Home Page link

Squeaky Furnace

Home| Search | About
Login Password
Register Now! Lost Password?

Home Repair - - If it ain't broken, don't fix it. Otherwise look here. 

Page 1 of 4       1 2 3 > last >> Bookmark this page:  YahooMyWeb Yahoo!  Google Google  Windows Live Favorites Windows Live  del.icio.us del.icio.us  digg digg  Add to Netscape Netscape
Subject Author Date
Squeaky Furnace lagman 01-19-2008
If you were  Registered and logged in, you could reply and use other advanced thread options
Posted by lagman on January 19, 2008, 2:26 pm
I started noticing a really bad squeaky sound coming from the
furnace. It usually happens right away when it kicks on, then goes
away after it has run for a while (but sometimes it will start at
arbitrary times).

I assume I need to oil something but I'm not sure what and what type
of oil to use.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Dan

PexSupply PEX Tools 468x60
Posted by professorpaul on January 19, 2008, 2:41 pm
Two possibilities:

1. Motor bearings need oil -- 10W30 motor oil will work. Use a pump
oiler with a long spout to reach:

a. Bearings (2) on motor
b. Bearings (2) on shaft ends of fan, if belt driven..

You may have to loosen things to pull the fan assembly out so you can
get at it.

2. Slipping fan belt, if so equipped. There should be a tensioning
screw or other adjustment. Set so firm thumb pressure depresses belt
about 1/2" It also sometimes helps to use "belt dressing" on the
belt.

I keep a spare belt on hand at all times. Size is stamped on the top
(outside) of the belt. Any good hardware or auto parts store.

Check belts and/or bearing twice a year. Check burning/pilot light at
same time. I check at the beginning and the end of the heating season.

Do filters monthly. Consider a "washable" filter and spray-filter oil
for better dust pickup.




Posted by lagman on January 19, 2008, 5:05 pm
> Two possibilities:
>
> 1. Motor bearings need oil -- 10W30 motor oil will work. Use a pump
> oiler with a long spout to reach:
>
> a. Bearings (2) on motor
> b. Bearings (2) on shaft ends of fan, if belt driven..
>
> You may have to loosen things to pull the fan assembly out so you can
> get at it.
>
> 2. Slipping fan belt, if so equipped. There should be a tensioning
> screw or other adjustment. Set so firm thumb pressure depresses belt
> about 1/2" It also sometimes helps to use "belt dressing" on the
> belt.
>
> I keep a spare belt on hand at all times. Size is stamped on the top
> (outside) of the belt. Any good hardware or auto parts store.
>
> Check belts and/or bearing twice a year. Check burning/pilot light at
> same time. I check at the beginning and the end of the heating season.
>
> Do filters monthly. Consider a "washable" filter and spray-filter oil
> for better dust pickup.

I see two fans in there.. One is smaller and is connected to the
exhaust, and one is a larger squirrel cage.. Which one do I need to
oil? Of course, now I can't get it to make noise again so I don't
know exactly which one the noise is coming from.

The larger fan looks like it would be quite a chore to pull out..
There are various other boxes mounted in front.

Posted by Bubba on January 19, 2008, 7:09 pm
On Sat, 19 Jan 2008 14:05:32 -0800 (PST), lagman

>> Two possibilities:
>>
>> 1. Motor bearings need oil -- 10W30 motor oil will work. Use a pump
>> oiler with a long spout to reach:
>>
>> a. Bearings (2) on motor
>> b. Bearings (2) on shaft ends of fan, if belt driven..
>>
>> You may have to loosen things to pull the fan assembly out so you can
>> get at it.
>>
>> 2. Slipping fan belt, if so equipped. There should be a tensioning
>> screw or other adjustment. Set so firm thumb pressure depresses belt
>> about 1/2" It also sometimes helps to use "belt dressing" on the
>> belt.
>>
>> I keep a spare belt on hand at all times. Size is stamped on the top
>> (outside) of the belt. Any good hardware or auto parts store.
>>
>> Check belts and/or bearing twice a year. Check burning/pilot light at
>> same time. I check at the beginning and the end of the heating season.
>>
>> Do filters monthly. Consider a "washable" filter and spray-filter oil
>> for better dust pickup.
>
>I see two fans in there.. One is smaller and is connected to the
>exhaust, and one is a larger squirrel cage.. Which one do I need to
>oil? Of course, now I can't get it to make noise again so I don't
>know exactly which one the noise is coming from.
>
>The larger fan looks like it would be quite a chore to pull out..
>There are various other boxes mounted in front.

You would need to oil the motor that is squeaking but the high
efficiency furnace you have most likely does not have oil ports.
Usually a squeaking noise is caused by a pending bearing failure which
results in a motor failure. Nothing you can do about it unless the
squeak is something else.
Bubba

Posted by lagman on January 20, 2008, 1:27 am
> On Sat, 19 Jan 2008 14:05:32 -0800 (PST), lagman
>
>
>
> >> Two possibilities:
>
> >> 1. Motor bearings need oil -- 10W30 motor oil will work. Use a pump
> >> oiler with a long spout to reach:
>
> >> a. Bearings (2) on motor
> >> b. Bearings (2) on shaft ends of fan, if belt driven..
>
> >> You may have to loosen things to pull the fan assembly out so you can
> >> get at it.
>
> >> 2. Slipping fan belt, if so equipped. There should be a tensioning
> >> screw or other adjustment. Set so firm thumb pressure depresses belt
> >> about 1/2" It also sometimes helps to use "belt dressing" on the
> >> belt.
>
> >> I keep a spare belt on hand at all times. Size is stamped on the top
> >> (outside) of the belt. Any good hardware or auto parts store.
>
> >> Check belts and/or bearing twice a year. Check burning/pilot light at
> >> same time. I check at the beginning and the end of the heating season.
>
> >> Do filters monthly. Consider a "washable" filter and spray-filter oil
> >> for better dust pickup.
>
> >I see two fans in there.. One is smaller and is connected to the
> >exhaust, and one is a larger squirrel cage.. Which one do I need to
> >oil? Of course, now I can't get it to make noise again so I don't
> >know exactly which one the noise is coming from.
>
> >The larger fan looks like it would be quite a chore to pull out..
> >There are various other boxes mounted in front.
>
> You would need to oil the motor that is squeaking but the high
> efficiency furnace you have most likely does not have oil ports.
> Usually a squeaking noise is caused by a pending bearing failure which
> results in a motor failure. Nothing you can do about it unless the
> squeak is something else.
> Bubba

It started squeaking again. This time I took off the cover and was
able to confirm that the sound is coming from the smaller fan attached
to the exhaust. This makes me worried.. If this motor fails, will I
have a basement full of CO2?


Page 1 of 4       1 2 3 > last >>
Similar ThreadsPosted
Squeaky floor December 29, 2005, 4:36 pm
Squeaky floors February 9, 2006, 10:15 pm
Squeaky floors March 15, 2006, 11:40 am
Squeaky air conditioner July 28, 2006, 10:20 am
how to fix a squeaky floor? August 21, 2006, 9:22 am
Squeaky stairs June 22, 2007, 5:42 pm
How to fix a Squeaky Fridge? November 25, 2007, 7:38 am
Laminate floor squeaky July 14, 2005, 10:49 pm
Squeaky Air handling unit June 15, 2005, 11:30 pm
Squeaky stair repair? October 24, 2006, 7:53 pm

Contact Us | Privacy Policy

XML SitemapXML Sitemap