The warning signs
- Vibration or wobble. A wheel out of balance shakes the whole blower and wears the bearings fast. A noisy, wobbling furnace or air handler blower is often a dirty or unbalanced wheel.
- New noise. Rattling, scraping or a rising hum can mean a loose blade, a slipping hub or a wheel rubbing the housing.
- Rust and corrosion. Corrosion eats blades and end rings, especially in kitchens, pools and coastal or chemical air.
- Cracked or bent blades. Look closely where the blades meet the end rings.
- A loose or worn hub. If the wheel slips or wobbles on the shaft, the bore or hub is worn.
- Buildup. Dirt and grease on the blades cut airflow and throw the wheel out of balance.
- Weak airflow. Less air with the same motor speed often points to a dirty, damaged or wrongly rotated wheel.
Clean, repair or replace?
- Clean when the wheel is sound but dirty, then check the balance.
- Repair when the wheel is sound but the shaft or bearings are worn, or it needs rebalancing. See factory repair.
- Replace when blades are cracked, corroded or bent. If there is no part number, we duplicate the old wheel.
Questions
Can a blower wheel be rebalanced?
Yes, if it is structurally sound. We rebalance wheels in our factory; cracked or corroded wheels should be replaced.
How long does a blower wheel last?
It depends on the air it moves and how it is maintained. Clean air and regular cleaning can make a wheel last for many years; grease, moisture and dust shorten its life.