I think my convection fan is making some different noises. On start up it makes some high pitch whine/squeak but after it gets warmed up it functions okay. Probably can't really do anything but replace the motor right? It is about a $200 part and I am looking at a new stove for next season so if I can just keep it going for a few more months I would be happy. Anything wrong with running it until it craps out?
Whitfield Profile 30 convection fan/motor
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Bioburner
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I would google the part # I think you should be able to pickup that common blower for way under $100. Its a Fasco. Maybe check with Zorro and Grainger. Take it out as its not a hard job and blow out the fins and windings and might get a drop or two oil at least into the open end of the motor. Profile series started using seal bearings
If the stove overheats the snap switch should shut the feed off.
If the stove overheats the snap switch should shut the feed off.I found it a little cheaper, will shop around and see what I can find. It does looks like a very common fan. May take this one out and see if anything obvious is going on and see if I can get a few more months out of it. Had it sounding almost normal after it warmed up, probably a bearing or shaft going.
Bearing tend to dry out. If it's a sealed bearing you can try to get some 3in 1 oil into the bearings. Sometimes you can pry the seal open just enough to get some oil in and that's all it takes. If it metal shielded do not try prying the seal open as it will ruin the bearing totally. You can also try squirting in some grease of you have a grease gun and a bearing seal grease tip for it. If it's got rubber seals that is the way I would go. JMO
Bioburner
Moderator
Took it out and cleaned it, reinstalled and it is definitely making strange sounds, my guess is bearings, so I know it is only a matter of time. Ordered a new motor, probably even an upgrade from the original. Even if I get a new stove next year I will need this one working if I sell it or put it in the shed.
If your convection blower sounds somewhat similar to mine, I wouldn't worry so much. Mine has made this whining sound ever since I bought it in 2008 and yes, like yours the noise is worst at start up. It has not increased through the years, though.
Like you, I was also worried that the blower would break down due to worn out bearings, but first I wanted to be sure that voltage fed to the motor from the Triac on the control board was healthy ( perfectly symmetrical ). A Triac can fail in several ways... the most damaging for the motor is if the Triac starts to produce a non-symmetrical output signal - this means that a DC-component is fed to motor. In this situation the motor will slow down ( if not stall ), make a humming sound, become overheated and eventually trip the built in thermal protection.
The whining sound can be fine tuned away in my control board by a trimpot on the rear side, so the engineers at Whitfield must have been aware of this issue.
Does your room blower sound like this?
Like you, I was also worried that the blower would break down due to worn out bearings, but first I wanted to be sure that voltage fed to the motor from the Triac on the control board was healthy ( perfectly symmetrical ). A Triac can fail in several ways... the most damaging for the motor is if the Triac starts to produce a non-symmetrical output signal - this means that a DC-component is fed to motor. In this situation the motor will slow down ( if not stall ), make a humming sound, become overheated and eventually trip the built in thermal protection.
The whining sound can be fine tuned away in my control board by a trimpot on the rear side, so the engineers at Whitfield must have been aware of this issue.
Does your room blower sound like this?
Mine is definitely getting worse, I wish it sounded like yours, lol. Just hope it makes it another week, storm coming in this weekend and new motor should be here Tuesday. Now even when it warms up you can hear it, glad I bit the bullet and placed the order. Interesting that the $$ range was from over $250 - $125 for the same unit, you really have to watch and research. Has anyone used a Rotom motor? I thought it was a Fasco but when I got my shipping conformation it said Rotom. It has the correct Whitfield replacement numbers so it should be a direct change out.
Neither am I, but the name sure indicates a motor that is willing to rotate
Let's hope some experienced members will chime in to enlighten us on the Rotom motors.stmar, I sincerely hope that your old blower will make it until you have the new Rotom installed.
And as a fellow Whitfield owner I am very curious about your old blower... is it excessive wear in the bearings? You know, a wear so bad that the armature is touching/grinding on the stator housing? That would explain the noise, but wouldn't that make a rattling/grinding type of noise rather than a whining? As you can hear, I'm really curious to get in depth of explaining this blower noise.
Good luck and take care. Please keep us posted.
Bo
It has progressed to a rattling/grinding, I am sure it is the bearings. When I replace it I will check it out more thoroughly and see if I can find out what went bad. Can't complain too much; over a 15+ year period I have replaced 2 boards, 3 igniters and now this convection motor. Put it on low to see if I can prolong the run until next week, can't believe it is still going, lol, but it has not gotten out of the teens today so we will just keep running it.
Bioburner
Moderator
Teens, your lucky 
The fan replace is like 15 minute project. Don't wait till the sparks fly and possibly ruin another board
The fan replace is like 15 minute project. Don't wait till the sparks fly and possibly ruin another boardReceived my new "convention" motor, looks like a decent product and made in Canada. It is a direct replacement, plug and play, Rotom HB-RBM121. It did not come with a gasket but the existing gasket was in good shape. It is very quiet, comparatively, so we will run it a while and see how it holds up. The original motor had some play in the shaft but I could not see anything obvious, may tear it down later but may just keep it as a back up since it did still work.
P.S. Had to turn the pellet feed to low from medium and the fan to medium from high so it looks like the fan is more efficient/powerful which would make sense because of it being new and hopefully more advanced technology.
P.S. Had to turn the pellet feed to low from medium and the fan to medium from high so it looks like the fan is more efficient/powerful which would make sense because of it being new and hopefully more advanced technology.
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