Why Won’t My Blower Turn On?

The thing about an HVAC system is, there are so many different components. You have the outdoor fan motor, the condenser, the evaporator, the compressor, the blower, and tons more. Your system could be in top running condition, but if one of the components fails to function as it should, your entire system will likely malfunction. That being said, the blower is one of the most notable parts of the system and probably one of the more important. This is because it is solely responsible for blowing air into the home via the ductwork, It will distribute both the warm and cool air to the areas of the home or building that are called for. Sometimes the blower can be referred to as the furnace or air handler because this is where the component is located. Any blower issue can be crippling to the system, as it will prevent the unit from circulating air into the home. This is why it is critical to know and understand some of the potential issues that can occur within the blower.

The Motor Burned Out

If you know anything about your HVAC system, you likely know that your air handler or furnace has to push a large amount of air over a long distance. As you can imagine, this puts the unit under a lot of strain and pressure. There is nothing wrong with this, as this was what it was specifically designed for, but it still requires a lot. The hardest part for a motor is when it starts. Just imagine how many times your motor starts in a single day. That being said, there are ways to compensate for all this strain and stress. This is by lubricating the bearings, which reduces friction. These bearings are capable of going for years and years but aren’t invulnerable. In addition to this, there will come a time when it wears out and needs to be replaced. If they are not replaced, the friction will increase until the heat grows so great that it’ll cause the motor to overheat and burn out. When this happens, you’ll likely hear a grinding or metal-on-metal noise. You’ll want to have a professional come by and take a look when this happens because there will be no option but to change the motor.

Electrical Shortages

About ninety percent of HVAC problems are electrical. This is why certified and trained techs are needed for troubleshooting more of the time. Combine this with the refrigeration side of the system and it just makes things all that more complicated for the do-it-yourselfer. That being said, all power that powers the system is directly coming from the home’s power grid. The unit, just like every other electric device in the home, is susceptible to shorts due to power outages. Manufacturers do sell devices that are supposed to absorb potential electrical shorts and shocks, but they are usually just a one-time deal. When the unit shorts out, it’ll need to be replaced. Units usually come with fuses and breakers that’ll pop and break before causing major damage so it is entirely likely that you’ll get lucky and just need to flip the breaker or change a fuse because of a power outage. Either way, you’ll like need someone with electrical troubleshooting experience to track down the problem.