medved11 71 Posted January 7, 2018 The blower motor on my furnace starting squealing out of nowhere early this morning and kept doing it every time the heat kicked in. I turned the heat way down for a few hours and when it finally kicked in again, I heard nothing but a buzzing sound and started to smell electrical burning. I called PSEG to come take a look but I think that my blower is now toast. Meanwhile, I'm scrounging up all of the space heaters that I can find. I'm kicking myself now for not replacing the unit last summer when I was thinking about how old it was (25+ years). This is literally a "cold hard" lesson learned about putting things off. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
W2MC 1,699 Posted January 7, 2018 Might just be a belt....many of the fans; particularly the old furnaces, are belt driven. Did it smell electricy or rubbery? 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeke 5,504 Posted January 7, 2018 9 minutes ago, W2MC said: Might just be a belt....many of the fans; particularly the old furnaces, are belt driven. Did it smell electricy or rubbery? This Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeke 5,504 Posted January 7, 2018 24 minutes ago, medved11 said: The blower motor on my furnace starting squealing out of nowhere early this morning and kept doing it every time the heat kicked in. I turned the heat way down for a few hours and when it finally kicked in again, I heard nothing but a buzzing sound and started to smell electrical burning. I called PSEG to come take a look but I think that my blower is now toast. Meanwhile, I'm scrounging up all of the space heaters that I can find. I'm kicking myself now for not replacing the unit last summer when I was thinking about how old it was (25+ years). This is literally a "cold hard" lesson learned about putting things off. I’ve got a propane job site burner. It’s yours if you need it. Haven’t used it since 05 though. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
voyager9 3,417 Posted January 7, 2018 11 minutes ago, Zeke said: I’ve got a propane job site burner. It’s yours if you need it. Haven’t used it since 05 though. Just make sure your CO detector works 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
medved11 71 Posted January 7, 2018 19 minutes ago, W2MC said: Might just be a belt....many of the fans; particularly the old furnaces, are belt driven. Did it smell electricy or rubbery? It was definitely that electric (toaster oven) smell. The squealing sound that the blower was making earlier today sounded a lot like a slipping serpentine belt on a car. Later on, it sounded more like dry bearings - I was looking at the blower to see if there was an access panel so I could peak inside but couldn't find one. I just got an automated call from PSEG stating that the tech is running late, so this is going to be a fun night 13 minutes ago, Zeke said: I’ve got a propane job site burner. It’s yours if you need it. Haven’t used it since 05 though. Thanks - I appreciate the offer. I've got a bunch of space heaters going and they seem to be keeping the house above 60 degrees for now. I've got a few more space heaters being dropped off later to keep things going into the evening/night 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
medved11 71 Posted January 7, 2018 4 minutes ago, voyager9 said: Just make sure your CO detector works Yep - it's funny that you mentioned that because I just tested them about 30 minutes ago 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
W2MC 1,699 Posted January 7, 2018 yep....might be a belt, might be the motor seized. Changing the belt would obviously be the easier fix, but replacing the motor isn't too much more difficult Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
medved11 71 Posted January 7, 2018 Just now, W2MC said: yep....might be a belt, might be the motor seized. Changing the belt would obviously be the easier fix, but replacing the motor isn't too much more difficult I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they'll be able to fix this tonight without too much trouble but I'm definitely going to need to replace this furnace. It's the original one that the builder put in back in 1985, so it's actually older than I originally thought (33 years) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
W2MC 1,699 Posted January 7, 2018 Just now, medved11 said: I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they'll be able to fix this tonight without too much trouble but I'm definitely going to need to replace this furnace. It's the original one that the builder put in back in 1985, so it's actually older than I originally thought (33 years) The oil burner in this little house is much older than that... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
medved11 71 Posted January 7, 2018 Just now, W2MC said: The oil burner in this little house is much older than that... That sounds like my parents oil burner. It was still going strong after 40+ years up until my father decided that he wanted to switch over to gas when they finally ran lines down their road to the new developments Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeke 5,504 Posted January 7, 2018 2 minutes ago, W2MC said: The oil burner in this little house is much older than that... Oh my, how efficient? 4 minutes ago, medved11 said: I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they'll be able to fix this tonight without too much trouble but I'm definitely going to need to replace this furnace. It's the original one that the builder put in back in 1985, so it's actually older than I originally thought (33 years) Good luck! Stay warm! its warming up this week but who knows what February will bring 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
medved11 71 Posted January 7, 2018 Just now, Zeke said: Oh my, how efficient? Good luck! Stay warm! its warming up this week but who knows what February will bring Thanks - I'll post an update once the tech gets here and has a chance to see what's going on. I'm guessing that the silver lining in this situation is that I've been budgeting for a new furnace for awhile, so the repair or replacement of it isn't going to crush me Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeke 5,504 Posted January 7, 2018 1 minute ago, medved11 said: Thanks - I'll post an update once the tech gets here and has a chance to see what's going on. I'm guessing that the silver lining in this situation is that I've been budgeting for a new furnace for awhile, so the repair or replacement of it isn't going to crush me Add to your monthly bill with Pseg no? Part of that worry free thing Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
W2MC 1,699 Posted January 7, 2018 It isnt the most efficient, but it runs fine and in this little house (1000 sq ft) I dont burn a whole lotta oil anyway. I did consider changing to gas a few years ago, but the gas company seriously pissed me off, so I did not do the change-over. Now thinking of moving, so I doubt I will change it over 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
