Rheem
Blower or Inducer Bearing Wear
Furnace produces a high-pitched squealing or screeching noise during operation
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Safety Warning
This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.
If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.
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Possible Causes
Worn blower motor bearings, Loose or rubbing blower wheel, Worn inducer motor bearings, Misaligned motor mount
How to Fix / Troubleshooting
Safety first: Turn off power before touching moving parts.
- Identify source: Remove panels and briefly run the furnace to determine if the noise comes from the main blower or the inducer.
- Inspect blower wheel: Check for rubbing against the housing, loose set screw on the shaft, or debris in the wheel.
- Check motor play: Spin the blower and inducer wheels by hand with power off. Roughness or wobble indicates bearing wear.
- Plan replacement: Worn motors or wheels should be replaced with Rheem-compatible parts. Lubrication is rarely a permanent fix on sealed motors.
Operating with failing bearings can lead to sudden failure and overheating.
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Repair Difficulty
Medium
3/5
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