Draft inducer fan & blower FAQs

This article series discusses the use of draft inducer fans installed on oil fired heating equipment.

FAQs about Draft Inducer Fans for Problem Chimneys & Vents

These questions and answers about when and how to correct inadequate or unsafe chimney draft on oil fired heaters were posted originally

at DRAFT INDUCER FANS - be sure to check out the diagnostic suggestions on that page.

Watch out: If an oil burner lacks adequate draft it will not operate properly, leading to soot clogging, more costly heating bills, back pressure in the combustion chamber, and possibly unsafe heater operation.

 

Furnace Draft Inducer Fan Won't Run

I have a Carrier single stage furnace that at start up the inducer motor doesn’t run but the fan blower does On 2017-11-21 by Jerry

by (mod) - heating systems that requires a draft inducer fan

Jerry,

Watch out: for safety, heating systems that requires a draft inducer fan should be wired such that if the draft inducer doesn't run the burner will never turn on.

Because without the proper draft the system could be unsafe.

If that's your situation then it sounds as if you need help from a heating service tech to find out why your draft inducer doesn't run.

 

How do I fix a too-weak draft inducer

With only the draft inducer running get a draft of -.12, start the burner and the draft drops to -.01, furnace is soot free (unit is several years old), run is only a couple feet, oil fired fireing 1.35, 70B nozzle. (Aug 22, 2011) Bill Williambarbjr@verizon.n said:

Reply:

Bill that's a pretty low draft - and the draft inducer suggests someone already knew there was a draft problem. But some interpretation depends on where you measured the draft, and also on the specific oil burner equipment installed.

Typically we want to see more draft at the breech (above the boiler or furnace) than over the fire (inside the boiler or furnace at the flame top or inspection port). I'm not sure which location you were measuring. For example if you had 0.01 at the fire and 0.04 at the breech, you'd be ok.

Also some oil burners and combustion chambers in newer boilers and furnaces are designed to tolerate or even run with backpressure in the combustion chamber, so low drafts might not be a sign of trouble with some models. If you let us know the boiler/furnace brand, model, age, and same for the burner, we might research the question further.

 

Question: Fasco Draft Inducor motor is getting very loud

Hi, Our Fasco Draft Inducor motor is getting very loud. Im not sure how old it is, as i bought this house a few years ago as a forclosure.

Its a system 2000, and it runs great. I recently changed the oil filter and that didn't seem to help the problem. The inducer fan kicks on and you can hear the motor throughout the house. I was wondering, can those motors be cleaned? I read that some can be oiled, but i dont see anywhere on this particular one to put the oil. Its a fasco, No. 70219770 Cust p/n 02-0302-1.

I've considered spending the money (which i dont have) for a new one and looked everywhere for an exact replacement, including Emailing Fasco themselves. Do you have any recommendations? Draft Inducer Motor

And from another reader:

I have the same problem and have been looking for this part for months. Energy Kinetics won't sell it to me. Fasco won't sell it and te Oil Companies wont sell it without installing it. It seems all that is wrong with mine are the motor bearings which I am now going to investigate how to go about replacing them. Z29R

Reply: Loud electric motors in draft inducers?

Loud electric motors in draft inducers?

I think the reason Energy Kinetics won't sell you a motor is not hard to understand.

Watch out: They are very worried that someone will take apart one of their units, make a mistake putting it back together, and burn down the house or poison its occupants with carbon monoxide.

For that reason, sorry to say, but where these critical safety devices are installed, I would not mess around with them unless you have the expertise and training.

Question: Solve poor draft and carbon monoxide in oil fired heaters

I measured poor draft in 10 yr old oil furnace-. It doesn't meet requirements for carbon monoxide - how do I fix it? - john

Reply:

John, I'd start by diagnosing why the draft is poor - so that we fix the right problem. Search InspectApedia for -

DRAFT MEASUREMENT, CHIMNEYS & FLUES

DRAFT REGULATORS / Barometric Dampers

Examples: dirty clogged boiler or furnace heat exchanger, chimney blocked, chimney cleanout door left open, misadjusted barometric damper/draft regulator, improper burner adjustments, even lack of combustion air, downdrafts at chimney, missing chimney cap, are some things to check.

