Help! Our BIS Nova fireplace blower keeps dying!

[tennmomn3girls]

We have a BIS Nova wood insert that we have had for approx 4 years. In that time we have put 4 different blower kits in...my husband is getting to be quite the expert in replacing blowers. We have been dealing with Lennox Hearth Products and in fairness, they have replaced the one we bought from them 2 TIMES, but it takes them MONTHS to ship it. I suspect they are sending us either an undersized motor or some cheap aftermarket motor. We installed the last motor they sent this past spring and it is making a horrendous noise now, so no blower. Which makes it challenging to keep your house warm to say the least.
My question is this:

Can I put another type of fan/blower in this unit and if so what would you guys recommend?

I am DONE with Lennox to say the least. I do love my BIS Nova though.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

 

[oconnor]

Have you been cleaning the blower regularly? Of not it will get noisy as it's balance is thrown off. Post a pic of the blower and your fireplace to give us a good idea what the source of the problems may be.

 

[tennmomn3girls]

Here are 2 photos - one is of the BIS Nova itself, the next one is a picture of the last dead blower we replaced. No we haven't been cleaning them...
I'm not sure how you go about cleaning this blower as it is mounted way in the back? I think its past the blowing the dust off fix at this point

 

[oconnor]

Blowing the dust off goes a long way towards keeping them quiet and balanced. A small air compressor and a blower wand will do the trick. Even an air tank you fill at the service station would hold enough air to make a difference. There are a few web sites that sell replacement blowers. The key is to get one that has good bearings vs sleeves or bushings as they run quieter. Pulling the blower once a year to clean and lube it will increase its lifespan as well. Here is a link to one site I found quickly (broken link removed to http://www.fireplaceblowersonline.com/uzy5_fireplace_blower_for_security_fireplaces-details.aspx)

 

[tennmomn3girls]

I will get set up to keep the dust blown off of them, didn't realize this was a problem

Is it ok for us to install a UZY5 in this instead of the UZY6 that the literature says is the replacement fan?

Thank you so much Brian for the suggestions!

 

[rwhite]

Any idea what is gong bad? Is it a bearing issue or is the motor burning up? Different stove, but mine don't get cleaned that often (1-2 times a season) and it runs on low pretty much non stop for 4-5 months.

Where is the blower mounted on the stove? I can see the control knob on the blower but can't see where it supposed to mount on the stove.

 

[tennmomn3girls]

This time it sounds like maybe bearings went bad, honestly I am not sure. They start out making noise and they they quit. The blower is mounted underneath the stove in the back on a metal bracket. The 3 replacement blowers that Lennox sent have thermostatic control on them - the original one that came with the stove did not. We had a light switch installed to control the blower originally. This blower has run very little, was installed late last Spring. Dead already this year I would love to install a different, more long lasting, less maintenance blower if possible.

 

[rwhite]

With that many blowers going out there are a few things I would check: (I'm no electrician so this opinion and a buck will get you a cup of coffee)

Voltage and amperage at the power supply
Is the power cord from the motor a high temp cord. It doesn't look like it from the pics. I'm not even sure how hot a ZC fireplace would get underneath.
I would even consider placing a digital oven thermometer probe (the kind with the probe on a cord) where the blower goes and see how hot it gets under there.
May even take the motor to an electrical motor rebuild store and have them take a look at it. Maybe they could tell if it a faulty design or is something your doing.

I just can't imagine 5 blowers going bad in as many years.

 

[tennmomn3girls]

Testing it with a digital probe is a GREAT idea...I hadn't thought of that. My husband said he thought it might be getting too hot under there but of course I said, "that's silly...a fireplace blower should be designed with the fact that it's hot in mind.." but maybe not!
In the meantime, I need to replace the blower unit asap as it is rather chilly here in TN without it.
Does anyone think I can replace it with another blower (something other than the UZY6 that is $335 from Lennox?)
Maybe a UZY5 or a dual fan type?

 

[Hogwildz]

A new motor should not go in that short a time, cleaned or not.
I would research an aftermarket replacement and see if you have any luck with one. They will also be less expensive usually.

 

[rwhite]

Whatever route you go I would test the power supply before you buy a new one in to make sure there is no issue there.

