Expensive Furnace Repairs, And Their Triggers
Posted on: 12 December 2019
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A furnace malfunction can cost you anything from a few dollars to thousands of dollars depending on the affected part. Below are some of the most expensive furnace repairs, and why you might need them.
Heat Exchanger
The heat exchanger is the part of the furnace that heats the air that circulates to warm the house. The heat exchanger comprises of metal tubes or coils that the furnace burners heat up. The blower then circulates cold air through the heat exchanger, the air heats up and is then circulated throughout the house.
Heat exchanger replacement ranges from $500 to $1,200, on average. Overheating is the most common cause of heat exchanger damage. Anything that causes the furnace to overwork, such as air filter clogging or running an oversized furnace, can lead to heat exchanger overheating.
Blower Motor
Once the heater exchanger has heated the air, something needs to circulate the heated air so that it can warm up all the rooms. The blower motor runs the blower fan that blows the air through the registers into the different parts of the house.
The average cost of replacing the blower motor is $450. Overheating, electrical problems, and dirt accumulation are some of the things that can lead to blower motor failure. The extent of the problem determines whether you need a replacement blower motor or a repair can suffice.
For example, the blower motor will probably turn itself off the first time it overheats. You may be able to recover the blower motor if you fix the cause of the overheating, say, dirt accumulation. Continued overheating, however, can lead to total blower motor failure that you can only solve by replacing it.
Draft Inducer
The draft inducer is one of the first parts of the furnaces that begin operation when you switch on the furnace. The draft inducer has a fan that drives out any combustion gases that might be lingering in the heat exchanger. These gases might cause a tiny explosion and interfere with combustion efficiency if not removed. The draft inducer also provides fresh air (or specifically oxygen) that the furnace uses in its combustion process.
Depending on your furnace, the draft inducer would cause anywhere from $150 to $450 to replace. The draft inducer runs on an electrical motor, and the motor usually has to be replaced (repair is complex) in case it fails. Overheating (mostly due to dirt and overwork), as well as electrical malfunctions, are common causes of draft inducer failure.
For more information about heating repair, contact a company like Always Ready Repair.