Why do I keep having combustion air inducer failure with Lennox G51MP

Lennox units are very particular about grounding. If you have a volt meter check from neutral to the ground wire in the furnace. If you read any voltage there isn't a good ground. Try attaching a ground wire to the gas line with a pipe clamp. This usually solves the problem.

Would a bad ground be responcible for actual physical failure of the blower unit? I had this happen twice.

Very unlikely. Just some defect in the design of the part most likely.

The name Lennox,, I wouldn`t have one in my home

Control boards are peculiar. Grounding is the common issue. It will cause some parts not to operate. Does the unit operate at all. The inducer fan is the first step in the sequence for the furnace to operate

The inducer didn't just stop working, the motor and wheel actually separated from the rest of the molded case as if it blew out. This was the second time it happened within two weeks. Everyone I speak to is puzzled. What are the odds that both units had a factory defect?

That sounds like very high odds of a manufacturing or design defect.

It sounds like you are describing a motor/fan that is tearing itself loose from the plastic case that should be suppoorting it --- is that right?


I'd take that back to a Lennox distributor and they should replace it under the guarantee on the part. Then they would probably mship the part back to Lennox to add to all the other failures they are getting until they figure out how to redesign the part so it works properly.

From time to time parts just aren't adequately designed. When they fail, manufacturers figure out how to fix the problem.

Any chance the installer overtightened the mounting screws, stipping out the mounting pan, allowing the assembly to fall off? Really just guessing here.

wmproop. I must be looking for a reddie here, but I agree, lennox is a bit overbuilt and way, way, way overpriced. Now don't get me wrong, there are some good lennox units out there, Im just afraid I couldn't afford any of them.:eek:

Yes, it actually separated from the rest of the molded case.

I`m wondering if (Ive seen it before) the inducer housing could have a bunchn of water in it causing pressure and making it come apart, I`ve seen this when the condensation drain lines not installed correctly and/or exhast pipe going uphill and water backs up into the inducer housing,, sing1544,

Check into it and let us no

<< lennox is a bit overbuilt and way, way, way overpriced >>


Heh, heh! With those high prices I'm sure they will be glad to replace the failed inducer motor assembly as many times as needed WITH A SMILE, right?


Personally, I favor Carrier gas furnaces.

Yep, Im sure they will smile all the way to the bank.

We don't see to many Carriers in my neck of the woods (at least not newer ones). Mostly Rheem/Ruud, York, Goodman/Amana and of course, have to work on the competitions Lennox's now and again. From what I see of any newer furnaces, they seem to all have a pretty good design (simplicity, and ease of servicability is key in my opinion, and most of them have that these days, to a certain extent). Still run across things like smart valves etc, that make my beer taste even better at night, but as a general rule, I think they are all pretty decent. It really all comes down to install, install, install. Any furnace is only as good as its installer. Not only in reliability, but in the reassurance that if a problem does arise, the installer will come back in a timely manner and stand behind his product of choice. Oh, Im babbling on now, Take care all.