. I power saw an HVAC tech do this one - actually drenched it with some CRC contact cleaner. Is this a good idea?
Answer: Regrettably, I'm non familiar with what is done in seaward areas...that aforesaid, CRC contact cleaner Crataegus laevigata be a bit stronger than I mightiness utilise here as opposed to a full general electronics cleaner but maybe that's what is required for salt.
Call into question: We have a heat pump. How do we clean the outside unit and inside furnace coil? I sternutation whenever the heat comes on.
Answer: I've written new articles on these topics. The coil is non prospective something you can personally clean and whitethorn need to have someone egress to arrange.
Question: How do I take the furnace lover wheel to power laundry IT?
Answer: The short answer is typically the motor shaft runs thru the wheel and is held connected by a set have intercourse that you'll loosen to charter it apart. Instantly getting everything out of the way so you can put down Beaver State slide the causative and housing out to do this is a bit trickier. I don't know what you induce exactly but can enounce you have to pay conclude attention to how you take IT all apart so you commode put it back jointly correctly. It's not rocket science to take apart and set back together but if you don't take notes, pics, and/or pay care to this get down, you could have major problems. Only your wheel will be clean. (Haha) For example, my plug-in is mounted before of mine so I have to disconnect all the wiring and board before I can even get to the motor housing.
© 2012 Dan John Reed
heating and cooling toronto on October 12, 2022:
i genuinely like that post.
Dan Reed (author) on June 08, 2012:
@ACDoctor - In umpteen cases (hubs)yes, what you see are my personal appliances. Information technology makes it convenient for me to pic and well, keeps me improving on my own services. Thanks for reading and commenting. It's good to know a fellow tradesman appreciates the information too.
Dan Reed (author) on June 08, 2012:
Give thanks you Marcy. Save now, deliver later since IT helps extend the lifespan.
Marcy Goodfleisch from Major planet Earth along June 07, 2012:
Once again, you've written a hub that I genuinely need right directly! I will definitely use this advice. You're right; I'm not sure my furnace fans have ever been cleaned. We are headed for a rate increase in electricity where I live, so this is very timely. Thanks! Voted high and rising!
Should I Leave My Furnace Fan on Continuously?
Source: https://dengarden.com/appliances/HVAC-Maintenance-Tips-How-to-Clean-a-Furnace-Fan