 

[Hogwildz]

If it is truly the bearings going bad. The power supply should not have an effect on them. I do agree to check the power supply though, if only to rule it out.
Check the bearing area for anything that would resemble a fitting or hole that you might be able to get some lubrication to the bearings.

 

[Islander08]

Did you find a solution to your blower issues?

We also have a BIS Nova with a blower. After having 2 of the UZY6 blowers go bad (hideous grinding/squeaking sound), I replaced them with a transflow blower from Grainger. Surprisingly it had the same problem...failed with the same sound after 1 1/2 seasons.

I took apart the C-Frame Shaded Pole motor, and it has a bad bearing on the blower side of the motor. The other bearing is fine. It is a special bearing...(I call it a frankenbearing...22mm OD, 1/4" ID). Since the bearing housing is a rubber insert, we just used a standard 1/4" ID 3/4" OD bearing and wrapped some aluminum foil tape around it to bring it up the the 22mm, 0.866" OD size). It is back together now and working fine. Bearings are under $5 ea.

Let me know if you might like to try this, and I'll dig out one of the UZY6 blowers I have and see if a similar repair can be made....the motors look similar.

If this repair fails again, I'm going to rig up an external motor with a shaft through the side of the enclosure.

The problem is...I think...that the BIS Nova firebox gets hotter than most. I got an early model of the stove, and the temp sensor on the motor would make it cut out every time we had a decent fire going. I measured the temperature near the fan, and it was over 180F when it kicked off. The factory sent me a new blower with a heat shield over the motor (looks like the one you have), and that fixed the cycling but I still had 2 blowers go bad. I think its just too hot under there for an electric motor.

 

[mellow]

The 3 replacement blowers that Lennox sent have thermostatic control on them - the original one that came with the stove did not. We had a light switch installed to control the blower originally.

Light switch dimmers will kill a fan.

 

[bobsmom]

Tennmom, I have had exactly this problem with my Lennox Ladera fireplace installed late in 2012. It also uses the UZY6 blower, which appears to be a piece of cr*p. The blower installed with the fireplace lasted less than a year and, of course, quit in the middle of a cold snap. It was still under warranty, but it took over a month for Ladera to ship a replacement to the dealer. The dealer chickened out of talking to the distributor (thanks a bunch, guys), gave me their phone number and I called them daily until the replacement was shipped. That was a little over a year ago. Now it's winter again and the replacement blower has quit, just out of warranty. The dealer is whining again that they can't get parts from the distributor.

Like you, I suspect these blowers (and they look like tiny hamster wheels) are just not up to the job. Either it gets too hot in the chamber below the firebox, as others in the thread have suggested, or they just can't take being run 12 - 24 hours/day. I am *furious* with Lennox. There is no way I should have to pay $250 for a new hamster wheel every year! My question is the same as yours: isn't there a more robust aftermarket blower I could install? I'm dismayed that there doesn't seem to be.

The fireplace is my main heat source for about three months in the winter. It's the only time the blower is used. I have the adjustable speed switch, but only use it at max speed. Both times the fan has become noisy and stopped turning. If I was around when it happened, I could "jump start" the fan by poking it with a long rod, but finally everything just quit.

Are you listening Lennox? How do you justify selling this junk? And your customer service is just awful.

 

[mellow]

I have replaced a few insert fans with aftermarket ones, just find out as much as you can about the original, I have had good success finding them on ebay.

 

[lowcostheat]

Light switch dimmers will kill a fan.

That is my contribution also. Light dimmers NO; Motor speed controls, YES

 

[bobsmom]

It's been a year since I installed my replacement UZY6 blower (see my post from 12/12/14 above) and the new one just failed. It seems to have seized. I don't think this is a problem with the electrical supply since it happens to many of us; I'm more of the opinion that these little motors just can't take the heat under the firebox. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be any other place to mount them. I'm wondering whether I can mount some sort of heat reflective shield over the blower. This is very annoying and expensive.

 

[begreen]

It could be a design issue. I've never liked blowers at the rear of a unit. The Napoleon 1100 insert also has this flaw. It sounds like the bearing lubrication wick is drying out prematurely. Probably due to the heat. The solution might be to carefully drill an oil port into the felt and to oil the felt at least once a year.

