Your heater can produce all the warm air that your home needs, but your home won’t stay warm if that air doesn’t circulate properly. When your furnace warms the air, its blower is responsible for blowing that air through the ducts and propelling it into your home.

This part, which consists of a motor and fan, does more than impact the temperature in your home. When heat builds up in the furnace, the limit switch can overheat and break. Here are some signs that your heater blower needs service.

Minimal or No Airflow

One of the telltale signs of a broken heater blower is weak airflow or no circulation at all. Any air that might be circulating could feel cool. If you hear your furnace turn on but don’t feel warm air coming through the vents, suspect a problem with the furnace blower.

Short Cycling

Short cycling occurs when your furnace switches on and off after only a minute or two. While this can have multiple causes that require a professional diagnosis, a damaged heater blower is one reason it can happen. Because the blower isn’t providing warm air, the thermostat triggers the heater to turn on. However, an overheated limit switch will trigger the furnace to shut off even if the indoor temperature is too low.

Delayed Starting

The blower motor is supposed to flip on as soon as the furnace has heated air sufficiently. However, when the motor is failing, it won’t start up as quickly as it should. If you pay attention to your heater through a few cycles and notice a delay, the motor blower may need replacing.

A Frequently Tripped Circuit Breaker

If your furnace shuts down completely, check the circuit breaker before calling an HVAC technician for service. Simply resetting the breaker might resolve the problem. However, if the breaker supporting electricity to the furnace continues to trip, one of the causes is a broken blower.

A Burning Smell

Overheating is a common sign of a broken furnace blower. When the heated air builds up in the furnace, the limit switch is only one of the parts that the excess heat can damage. If you notice a burnt smell when your furnace is running, and it isn’t the first time you’ve turned on the equipment this season, turn the furnace off immediately and call for service.

Unusual Sounds

When you sit in a quiet room, you could hear unusual sounds when the furnace runs. A humming sound, which might be associated with a delayed furnace start, indicates a blower motor issue. If the motor is failing, or the bearings are worn, you might also hear rattling, squealing, or grinding.

While there’s never a great time for your furnace to stop providing your home with essential warm air, rest assured that help is available. Call Hardy Heating in Wasilla, AK for all your furnace service needs.