Definition
A blower motor is the electric motor that turns the indoor fan wheel in a furnace or air handler, moving air across the heat exchanger or evaporator coil and through the home's ductwork. Older permanent split capacitor (PSC) motors run at fixed speeds, while electronically commutated motors (ECMs) vary their speed and typically use less electricity.
Also called: ECM blower motor, Indoor fan motor, Electronically commutated motor
Why it matters to you.
The blower runs in every heating, cooling and fan-only cycle, and a Central Kentucky system works through both a humid cooling season and a real heating season. Slower blower speeds help an air conditioner pull more moisture out of muggy summer air, while restrictive filters and undersized returns make any blower work harder and wear out sooner.
Practical guidance.
Signs of trouble include weak airflow at the registers, a humming or squealing indoor unit or a hot electrical smell; turn the system off and call for service. Ask the technician to measure static pressure and check blower speed settings, since restrictive ducts and filters shorten blower motor life.
About this definition
Written by the Feistritzer Heating & Air Conditioning team — family owned and operated in Danville since 1976, Kentucky HVAC license M02584. Definitions inform; a whole-system diagnosis in your home decides.