Watch Out: in sum I don't like to add a "fix" like a draft inducer until I know that there is no other poor draft cause that can be corrected by cleaning, maintenance, repair. Else the system can be unsafe.

 

How do I fix a draft problem on a shared flue: boiler & water heater

I have a Burnham oil fired boiler and a bock oil fired hot water heater.

They each are vented thru there own thimble but share the same flue. When they both run the draft becomes very poor with both draft regulators closed.

The water heater loses efficiency fast and shuts off on flame failure.

When each of the appliances runs seperatly they run fine. The efficency is not the best but I think they need to be down fired with smaller nozzles - John

I installed a draft inducer in the water heater flue pipe but things still are not good when both run. Any thought's

I did clean the boiler and the water heater is 3 months old

Reply:

John
Have you had a chimney sweep check the flue for blockage or leaks ?

Watch out: This sounds dangerous.

 

Should I add a barometric damper on a flue used by a power vent ?

My Buderus was installed with a power venter. In this type of installation should a Calibrated Draft Control also be installed? Seems like it should not but I have one as well. (Feb 5, 2014) Bill_in_Vermont

Reply: NO

Watch out: Power venters do not generally use a barometric damper - it would be overhwelmed and the results unsafe.

 

HVAC system blamed for illness in rental home

Ana Keller said:

I have been dealing with major problems upon move-in at this rental community since May. I have noticed major dust problems in the hvac system, uncomfortable hvac conditions (too cold ac air and unbearably hot heat,) and I'm so broke that I'm unable to do anything but put up with it.

My leasing office manager purposely ignores or denies my claims and questions, even threatened to sue me.

I have lost all confidence in my own abilities and I'm just now beginning to come out of this personal funk and understand that there are a lot of things I do have reasons and rights to complain or ask about. My kids are 1 and 2, the other day we all got so sick that i had to call excel and barely made it to my car without passing out.

We are getting face ripping headaches, troublesome recurrent coughs, hoarse voices and total physical and mental fog.

My daughter is being questioned on sensory processing issues due to all of this. This apartment is ground level and sinking.

The level of moisture and constant wetness that occurs in this area is disgusting. I called to the manager 4 times over Summer due to my concerns with water waste and the moss growing on rocks and somehow, the manager was able to drain the ground ?

The concrete slabs are moving around my building all the time, depending on how cold it is, no plant growth is promoted due to the soil being like clay, and the visible signs indoor and outdoor of these movements are very noticeable.

I've recently discovered small yellowish egg looking things on the toilet bowl rim of my kids toilet, which was coincidentally just replaced due to the last toilet not flushing.. Now this toilet is grabbing water form another toilet and it's disgusting.

The carpet is HORRIBLE, the walls have splotches of color on them that happen daily and I am observing a lot of weird things.

I think there is a total home ventilation problem and just want to get out. Have any suggestions of cheap ways of starting this process? I want these people to understand this isn't mine to fix, it's theirs. 21 Jan 2015

Reply:

Ana

If you have good reason to believe that the HVAC system in your home is contributing to or even causes illnesses then that should be made clear in writing to your landlord. More help, though it focuses on mold, discusses dealing with property managers and owners beginning at

TENANT LANDLORD MOLD DISPUTE 

and also see

TENANT HELP for MOLDY RENTAL where we give general advice for tenants in communicating with landlords about a suspected or known moldy environment in a rental apartment or home.

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Continue reading at DRAFT INDUCER FANS or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

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• DAMPERS & DRAFT REGULATOR TYPES
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• DRAFT INDUCER FANS
• DRAFT MEASUREMENT, CHIMNEYS & FLUES
• DRAFT REGULATOR SOOT INSPECTION

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DRAFT INDUCER FAN FAQs at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

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