Vibrating furnace! Part 1

In search of a solution to a vibrating furnace.

[@sski1971]

I had the same issue with the same furnace last week except it was installed in the upflow position. I went through the same process. I replaced the motor and thewheel.. To no avail. Finally I just reduced the speed from high to medium. Adjusted The pressures on the condensing unit and called it the day. Reducing the speed solve the problem at least for me and the customer was happy.

[@1984juant]

It has to be defective blower wheels from the plant. Somebody was just about to be fire and sabotaged the production of that day.... I just say. thanks for the video very useful.

[@KungFuMaintenance]

Me thoughts on this... Good chance it is actually the blower motor. The two work in pairs blower motor and blower wheel. It is silly company would factory install blower wheel to blower motor, IMO. Mounts and cage should always be replaceable and changeable. If something was sucked into blower wheel and demolished it, or threw alignment off you want to have option to replace things. Often when I have to replace a wheel I just replace motor at the same time. I am in building maintenance so of course my approach is much different than traditional HVAC would take. I think if unit was showed level this would be a warranty issue from manufacturer. Possibly motor balance or shaft (play) movement was a lemon Whether motor or wheel my thought is manufacturer should stand behind there product and make things right. ~ Keep up the great vids!!! Thanks for sharing reality!! Your customers are lucky to have your dedication and determination! Good on you Man!!! God Bless you and yours!!

[@theairconditioningguy]

KungFuMaintenance... Very cool thank you

[@tsgtalford]

I went back up to the blower and removed it again. Upon examining the blower and motor, I saw my mistake. I had not lined up the cage in the plenum correctly and it was off to one side. I aligned it, and also cleaned the fins. The fins at first glance look okay, but that was the side of the fin most visible, so I used a small wire brush and a house hold cleaning agent. I tighten everything back up and reinstalled. Runs well now!

[@sts.556]

mine was vibrating bad this morning , i took the top loose and side panel where blower wheel is and there was a dead mouse laying on the blower wheel throwing it out of balance bad , that all took 15 min to fix , I WAS HAPPY WHEN I SEEN THAT MOUSE.

[@theairconditioningguy]

🤣👍 🤢 🐀

[@TheKyridgerunner]

Had the same problem with my unit... Replaced the motor problem solved.!

[@theairconditioningguy]

TheKyridgerunner... At the time of this video I had already replaced wheel, motor and housing. I just got the new wheel in. I'm going to try it now and post follow up video.

[@dizziedallas]

My focus would be on the blower wheel. I used to get a fair share of dropped blower wheels in shipping so much so I have them double box from the factory. You can also balance your blower wheel yourself (bench test) just have some indicators showing the dips and slightly tweak the wheel.

[@theairconditioningguy]

dizziedallas... Really?! Maybe you should post a video showing how to do it. If be willing to give it a try.

[@dizziedallas]

My mac is down taking it in today imovie crash :/ But I take the blower wheel and tap the high spot ever so slightly with a rubber mallet and/or grap both ends of the blower wheel with the wheel on the shaft of the motor and ever so slightly tweak the wheel.I used to balance my own bike wheels but this only works if the wheel is off by a little bit.The key is marking the wheel so you know exactly where your wheel is out of balance.

[@throttlebottle5906]

as other mentioned, motor may be to blame, not balanced or something like shaft not straight but balanced fine. run it wheel off and see if it dances a jig on the wood or metal, cycle on and off so it goes through all rpm's :)

[@NorCal-refrigeration]

I've had motors do this. Replace motor vibration gone.

[@jonhvac]

I was going to say try the blower housing but, you did that. Is the unit level? Probably is the way you do your work😉. Hopefully it is just a bad batch of wheels🙏

[@cristinastor]

Combined with thin sheet metal in the plenum, cage, wobbly motor mounts and unbalanced wheel. That will give you stuff to do

[@theairconditioningguy]

Yes. Good craftsmanship is lost in corporate world.

[@saltwateramateur9903]

Bro common first thing you need to replace is the blower motor then blower wheel then blower wheel housing it will fix the issue but don’t do all that labor just so you can save the customer money and not fix the problem all your doing is wasting your time 90% time the blower wheel shaft is out of balance inside the blower motor so even thoe the blower motor is good it’s out of balance

[@johnmariano47]

Blower wheel seems to be dancing like a seesaw as turned manually at that horizontal axis. 1) Was it blower wheel hub mis-aligned? 2) or motor shaft bent? or untightened brackets? 3) blower wheel housing screws untightened or stripped? 4) housing slide through channel have play? 5) was the wheel balanced- wheel stops at the same spot at bottom all the time? You just gave me ideas on which could be the culprit to this along with the other people's comments. It is always a good idea to have a good working model (a spare or buy two like you suggest to make sure keep the one that works better) to troubleshoot with back and forth. But this is not an available option all the time.Is there a part 2 to this video? Thanks!

[@theairconditioningguy]

Jay Em ... It was blower wheel. I had to replace it twice because the first replacement wheel was bad as well.

[@johnmariano47]

The Air Conditioning Guy ..I suspected that too when it was dancing like a seesaw. Thanks for your reply.

[@aircooledtx]

Put piece tape foam tape at end of slide of blower, before you change wheel. I have done this on 5k furnaces Goodman with good results.

[@theairconditioningguy]

Michael Lee... Good idea. I'm going to continue looking for a straight blower wheel if not then I'll rip this furnace out.

[@5280guy]

when you get the new wheel take it out of the box and roll it on the supply house floor in a flat area and see if it wobbles before you leave with it

[@theairconditioningguy]

Dylan On Ken... Good idea thank you.

[@throttlebottle5906]

they need to be on a shaft/motor to really tell, that one sure seemed wobbly. maybe a piece of tubing through it and spin by hand to check.

