Furnace blower motor replacement cost

The blower motor is the indoor fan that pushes heated or cooled air through your ducts. It runs in both heating and cooling seasons. The table shows average motor prices published by This Old House.

For the whole job, Bob Vila gives $250 to $900 and lists labor to install a blower motor at $150 to $410. This Old House lists labor at $150–$250.

• The motor. PSC motors are the older, simpler design. ECM motors are electronically controlled, more efficient and more expensive. Variable-speed ECM motors are often specific to the furnace brand.
• Labor. The technician pulls the blower assembly out of the furnace, swaps the motor, refits the wheel, rewires it and tests airflow and amp draw.
• Related parts. A PSC motor should get a new capacitor. A damaged blower wheel is replaced at the same time. This Old House lists average part prices of $30 for a capacitor and $163 for a wheel.
• The service call. Diagnosis is usually charged separately or folded into a flat price.

A blower that hums and will not start may only need a capacitor. On an ECM motor, the control module can fail while the motor itself is fine, and This Old House lists an ECM module at $520 on average, less than a full variable-speed motor. Ask the technician whether the motor, the module or the capacitor has failed and how that was tested.

Noise is a useful clue. Squealing, grinding and rattling point to different faults, and some of them are a loose wheel or worn bearings. The guide to a furnace making noise explains what each sound usually means.

Warranty is the first question. Bob Vila lists blower motor cost under warranty at $150 to $400, since warranties typically cover parts only, against $300 to $900 without one. Have the furnace model and serial number ready.

After that, the price depends on motor type and horsepower, whether a universal motor fits or the manufacturer's part is needed, how hard the furnace is to reach, and whether the visit is after hours.

This Old House says a blower motor should last 10–20 years, about as long as the furnace itself. So a failed blower on an old furnace raises a fair question about the rest of the equipment.

A new motor on a mid-life furnace in good condition is money well spent. On a furnace near the end of its life, an expensive variable-speed motor deserves a replacement quote alongside it. This Old House's rule for furnaces is that a repair is generally worth it if it costs less than half the price of a new one. Ask the technician to look at the heat exchanger and burners while the furnace is open, so you know what you are investing in. The other HVAC cost guides give ranges for a new furnace.