The cost to replace a furnace inducer motor varies between $245 and $1,065; the price depends on whether the furnace manufacturer’s warranty covers the parts and labor. If you want to replace the inducer motor on your own, you will pay between $120 and $640 for the inducer motor.
Unless you are an HVAC technician, we don’t necessarily encourage you to replace the inducer motor yourself but hire the experts instead. Look for a reliable HVAC contractor as he has the knowledge, skills, and equipment to manage the replacement successfully from beginning to end. A professional will examine the furnace and see if he needs to replace the furnace inducer motor. Once he decides it needs replacement, the process will continue according to the warranty.
Sometimes, the warranty covers the inducer motor and you will only cover labor spending for the removal and replacement. However, if the contract doesn’t cover the inducer motor, you will need to pay for the labor and the parts. The HVAC technician will remove the current furnace draft inducer motor and replace it with a new unit instead. After replacement, he will run the new inducer motor for proper performance and clean the area.
Page Table of Contents
Average spending
If you replace the inducer motor, you will pay around $175, whereas hiring professionals will pay about $665. The typical cost average is between $245 and $1,065.
Why is the furnace draft inducer motor essential?
The inducer motor makes the furnace perform safely and efficiently. It’s found in the combustion box and connected to the furnace vent. The engine is part of an assembly that includes the capacitor, the fan, the motor mount vent cap and clamp, the connection, and the wiring. Typically, they are purchased as a complete assembly, eliminating labor costs. It’s time-consuming and expensive to take apart the assembly only to replace the inducer motor.
The inducer motor will turn on 30-60 seconds before the gas valve fires and pushes the leftover combustion gases out of the box so that they don’t explode or ignite. The motor will continue extracting a steady flow of fresh air into the combustion box for effective burning and push the exhaust gases out of the furnace vent.
What factors impact the costs of replacing the inducer motor?
As we’ve already mentioned, several aspects will impact the final cost of replacing an inducer motor. Details come below:
Furnace warranty
When the furnace is under warranty, you will only pay the labor cost to install the replacement. It’s not surprising that the labor costs more than the part itself. You might save money by purchasing the part and installing it yourself. Needless to say, you will need to follow strict rules when replacing the inducer motor. Don’t be in shock if your furnace doesn’t have a labor warranty.
DIY or Pro Installation
Like with everything else, whether you do the replacement yourself or hire a professional will weigh a lot in how much the replacement will be in the end.
Motor capacity
The larger the furnace is, the more air it needs to consume. As a result, the inducer motor must also be prominent and more expensive than a smaller model.
Motor type
Is the inducer motor PSC or ECM? Most inducer motors are PSC motors, which are affordable. Not many motors are ECM type. The ECM motors don’t use much electricity and run quieter than PSC motors. However, they are more expensive than PSC motors.
Voltage
Voltage typically relates to capacity. 220-240 motors will be more expensive than 110-120 inducer assemblies.
Furnace access
The furnace’s location will also impact the cost of replacing the inducer motor. If it’s located in inaccessible areas (attic, crawlspace or anything similar), the price will be higher than when the furnace is effortless.
Draft motor access
Most motor assemblies are easy to reach, and you only need to remove the furnace’s cabinet face. However, some models ensure difficult access to the inducer motor, making labor more complex and expensive.
Local area demand
When you contact an HVAC contractor during a busy season, you will probably pay more than you would when calling him in the off-season. It’s simply because the companies are more active than in the off-season.
Cost of living
The cost of living in your area will also impact the motor replacement costs, no matter if the cost of living is low, average, or high.
The furnace brand
The furnace brand will also count for the final cost of motor replacement. Higher-end furnaces from Carrier, Trane, Lennox, and American Standard are more expensive than lower-end manufacturers like Goodman or Bryant. Similarly, the replacement parts from high-end brands will be pricier than the counterparts from the low-end.
Replacement Considerations
Most furnaces will come with a 10-year warranty for parts, but some will have a 5-12 year warranty. If the warranty covers the replacement parts, it will also cover the spending for replacing the motor. You will only have to cover the labor.
All in all, many will pay from $85 to $1,150 to replace an inducer motor, with motors from high-performance furnaces being the most expensive to replace. The range refers to DIY installations and professional installations. If you plan to replace the inducer motor, be aware that the parts come by various names, such as inducer blower assembly or inducer motor assembly and draft inducer assembly.
Typically, the only component in most repairs is the inducer motor assembly. In some cases, the furnace companies also recommend replacing the air pressure switch. Here are the costs:
- $85-$1,150 for the draft inducer motor assembly
- $24-$150 for the air pressure switch
As for permits, we need to highlight that you don’t need any permits to replace components in your furnace and inducer motor. If you decide to replace the inducer, you will save the HVAC technician’s fees of $65 to $125 per hour. A small company might have lower rates than reputed companies.
Most repairs will take less than an hour, so HVAC repair companies will charge you at least one hour’s fee to cover the time and travel spending. Replacing an inducer motor can take anywhere from 45 to 70 minutes.
Is it Covered Under Homeowners Insurance or a Home Warranty?
The homeowner’s insurance policy typically doesn’t cover the draft inducer motor replacement. The homeowner’s insurance policy might cover the replacement cost if a lightning strike, an electrical surge, or both damage the blower motor.
If your home warranty includes the HVAC system, it will also cover the costs of replacing the inducer motor on your furnace. We must mention that most home warranty contracts ask homeowners to run essential furnace maintenance at least once a year. If that’s your case, you must show maintenance records to have the claim paid.
The policies vary a lot so make sure you read the fine print. You should ask questions about maintenance and pre-existing issues and compare warranties for the levels of coverage given for the price.
