The short answer
On a Goodman or Amana gas furnace in Northern Virginia, the inducer is the small motor that starts first and pulls the exhaust out before the burners light. When it’s in trouble you’ll usually see a pressure switch code, 3 flashes on an older board or EE2 on a newer one, or hear a new rattle, whine or grind. Most of the time the motor is fine and something is fighting it: water in the housing, a clogged condensate drain ($175 to $420 to clear) or a blocked pipe. The visit starts with a $99 diagnostic.
What the inducer does, and the order it runs in
Every heating cycle on a Goodman runs the same steps, and the inducer goes first. If you know the order, you can tell from the basement where it’s stopping.
Swipe to see all columns →
Swipe to see all columns →
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1 | The thermostat calls; the board checks the limit is closed and the pressure switch is open |
| 2 | The inducer starts |
| 3 | The pressure switch closes when it feels the draft, and the inducer purges the burners |
| 4 | The igniter heats, then the gas valve opens and the burners light |
| 5 | About 30 seconds later the main blower starts |
| 6 | When the call ends, the inducer runs a short post purge, then the blower winds down |
From Goodman’s service manuals for the GMSS9 single-stage, current single-stage, modulating furnaces. Every code for every Goodman board is in our Goodman furnace codes chart.
The $67 Heating Check
We check your furnace, heat pump or boiler before winter. Through December 31. See the offer
The codes an inducer problem shows
Swipe to see all columns →
Swipe to see all columns →
| Your furnace shows | Which Goodman board | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 3 red flashes | Older single-stage (GMSS9, GMS8 and the Amana twins) | Pressure switch didn’t close: weak draft, blocked pipe or water |
| 2 red flashes | Older single-stage (GMSS9, GMS8 and the Amana twins) | Pressure switch closed before the inducer started |
| EE2 or EE1 | Current display (GR9S, GD9S, GR9T, AR9S and similar) | Pressure switch didn’t close, or closed too early |
| EEJ | Current display (GR9S, GD9S, GR9T, AR9S and similar) | Inducer relay error; Goodman says replace the control board |
| EbF | Modulating (GRVM97, GDVM97) | Inducer communicating error |
| Red 3 or red 6 | Two-stage GMEC96 (green, amber and red lights) | Low fire switch stuck open, or the switch opened 5 times in one cycle |
What the noises usually mean
Goodman’s manuals don’t describe sounds, so this is from our techs, not from Goodman.
- Gurgling or sloshing right as it starts: water in the inducer housing or the hose, almost always a drain problem on a high efficiency furnace.
- A rattle that comes and goes: a loose mount, or something in the blower wheel.
- A high whine or a grinding hum that’s getting louder: bearings wearing out. Goodman’s inducer bearings are sealed, so a worn one gets replaced, not oiled.
- A hum and no spin: the motor is getting power and can’t turn.
Other furnace sounds are in our furnace noise guide.
What causes it
Swipe to see all columns →
Swipe to see all columns →
| Cause | How you’d know | What fixing it costs |
|---|---|---|
| A clogged condensate drain or trap | Gurgling, water in the switch hose, water near the furnace | $175 to $420 to clear it, with a trap and a float switch added |
| A blocked vent or intake pipe | Snow, ice, leaves or a nest at the white pipes outside | Nothing if you can clear it; a pipe repair is priced in writing first |
| A plugged port or a cracked hose | Water or debris in the little port the switch hose connects to | Priced in writing before any work starts |
| A worn inducer motor | Loud, slow to spin up, or hums without turning | Priced in writing before any work starts |
| The board’s inducer relay | EEJ, or the motor never gets power | $550 to $1,180 for a new board |
What you can check yourself
Goodman’s manuals are written for trained technicians and say not to bypass any safety circuit, so the line for a homeowner is the outside of the furnace.
- Listen to the start. Does the inducer start? Does it run for a minute with no ignition? That alone narrows it down.
- The pipes outside. Clear snow, leaves or a nest from the two white PVC pipes. Don’t push anything into them.
- The drain. Follow the tubing to the floor drain or the condensate pump. Sludgy water in the trap or a full pump is a likely answer.
- Video the code before you reset anything.
Don’t take the inducer off, don’t blow into the hose and don’t jump the pressure switch. If you smell gas, get everyone out and call the gas company from outside. If a carbon monoxide alarm is going off, that comes first.
What a tech does on the visit
The tech checks for 115 volts at the inducer during the start. Goodman’s test is simple: if the voltage is there and the motor doesn’t run, the motor is done. If it runs, a gauge on the switch line shows how much draft it actually pulls, and the tech checks the housing for water, the port, the drain and the venting. You get the price in writing before any work starts. A new inducer depends on the model. Our heating check is $67 per system through December 31, for a furnace, heat pump or boiler.
We fix Goodman and Amana furnaces across Northern Virginia, in Ashburn, Leesburg, