The draft inducer is a small fan motor that starts before your burners fire. It creates negative pressure through the heat exchanger to safely pull combustion gases out through the flue. The pressure switch monitors this — without proper draft, the furnace locks out and the burners never ignite. In a Minnesota winter, a dead inducer means no heat fast.
Startup Sequence
On thermostat call: (1) Control board starts inducer. (2) 15–30 second pre-purge. (3) Pressure switch closes confirming draft. (4) Ignitor fires. (5) Burners light. If step 3 fails — furnace locks out. On Goodman furnaces this is typically a 2-flash error code. See our full Goodman error code guide and our guide on pressure switch diagnosis.
Failure Signs
| Symptom | Likely Cause |
|---|---|
| Grinding or squealing at startup | Failing bearing |
| Furnace won't ignite, pressure fault | Inducer not running or weak |
| Humming but no airflow | Seized motor or failed capacitor |
| Rattling from inducer housing | Loose wheel or debris |
Check the Capacitor First
A failed run capacitor ($15–$40 part) causes the inducer to hum without spinning. Replacing the capacitor often restores a "failed" inducer at minimal cost — always check this before replacing the full assembly.
Replacement Cost
OEM Goodman inducer assembly: $150–$400. Labor: $100–$200. Total: $250–$600. On a furnace over 15 years old, weigh this against a new unit — browse our Goodman furnace collection at Furnace Direct for factory-direct pricing. Goodman parts are widely stocked in Minnesota — see our guide on where to buy Goodman parts.
Also see: furnace not turning on checklist and furnace emergency guide.
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