Hey, so I have a Trane unit that I believe was installed in 2008. For the past week or so I have been dealing with the blower working for about an hour or 2 l, then shutting off and I can only get it to turn back on after about 4 or 5 hours. Even if I turn it on fan only I still can’t get it to turn on again. It just buzzes for about a minute or so like it’s trying to start. I’ve looked at the blower wheel while it buzzes and it is turning but just barely.

I did did find out that the previous owners had NEVER used a filter in the system, and I did see that the blower wheel is pretty caked with dust. I had a contractor out to look at it but that was before I discovered the intermittent issue and so of course as soon as he turned it on it started right up. He tested the capacitor and said that it was a little low but not so much as to stop it from starting.

So I guess my question is, is this a symptom of the blower motor burning out, or could it be super dirty and over working the motor making it overheat? Thanks in advance!

 

Welcome to the forums.

If it is that caked with dust...... then it can be shutting down on thermal limit. Typically that problem occurs as the bearings go bad. As the motor gets hot.... the bearings seize more. Usually it's the bearing on the blower wheel side that is the culprit. Carefully try lifting up the wheel. If there is any play..... the bearing (motor) is shot.