Furnace inducer motor replacement cost

The inducer motor, also called the draft inducer, is a small fan that pulls combustion gases through the heat exchanger and pushes them out the vent. The furnace will not light until this motor proves it is moving air. When it fails, you have no heat.

Two manufacturer pages publish a range for this repair. They do not agree, which tells you how much the price depends on the furnace.

Trane's page does not say whether its table includes labor, and it lists technician rates of $75 to $150 per hour plus a service call fee of $50 to $200 separately. Ask your contractor what their number includes.

• The part. Some furnaces accept a universal replacement motor. Many need the full inducer assembly made for that model, with the housing, wheel and gasket. The assembly costs more than a bare motor.
• Diagnosis. A furnace that will not start its inducer can also have a failed pressure switch, a blocked vent, a clogged condensate drain or a bad control board. A fair visit confirms the motor is the cause before replacing it.
• Labor and access. A furnace in an open basement is quick to work on. One in a tight attic or closet takes longer.
• Timing. Night, weekend and holiday calls usually carry an emergency fee.

High-efficiency condensing furnaces tend to use more specialized inducer assemblies than older standard-efficiency furnaces. Parts for discontinued models can be hard to find, and that pushes the price up. A part still under the manufacturer's warranty brings the bill down to labor and the service call, so check your paperwork before you approve anything.

Extra work found during the visit also changes the total. Water in the inducer housing, a cracked hose to the pressure switch or a corroded vent connection should be fixed at the same time, and each should appear as its own line on the invoice.

• The diagnosis in plain words and how the technician confirmed it.
• The part number, and whether it is an original or a universal part.
• Labor, the service call fee and any after-hours charge, listed separately.
• The warranty on the new part and on the labor.
• Whether a combustion and venting check after the repair is included.

If a second contractor quotes the same job, compare these lines one by one. A much lower number often means a universal motor or a shorter labor warranty.

An inducer motor on its own rarely justifies a new furnace. It is a mid-priced repair on a part that wears out. The picture changes when the furnace is old and other repairs are stacking up. Carrier's guidance is to consider replacement when a system is more than 10 years old or when repair costs approach 50% of the value of a new unit.

A loud hum, rattle or squeal at startup is often the first warning that the inducer is wearing out. The guide to a furnace making noise helps you tell that sound from a blower or burner problem. For other repair prices, see the HVAC cost guides.