Carrier Draft Inducer Problem?

ChiTown

Need some advice from you fine folks. I have a Carrier 58STA110-16 furnace and over the last month I have been getting noise from my draft inducer. It seems louder when the furnace initially kicks on because it is the only thing running. Best way to describe it, is it sounds like the transformer of the inducer is getting intermintent electrical surges. Simliar sound your doorbell transformer makes if you hold down the doorbell button. It gets mutted when the burners and blower kick-on, but I can still faintly hear it with the furnace cover off. I have spun by hand when the furnace is off to see if there is hesitation to spin (thinking it could be bearings), but it still spins smoothly and spins on its own when it is off, freely. I don't have any experience in diagnosticing if it is going bad or if there is a simple fix.

Please Help!

yuri

I wouldn't worry about it. The plastic cooling fan on it sometimes comes loose. Held on by a spring clip. I have removed it(fan) put RTV silicone on the shaft, slide fan back on with the clip and let it cure for a couple of hours. Usually makes it quieter. The flame sensor on that unit should be cleaned once a year. Polish it with fine emory paper. Looks like this one.

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ChiTown

So you think that the outer fan is what may be loose? I checked and it seems like it is secure and the noise is coming from the transformer itself. I may be losing my mind, but to these ever go bad or get electrical surges? What and how does a draft inducer go bad and how can you tell?

yuri

They usually get extremely noisy or seize up. Best to get a Carrier tech to check it if you are very worried.

ChiTown

biggles

shut the gas valve off..... if you can remove the duct just into the ID and cycle it see if you get the noise.could be just the air load on the squirrel cage then when it heats up it diminishes