ECM blower motor replacement

16 years ago

I'm thinking about replacing the standard PSC induction blower motor in my gas furnace with one of the newer ECM replacement motors such as the Emerson 5540ET.

The electric savings would be nice, but the primary reason I want to do it is to eliminate the hum that the current motor generates when it starts. The motor is hard-mounted to the blower case which is hard-mounted to the furnace and the furnace is in the middle of the bottom floor of the house in its own closet. So all the ductwork etc. makes a nice sound-board to radiate that obnoxious modulated hum sound that the motor makes as the fan spools up.

Does anyone have experience with these ECM motors regarding the noise/vibration that they generate when accelerating up to speed? Thanks in advance.

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Comments (5)

tigerdunes
16 years ago
mike

I am very skeptical of these third party upgrades.

what is your total cost installed? what is the warranty?

how old is your existing furnace? would this upgrade affect any remaining warranty on existing?

IMO
creek_side
16 years ago
Mine are quiet coming up to speed. However, I believe they are mounted on vibration damping mounts, similar to that shown in the link.

You would probably also need a control board of some sort.

Perhaps you could change the way the current motor mounts or install a short section of flexible duct near the furnace to isolate it from the remainder of the ductwork.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:1564817}}
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grifzila
16 years ago
The ECM fan systems are a major improvemnet in sound and efficeincy. A satisfactory upgrade could be tricky unless you have DIY skills or know of someone that does. Unless you buy one used, the parts cost can be $700 and up. The mounting is a game braker if not skillfully done. They don't like lightning, arcing air cleaners, moisture (some earlier models) and voltage spikes, and must have the control board to operate.

If your going to be in your home for a while, consider a heat pump upgrade to get efficeintcy, rebate, and quiet.
classicdave
16 years ago
googled it, funny how I haven't seen these in legit air conditioning distribution warehouses. hmm

the cost is low, which means big concerns for me.
all I can say is keep your psc motor.

how old is this furnace of yours?
mikemr
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for all the opinions! There are several "drop-in" ECM motor replacements, the electronics (i.e., control board) are self-contained in the motor. So the electrical interface is the same as the mutli-wire one for induction motors.

My concern is that the drawing for the Emerson doesn't show mounting holes drilled where my PSC motor has them, and I'm not interested in voiding a warranty by drilling into a new $350 motor (they're not cheap).

The furnace is 10 years old and is working well, especially after I solved the condensate leak problem by using quality hoses and stainless hose clamps (and high-temp RTV silicone), unlike the way the factory did it.