Power vent blower replacement and efficiency questions

[djb25]

Hi everyone,

I just recently installed a Modine natural gas hanging heater in my detached 20'x28' garage.

The heater was acquired second-hand (it was free). It is an older propellor style heater, model MV-50. It is power-vented via a small squirrel cage blower.

Unfortunately, the power vent blower/fan has apparently failed. It was in rough shape when I installed it - quite a bit of rust in and around the blower. The reducer cone from 4" to 3" coming off the blower was completely rusted through, etc. I replaced the ducting and connections and had it running for about three weeks. Of course, it hasn't run much because of the warm PA weather.

Anyway, it's been vibrating more and more. Today it started making all kinds of horrible noises, so I'm assuming that the blower fan has broken or something similar has happened. I haven't pulled it apart yet, but from the sounds, I'm thinking it is pretty much shot.

I checked modineparts.com and the blower is available for the bargain price of $333! At that price, I feel as though I may as well just buy a newer, more efficient heater.

However, the blower itself seems like it is nothing special. It really looks like a cheap bathroom exhaust fan (but obviously capable of handling the exhaust hear). Are there universal replacements available for these blowers? It attaches to the heater via a 4" pipe, so there's nothing special there. If they are available - where would I buy one? Anything specific I should look for?

 

[jonjon1]

I have used tjernland HS1's for veting units that either A you could no longer buy the venters for or B the oem venters were trash and a constant problem or too expensive...

It would be a pretty easy install, just wire the venter where your venter was wired and pipe it in the vent.... a few elbows and you are done... ISSUE is they are not cheap either, lol... $240 ish...

Another optoin is a d-3 which is an inducer, about $80, and installs in a pice of smoke pipe, BUT this would only be good for short runs and low firing rates, they are not a real power venter, more or less gets the air flowing the right direction and should onl be used for a verticle draft situation where after the pipe gets hot your draft will take over....


My vote if you unit is in good shape would be to retro fit an hs1 onto it and never worry about the venting portion again, $140 and they ar well made and last a long time, plus serviceable...