FPX 44 Blower

[Snakebit12]

Hello everyone.

Have an XPF 44 that was installed November 2014. We have noticed higher power bills this year and have been wondering about the blower output. The blower is in our eve pulling in outside air.

This morning, there is literally no air coming out of the vents. The blower is running and you can hear the frequency change when turning the adjustment knob.

This had also happened a few weeks back so I changed the filter (which was pretty clean) and the problem seemed to go away. But it's back.

I figure several possibilities:

1. The blower is shot...and has been slowly deteriorating all winter (which explains the higher power bills).
2. The wiring to the blower is compromised (mice?).
3. The air duct from the blower has come loose...either at the firebox (which would be a nightmare) or at the blower (easy enough to check).

Occams Razor suggests the blower but they are not cheap. I would like to test the 388 cfm blower for output at the blower- not exactly sure how to do that.

Suggestions/comments?

John

 

[Snakebit12]

Hello everyone.

Have an XPF 44 that was installed November 2014. We have noticed higher power bills this year and have been wondering about the blower output. The blower is in our eve pulling in outside air.

This morning, there is literally no air coming out of the vents. The blower is running and you can hear the frequency change when turning the adjustment knob.

This had also happened a few weeks back so I changed the filter (which was pretty clean) and the problem seemed to go away. But it's back.

I figure several possibilities:

1. The blower is shot...and has been slowly deteriorating all winter (which explains the higher power bills).
2. The wiring to the blower is compromised (mice?).
3. The air duct from the blower has come loose...either at the firebox (which would be a nightmare) or at the blower (easy enough to check).

Occams Razor suggests the blower but they are not cheap. I would like to test the 388 cfm blower for output at the blower- not exactly sure how to do that.

Suggestions/comments?

John

As an update 40 minutes after posting...air is now coming out of the vents. The temp gauge was higher than I would like so I absolutely need to fix this.

The resumption of airflow eliminates #3 - the possibility of a dislodged air duct. It probably eliminates #2 as well.

Which leaves me with the blower...or something you guys suggest.

Since posting, I recall that we have a Stihl BG-56 leaf blower. It produces (at the nozzle) is 412 cfm. Might be worth temporarily connecting to the duct to remind us what 400-ish cfm is supposed to feel like. Perhaps the blower cfm has been deteriorating so slowly that we didn't notice...until it stopped?