I'm not sure if this will work, but NewEgg has a decent return policy if it's not a match.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA2KU1DB0966

 

[Sami_]

I have bought one of those to replace my dead BIS Nova blower (dead during this 3rd year). It will fit but the motor and electrical connection is on the other side compared to the original one. The wire is a bit short but it works.
The blower somewhat fits on the original mounting plate, although it has to be mounted reversed (left to right) to what the original blower needed. This also means that the heat shield above the motor cannot be properly mounted. I'm struggling with this still (installed this blower 2 days ago). I just dropped the heat shield over the motor without screwing it in and it sometimes vibrates. Touching it slightly with the poker will quiet it down, but its not ideal. I'll take it apart next summer and come up with something more permanent.

Bottom line, that newegg blower does work but the original screw holes don't align.

 

[ill_make_you_famous]

My mil had a bis nova put in the house the wife and I rented from her. Blower froze up first year. I took it out and cleaned it. Put graphite in the bushing and I was able to get through the rest of the season with it. I think part of the problem was that it was a bushing instead of a bearing and ash would get in there and stop it. I think its a poor designed fireplace all together. Granted, I hadn't burned much when I started with the nova but between the blower and the air intake at the bottom (drops ash down below the forebox) it just seems poorly designed. One morning I put in some hedge and pulled the lever out for the extra air intake and it dropped sparks down the little hole that air enters the firebox and sparked out into the room. Pretty scetchy stuff. Also, when I cleaned it, below the firebox, in front of the blower there was a pile of ash that had collected due to the use of the air intake.

 

[bobsmom]

In desperation, I sent off an email to this outfit: fireplaceblowersonline.com and they sent me an aftermarket FBK-250 to replace the Lennox UZY6. The gentleman I spoke with says the Lennoxes have a terrible reputation (not news to most of us --) and fail because they have "sleeve bearings" instead of ball bearings. He says the lubricant in the sleeve bearing can't take the temperature below the firebox and just evaporates off. The FBK-250 supposedly has ball bearings and is more robust. At any rate, it only costs about 1/5 of the UZY6, so if it fails at the same rate it's still less expensive.

I just finished installing it this a.m. There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of dust under the firebox where the blower is located and the fan doesn't look particularly dusty. The old, failed UZY6 is very hard to turn with my hand, though. I tried taking it apart to see whether I could lubricate the bearings, but they appear to be sealed. I finally got the motor to turn, but when hooked up to the fan shaft it won't budge. I'll let you know how long the FBK lasts.

 

[yrret]

I am in the same boat. My NEW BIS Nova stove blower was very noisy on its first run. Thought that was peculiar. Subsequent fires yielded less noise and less air until it quit altogether. We only enjoyed 8-10 fires and now we are waiting on a new blower. From what I am reading on this site, it may be next season?

 

[dam5h]

I've experienced this same problem. I think in the 6 years I've had my BIS NOVA stove I've replaced the blower 4 or 5 (I lost track) times. I usually end the winter using an external fan with a hacked together duct into the lower slit intake. I am needing to order a replacement now for this coming winter.

@bobsmom, I would love to hear how your FBK-250 is performing for you and if there are any special installation considerations to go with it.

Also I have 2 or 3 UZY6's laying around, has anyone successfully replaced the bearing in their's with better longer lasting bearings?

 

[ChristyC]

We have a BIS Nova wood insert that we have had for approx 4 years. In that time we have put 4 different blower kits in...my husband is getting to be quite the expert in replacing blowers. We have been dealing with Lennox Hearth Products and in fairness, they have replaced the one we bought from them 2 TIMES, but it takes them MONTHS to ship it. I suspect they are sending us either an undersized motor or some cheap aftermarket motor. We installed the last motor they sent this past spring and it is making a horrendous noise now, so no blower. Which makes it challenging to keep your house warm to say the least.
My question is this:

Can I put another type of fan/blower in this unit and if so what would you guys recommend?

I am DONE with Lennox to say the least. I do love my BIS Nova though.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

We have gone through 3 fans in 3 years...very expensive and time consuming to replace. We have not been happy with this product. The BIS Nova, I mean...there should be a reliable fan with it.