Goodman Furnace Blower Motor Replacement

When winter is coming, the last thing you want in your house is to realize that your Goodman furnace needs repairs or even replacement. Even if Goodman furnaces work for a very long time and the critical components last for as long as 15 years, some elements will need repairs after a couple of years.

Knowing when some parts need repairs and even replacement isn’t always challenging, as you will notice the signs that something’s wrong. Even if you’re not going to make the repairs or replacement, you will feel/see/hear when things aren’t running the way they should do. Furnaces are complicated and dangerous devices, and only professionals should tackle some severe problems.

Is the blower motor on your Goodman furnace bad?

It’s not only the HVAC technician able to identify a poorly performant blower motor; you can do it too. Here’s how you can find out if you should go shopping:

• Begin with turning off the furnace or turn off the circuit for your furnace right in the electrical box
• Place the access panels aside so you get access to the furnace blower fan. You may find it behind the control board or other element, and the fan wheel (“squirrel cage”) is easy to spot – it does look like the wheels hamsters or squirrels run on.
• You have to look for the motor side, with cables from the board leading to the motor. You should carefully get your hand closer to the motor and see if it’s still hot. If the engine is warm or hot, it means that it got power but couldn’t turn on. The leading cause is that it’s burned out, and you have to replace it.
• You may also check the fan wheel, spinning it. Make sure that you also put some gloves on as the blades of the fan are quite sharp. Take the fan wheel and see if you can spin it. Look for the arrow on the housing informing you which direction it turns. If it spins quickly, it’s not the motor causing the problem. But if it doesn’t turn, the fan motor is broken, and you should get a replacement.
• You should also take a look at the capacitor, which can also cause an issue, and it’s easier to fix. The furnace motor could be only humming, without running, but the capacitor could be the culprit.

Is Goodman furnace blower motor replacement cost very high or not?

Several aspects will affect the overall spending for the blower motor replacement so keep reading to find more.

Motor performance

You may find single-speed motors for $100-$315, multi-speed models for $190-$600, and models with variable speed from $500 to $1,000.  Needless to say, the price can make a decisive factor when choosing.

Is it under warranty?

Many furnaces come with a ten-year warranty, so if your furnace is still under warranty, you will only need to pay for the installation, but not for the blower motor. It may come as a surprise to you, but you shouldn’t expect the warranty to also include the labor after the first year. It may not cover the labor at all.

Brand name/OEM or universal part

It makes perfect sense that you will pay extra for the brand names than for the generic blower motor, even if the performance abilities are similar.

ECM or PSC motor

Electrically commutated motors (ECM) run silently, present better energy efficiency, but are pricier too. You should consider an ECM motor if you have two-stage or variable-capacity furnace.

Even if permanent split capacitor motors (PSC) aren’t expensive, they’re also not as efficient as the ECM opponents. They’re a safe option for the single-speed and multi-speed motors.

Motor size

Blower motors come from 1/6 horsepower to 1.0 hp, with lather motors costing more. However, you shouldn’t make a fuss out of the motor’s size when all the other factors are similar.

Heating stages

Single-stage furnaces use single-speed or multi-speed motors, with single-speed as a cheaper option. Two-stage furnaces typically have multi-speed or variable-speed motors, with the latter being more expensive. As for variable capacity furnaces, they always use variable-speed blower motors, which are pricier than other options.

Pro installation or DIY

A professional should need anything from 45 to 90 minutes to replace the blower motor, clean the fan, make the engine’s adjustments, run some tests, and assemble your furnace back. How effortlessly it is to take apart the furnace and to put it back together will count tremendously for the installation spending. Some assemblies come with the control board and several front elements, which is more difficult for assembly, increasing the final cost.

We should remind you once again that it’s very rare for the warranties to also comprise the costs for labor. Therefore, even if the blower motor is under warranty, you will save some money by replacing it on your own. It would help if you were very particular about what you’re doing; any poor assembly or faulty replacement could make you call the professionals after all. Most technicians will charge anything from $75 to $150 for the first hour of labor, and the costs are almost double during the non-business hours (weekends and evenings).

Let’s sum it all up!

You will most of the time pay anything from $250 to $800 for replacing the furnace blower motor. Using the same blower assembly for the furnace and the AC unit (if you have one) will cut down your spending. It’s common for furnaces to have one installed in the unit, together with the heat exchanger.

Labor costs for installing a new blower motor will range from $150 to $250, with trip fees and labor making most of the expenses.

Repairing the furnace will cost you at least $100 and $200, which typically includes only the first two hours of labor, and HVAC technicians ask anything from $75 to $125 per hour. He/she will need 1.5 to 2.5 hours for the job, with inspection, diagnosis, removal, installation, and testing included.

Do you have to replace the blower motor, or repairs will do?

As you can see, the costs for replacing the blower motor are high, especially in variable capacity furnaces. You don’t need to replace the blower motor when you notice some issues, as it could be cheaper to repair it. At the same time, it could be more affordable to replace it altogether if it’s beyond repair or the repair. Some factors will help you make the proper decision, so you should give them a read:

The repair costs are high.

If the professional estimates that it will cost you anything from $500 to $1,000+, it’s better that you use that money on a new furnace with a complete warranty, better efficiency, and performance.

The furnace is old

A cheap model that you’ve been using for more than a decade or a pricier model you’ve used for more than 15 years needs replacement. It’s not worth it to repair the blower motor if your furnace is just old.

The furnace is no longer useful.

If you live in a cold region and your furnace is 80% efficient, you would save 10% and more by getting a new model 90 to 97% efficient. Even if you think it’s pricey, keep in mind that you may find single-speed gas furnaces with 96% efficiency for an excellent price.

We should highlight that it’s not necessary to buy a high-performance model for reducing your utility bill. Affordable models can also provide performance, efficiency, quality, and reliability.

The furnace isn’t right for your needs.

Sometimes, the furnace was the wrong size for the first time. It could be improperly installed or have low quality. You don’t have to search high and low for a reliable option that works for your house, and leaves some money in your wallet too.

Also, you should think if you’re planning to move away in a year or so. It’s not worth getting a new furnace if you’re moving to another town in 8 months. Replacing the blower motor for the winter could be the cheaper solution.