[@theairconditioningguy]

throttle bottle You're correct. I actually picked up the new one today. They happened to have a motor sitting there out of the box. I slid the new wheel on it and no wobbling. Yeah! I'll post a video of end result.

[@tsgtalford]

I'm having a problem with our blower shaking like a paint shaker. It started all at once, so I suspected the motor bearings had gone out! I bought a new motor and installed it, but the vibration remained. The old motor had oil stains on the sides, and it was 13 years old. The blower wheel was clean, with only a small amount of dust. I only superficially check the wheel, so now I will pull it and check it well. I wonder if somehow a balancing weight may have come off?

[@theairconditioningguy]

George Alford... Sorry I just checked my messages. It sounds like you fixed it already?

[@jonwiersig5800]

Hey, Air Conditioning Guy. Did you ever make a Part 2 of this video to show how you fixed the vibration? Looks to me like your blower wheel was a little out of round when you manually spun it. My unit also has a vibration when I run it on the highest speed and my blower wheel also seems to be out of round when I manually spin it. Thanks!

[@theairconditioningguy]

Hi, I never did the final video sorry. I replaced the, wheel, the motor, and the housing to no avail. In the end I ended up using a universal motor mount and tightening up the blower housing with like two zip screws. 😁 If your wheel looks out of round then that would be the best bet.

[@balutpwr1595]

I've had same problem and still looking for solution. I've replaced both squirrel wheel and the motor but i still hear vibration coming from the enclose other end of the system, don't know if i can still diy these things:(

[@theairconditioningguy]

Have you tried bending the metal that holds the blower housing flanges in place? The ones the hold it as you slide it in and out of the furnace. That helped and I make sure and tighten them up now before installing.

[@Brentridley]

Does it have enough airflow? I've seen airflow restrictions cause vibrations issues but that is mostly on ECM's.

[@theairconditioningguy]

Brent Ridley.... 5 total static

[@lizz18362]

My furnace is making a vibration noise, but when I pull the filter cover off while it's running, the noise goes away. This makes me think it's not motor related, but more so related to suction of the incoming air. Any ideas for what I should check?

[@theairconditioningguy]

Possibly a static pressure issue. Have you checked it? Sorry for the late response. I was on vacation.

[@jerrylockhart3069]

Five total static? Do you mean .5 you should be under one total no matter what with filters

[@theairconditioningguy]

Yes

[@jimbola77]

Hey partner do you install in the sanfernando valley?

[@theairconditioningguy]

jimbola77... I don't I'm sorry.

[@UlisesPalacios]

Sounds like a headache. 3rd blower wheel is a charm. Let us know.

[@ed370zx3]

I have dirt on the vanes, I poked my hand in and scratched some black soot off. Could this cause an issue, dirt build up balance issues? Lennox cbx32mv installed 2004. Lol How should I clean it? Thanks!

[@theairconditioningguy]

Yes and removing the blower housing, separating the motor from the squirrel cage so that you can clean it with a plastic brush, vacuum and or hose it down. I'd hire a professional.

[@ed370zx3]

@@theairconditioningguy Found brand new OEM part on EBay $130 shut it down pulled blower and replaced it myself. Had to PB blast the shaft cause it was rusted but got the job done. Air Handler still kicking butt! Lol

[@theairconditioningguy]

Right on!

[@TheSRMproject]

I’m on my 8th blower wheel trying to fix my vibration issue. They keep sending me wheels that are WAY out of wack.

[@theairconditioningguy]

It's there a AAA Motors near you? They can balance blower wheels for you.

[@TheSRMproject]

@@theairconditioningguy closest one is in LosAngelas unfortunately

[@theairconditioningguy]

😕 Did you already contact tech support? They should know there's a problem with the wheels.

[@cristinastor]

Wait untill the brushless motors come in, you gonna see vibrations then

[@theairconditioningguy]

Really!? Think you'd see less. Love to hear your theory!

[@cristinastor]

@@theairconditioningguy try spinning the shaft on one and you will see what I am talking about.

[@thedavesofourlives1]

say what now? i can't turn it up to 11.

[@johnnykurplutzo6789]

Mine sounds like low end bass

[@theairconditioningguy]

Last one that made this noise, I pulled out the blower wheel housing. Made sure the metal slots in the back where not too open. Slid the blower wheel back in ALL the way back as far as I could push it and drilled new screw holes in the front. For the two screws that hold the housing in. It worked. Try it!

[@whitesheatingairappliancer7101]

It doesn't sound loud.

[@theairconditioningguy]

Ron White... No it doesn't but it shouldn't be vibrating. Bothers me.

[@throttlebottle5906]

I demand video/s, have you fell off the earths?

[@theairconditioningguy]

Lol ! Here you go I just posted one and several more to come. Just been REAL busy bro.

[@jimbola77]

u sound all muffly brother I got it up to 90% volume.

[@theairconditioningguy]

jimbola77... Think cause I used my phone

[@electricvehicle465]

I just read this . My blower mower motor was violently shaking . Had no clue what's going on. So I look at the housing everything seems good . Turn the heat bk on still shakes.hmm. so I hold it in place it helped but still shakes . Shakes so hard it vibrates the floor . So I get my flash light out . Turn the heat bk off . Looking at the motor the inside of the blower. I see one.two .three maybe 5 pieces of dog food wtheck. So I spin the motor .I'll be dam a mouse hanging up side down . Stuck in the the blower .wow . So I get him out . Boom that .was it . Works fine now.

[@ed370zx3]

Omg that’s crazy . I’m still trying to find my vibration issue.

[@theairconditioningguy]

Sometimes removing the blower with motor and all will make it easier to spot the problem. Sorry I've been too busy lately to follow up on comments.