Topic: Furnace parts are expensive

[eigenvector]

About February I noticed that the draft inducer bearings started to go out on my furnace. Sounded like it was mixing cement rather than blowing air.  Since I'm so close to the end of the winter season I ignored it. 
Steadily getting worse - used to be once in a long while, now it's every 4th or 5th time the furnace kicks in.  I know it's the draft inducer because once the furnace stops heating air and only pushes it - the system sounds normally.

Easy to fix on my furnace - even a YouTube showing my exact model and it looks really simple (we've all heard that before   )

Only real hitch here is the price - that draft inducer is 400 bucks (OEM).
Since I have a good 6 months to play around with it, I'm curious if I can simply repair the unit or find an equivalent unit that's either 1) Quieter or 2) cheaper - but not a cheap Chinese knockoff.

The furnace is about 5 years old at most - don't recall exactly, Bryant 350AAV

[Steve F]

ok, I'm not a furnace tech, so WHAT is a "draft inducer"?  Inquiring minds want to know. 

[eigenvector]

So far as I understand it, the draft inducer is the fan that sucks in the air for combustion in a gas furnace.  Totally separate from the air that circulates throughout the house.

At least that's my understanding.

[MikeZ]

About February I noticed that the draft inducer bearings started to go out on my furnace. Sounded like it was mixing cement rather than blowing air.  Since I'm so close to the end of the winter season I ignored it. 
Steadily getting worse - used to be once in a long while, now it's every 4th or 5th time the furnace kicks in.  I know it's the draft inducer because once the furnace stops heating air and only pushes it - the system sounds normally.

Easy to fix on my furnace - even a YouTube showing my exact model and it looks really simple (we've all heard that before   )

Only real hitch here is the price - that draft inducer is 400 bucks (OEM).
Since I have a good 6 months to play around with it, I'm curious if I can simply repair the unit or find an equivalent unit that's either 1) Quieter or 2) cheaper - but not a cheap Chinese knockoff.

The furnace is about 5 years old at most - don't recall exactly, Bryant 350AAV

Check with your local Carrier/Bryant dealer and give them your model and serial #.  Furnaces can come with a 10 year warranty depending on the model.  Not many options out there other then OEM.  I run a commercial heating and A/C company in Baltimore MD.  If you have any questions feel free to PM me.  I can always get in touch w/ my local dealer and see what's available.
Good Luck
Mike

[Duke McDukiedook]

Is that a fancy name for the blower motor or am I wrong?

[Duke McDukiedook]

You should be able to replace the physical motor itself unless the accompanying circuit board is fried also. Unless it is one of those disposable integrated-motor-fan assemblies and then you are properly effed.

[BomberMann650]

Get the all balls tapered bearing kit for it 

[Swoop]

Get the numbers off the motor....may be Rotom or another. Call up local hvac supplier or go online to source it. Unless it is variable dc drive it should ge less than $100.
It is more difficult because you have to split the housing and remove the impeller.

[754]

Get the all balls tapered bearing kit for it 

do you use the thick shim, on the fan end , or the thick one..

[eigenvector]

I'll probably go with a steering damper and extra zinc oil to lube the new unit.   

I'll pull the unit and take a look at it.  Thanks for your comments Mike, you're probably right that it just has to be replaced by OEM and there's nothing for it.  The engineer in me just isn't happy with that kind of an answer - but then again freezing my privates off in January because of some hare-brained idea isn't optimal either.

In any case I have time.

The forecast has been for snow the past few weeks, so I haven't had a chance to turn the furnace off - strange for March to say the least, I live in Seattle not Minneapolis!

[BomberMann650]

Saving Eigens' Privates - coming soon to a theater near you.

[eigenvector]

No need, my cat ripped them off a while ago - punishment for not paying proper respect.

[Don R]

Is that a fancy name for the blower motor or am I wrong?

 Yes, but combustion air only not the air that is circulated. This blows out of the chimney or related exit pipe. 

[Steve F]

Reminds me of my wife's sister's problem with her furnace.  Couldn't get the furnace to light (start) so she calls the service guy.  He's looking at all the circuit boards and relays and wiring and testing the motor and couldn't get it to stay on (the "draft inducer"  that is).
Further inspection revealed that the neighbor kid stuffed an apple into the outside vent pipe, and the back pressure prevented the flow switch from working and thus the furnace wouldn't light up.
Whoda thunk?

[strynboen]

or a bird have build a ness in the top..