[crabjoe]

Furnace: P3URC14N09501 (Propane)

Ok.. This is like the 1st week my gas furnace has kicked on since I went to a dual fuel setup and it sounds terrible. When the furnace is running, it's making this vibrating wobbling noise like a motor is running. I thought it was the blower fan, so I ran the fan by itself and it's quiet. The only thing I can think of now is that it might be the draft inducer motor.

A few months back, before I went to dual fuel, when I started my furnace it wouldn't start because there was a dead bird caught up in the fan of the motor. I removed the bird and it ran fine. Now that the furnace is being used because outside temps are just to cold for my heat pump, the furnace is making this wobbly motor vibrating noise.

It's weird because when I stand next to the furnace, it seems a bit louder than what I remember, but it's not this crazy noise I'm hearing upstairs. I only hear it upstairs (1st and 2nd floor .. Furnace is in basement) on the opposite side of the house from the furnace.

Could that dead bird have somehow jacked up my draft inducer and now the problem has started with this noise, or could it be something else?

 

[user_12345a]

It's likely the the inducer has been thrown out of balance - fan warped or something from pulling out a dead bird.

 

[crabjoe]

Could the inducer motor being thrown off balance really cause that might noisy vibration on the opposite side of the house? It just seems strange that might be it.

I'm not sure if I like the idea of it being the inducer or something else. Online the motor is around $300.. I guess I'll be calling my local supply house tomorrow to see what they charge.. I hate the idea of spending that much to find out later it wasn't the problem. I wonder if I might not be better off by replacing the complete furnace... It might be 4 to 5 times more, but at least I'll get a 10 year warranty.

BTW, when I installed a new evap coil with the new heat pump, I removed a canvas collar, so now it's a ridged connection to the main trunk. This was done right after the bird find... and until now, the furnace hasn't been running because the heat pump has been used. I wonder if I install a new canvas collar, if that might solve the problem.... Any thoughts on this?

 

[user_12345a]

if the inducer assembly is making an awful noise, something is wrong with the inducer assembly.

Changing the entire 90% furnace for a bad inducer is total crazyness, totally wasteful. If you don't want to spend any money on repairs, you'll be getting a new furnace every 10 years vs 20-25.

 

[raylo32]

Yes, no matter what is causing the noise it will be transmitted way more strongly through a rigid plenum connection. Why did you take out the flexible connector? It was there for a reason....

BTW, when I installed a new evap coil with the new heat pump, I removed a canvas collar, so now it's a ridged connection to the main trunk. This was done right after the bird find... and until now, the furnace hasn't been running because the heat pump has been used. I wonder if I install a new canvas collar, if that might solve the problem.... Any thoughts on this?

 

[supers05]

Turn the gas valve off just before the furnace. Turn on the furnace and let it cycle a bit. (it should lock out, so you'll have to power cycle after turning the gas back on) If you hear the rumbling as it tries to cycle on, it's the inducer, as we've now discounted the indoor fan and any firing issues. (the indoor fan shouldn't run until after the furnace has at least tried to fire. Some won't come out until a bit after it has fired)

Cheers!

 

[crabjoe]

Yes, no matter what is causing the noise it will be transmitted way more strongly through a rigid plenum connection. Why did you take out the flexible connector? It was there for a reason....

I took it out when I installed a new cased coil for the heat pump. The new case was about 2 inches taller, so it was removed.

Turn the gas valve off just before the furnace. Turn on the furnace and let it cycle a bit. (it should lock out, so you'll have to power cycle after turning the gas back on) If you hear the rumbling as it tries to cycle on, it's the inducer, as we've now discounted the indoor fan and any firing issues. (the indoor fan shouldn't run until after the furnace has at least tried to fire. Some won't come out until a bit after it has fired)

Cheers!

Thanks!

 

[yuri]

Probably the bird damaged it. The wheels on some of the Car*rier mids are very flimsy and soft and it does not take much to bend them.