Furnace Blower Motor Shocker

Heat Pump we installed in 2014 on the new vuild has had a few issues, lost a Condenser core several
Years ago and leaked the freon, that was Warranty save the freon that had to be added, same as cars all fluids are considered disposables and have to pay for those even under warranty. That was high cost But gets better.

December during severe cold snap the system would shut down as called for more than Two of the Four separate zones. Blower was not Ramping up to supply enough air flow. Tech and I went thru a bunch of checks, came down to Motor. Is DC with Internal Sensors for motor heat and amps draw, has its own small processor at exposed end of motor. So got it ordered and replaced been fine since even thru the most current severe cold snap. Received bill yesterday and went in to pay as always prefer to pay locals Personally, I do appreciate the services supplied.

Owner’s wife is office mgr book keeper phone answer and message service so was there, was expecting me to be angry on bill where wasn’t. Labor was under $200 for two trips to house and all the diagnosis testing and replacement time. Motor was the big price, over $1500 and she expected me to be mad, wasn’t just noted the electronics age has made all the common repairs a real PITA and Wallet. She noted only charged what they were charged as had no clue was going to be that expensive, showed their billing receipt. All this High Tech crap may save energy but has not really ever saved a dime otherwise. Not on this not in cars not anywhere.

Owner came back in from a call and was expecting angry was surprised as not, we spoke a short time, he also feels these electronic Savings, Enhancing, better Bells and Whistles are killing everything he wishes would get back to KISS basics, is somewhat glad will be retiring out of Business in the next ten years, feels sorry for newbies coming in.

Edited by DMiller - Yesterday at 6:34am

It's not just the new stuff , well it is ! Mother in laws oil fired furnace kept going out and she called same outfit to fix it every time . Gun would not spray right igniter would fail , finally I went over and replaced it with gun from furnace I took out of my shop .
 Lasted 2 seasons and when asked to fix it again I said I would install a new gas fired furnace as gas line was in street in front of house . Reluctant as she liked the guy who did the work on old furnace - had him install a high efficiency gas furnace , next the condensate blower switch went out , igniter board twice , air intake and exhaust plugged , switch went out again , blower motor froze up .  At least 4 service calls a heating season for 4 years .
 Son occupied house after she passed , Blower motor , exhaust blower motor , air switch , igniter board ....  
 He called one day and asked if he could just JUNK furnace as he was looking for parts for present unit and found a new lower efficiency unit at good price . That unit now on 10th year and no failures 

our WASHING machine has a DC motor.. variable speed and reversable... thats how they make it agitate without a gear box......... ours is about 10 years old and still going.... Maytag... dont know why a furance would have so many problems ???  or why they would cost $3 - 4000 ??

Guy that owns HVAC service here noted are next to NONE basic systems available now.  LP Based Refrigerants, ALL Furnaces are required by EPA to be "Energy Efficient" so the tech is here to stay.  As to Costs of the Motors, as with cars and trucks as Warranty Failure costs rise are packed into the next product pricing.  Is why a 2026 Peterbilt Daycab Tandem is $249,000, where in 2020 was $192,000.  1/2t Pickup today, Decently equipped without MASSIVE Special Day Discounts are close to $55,000, for a full dress is $72,000, a Ton or Better bumps $100,000 and are JUNK, rust away over a few years, Aluminum Corrodes, Frames are like tissue paper BOXED Crap, engines yeah can get 100-150,000 miles, but as get there wipe themselves out.  NO Resale Value, and ALL due to exacting recovery of WARRANTY Moneys.  Dealers nor Manufacturers actually pay Warranty Money, is ALL Charged to Consumer later on.  IOW IS NO SUCH THING AS A WARRANTY, Just repairs you will pay for later.