T Bill 649 Posted January 7, 2018 1 minute ago, W2MC said: It isnt the most efficient, but it runs fine and in this little house (1000 sq ft) I dont burn a whole lotta oil anyway. I did consider changing to gas a few years ago, but the gas company seriously pissed me off, so I did not do the change-over. Now thinking of moving, so I doubt I will change it over Maybe wiser to convert for higher house value and quicker sale. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
W2MC 1,699 Posted January 7, 2018 1 minute ago, T Bill said: Maybe wiser to convert for higher house value and quicker sale. Indefinite maybe. This is a farm, not a residential house. The value is in the ground, not the house. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
T Bill 649 Posted January 7, 2018 Point taken. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
medved11 71 Posted January 7, 2018 8 minutes ago, Zeke said: Add to your monthly bill with Pseg no? Part of that worry free thing Yeah - that's what I'm thinking. I think that they spread the payment out over X number of months. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handyman 5,682 Posted January 7, 2018 Yeah - that's what I'm thinking. I think that they spread the payment out over X number of months. How do they handle it if you move while payments are in progress? Can you cornhole the incoming homeowner? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeke 5,504 Posted January 7, 2018 3 minutes ago, Handyman said: How do they handle it if you move while payments are in progress? Can you cornhole the incoming homeowner? Lol. Only you would think that angle. I think it would either be a lean or closing issue Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
medved11 71 Posted January 7, 2018 How do they handle it if you move while payments are in progress? Can you cornhole the incoming homeowner?Excellent question. I’m not actually sure but I’m going to askSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
1LtCAP 4,259 Posted January 7, 2018 1 hour ago, medved11 said: It was definitely that electric (toaster oven) smell. The squealing sound that the blower was making earlier today sounded a lot like a slipping serpentine belt on a car. Later on, it sounded more like dry bearings - I was looking at the blower to see if there was an access panel so I could peak inside but couldn't find one. I just got an automated call from PSEG stating that the tech is running late, so this is going to be a fun night Thanks - I appreciate the offer. I've got a bunch of space heaters going and they seem to be keeping the house above 60 degrees for now. I've got a few more space heaters being dropped off later to keep things going into the evening/night is the fan something that's pseg's responsibility?? if so, they don't come out on sundays?? i'm only asking, 'cause last sat. night my best friends gas meter froze. he had no heat from about midnight till after 10am sunday. 'cause pseg wouldn't come out. that pisses me off. i've had people here in the little hours for the very rare problem i've ever had with the oil heater..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
medved11 71 Posted January 7, 2018 So, I just decided to turn the heat back to "on" and the furnace actually came on for a few minutes but it's acting a bit strange... The thermostat read 68 degrees, so I push the setting up to 70 The furnace kicked on, the burners ignited, and then the blower motor kicked on The blower ran for about 2 mins without squealing but started doing so after about 1.5 minutes At about 2 mins, the blower the blower stopped but the temp was still at 68 After about 30 seconds, the blower kicked in for about 10 seconds and stopped The furnace and blower just kicked in again and have been running for about another minute or so and it's starting to squeal louder I just turned it off and now i still hear buzzing coming from the blower 32 minutes ago, 1LtCAP said: is the fan something that's pseg's responsibility?? if so, they don't come out on sundays?? i'm only asking, 'cause last sat. night my best friends gas meter froze. he had no heat from about midnight till after 10am sunday. 'cause pseg wouldn't come out. that pisses me off. i've had people here in the little hours for the very rare problem i've ever had with the oil heater..... I've got the worry-free contract on the heater, so they will make the service call. they were supposed to be here between 12-4pm but I got a call about 2 hours ago saying that the techs were running behind but would be coming out today because I have no heat Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bt Doctur 188 Posted January 7, 2018 are you mechanically capable of remove the motor to oil the bearings On a side note for those with HWBB , have a new circ pump standing by with bolts and gaskets because nothing ever happens in the summer. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
medved11 71 Posted January 7, 2018 are you mechanically capable of remove the motor to oil the bearings On a side note for those with HWBB , have a new circ pump standing by with bolts and gaskets because nothing ever happens in the summer.I’m relatively mechanically inclined but I figured that I’ve got the service contract, so why not use it. PSEG just got here. The tech just dropped the blower motor out of the furnace and dragged it out to his truck to take a look at itSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
T Bill 649 Posted January 7, 2018 High temp cutout on the furnace will kick in when temp of the firebox gets to high if the blower is not working correctly. Sounds like the safeties were performing correctly when the blower motor STB. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handyman 5,682 Posted January 7, 2018 2 hours ago, Zeke said: Lol. Only you would think that angle. I think it would either be a lean or closing issue Always have to have a plan to deal with a troublesome buyer. Up till now, that has usually meant taking some of the ventilation registers off and throwing a couple frozen chicken breasts down the duct. It's also good if you can get some behind sheetrock somewhere. You can also poop in the toilet tank but we are getting way off topic here. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeke 5,504 Posted January 7, 2018 Just now, Handyman said: Always have to have a plan to deal with a troublesome buyer. Up till now, that has usually meant taking some of the ventilation registers off and throwing a couple frozen chicken breasts down the duct. It's also good if you can get some behind sheetrock somewhere. You can also poop in the toilet tank but we are getting way off topic here. You’re lonely... I understand Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handyman 5,682 Posted January 8, 2018 49 minutes ago, Zeke said: You’re lonely... I understand If I hadn't had most of my friends, I wouldn't have had most of my problems. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites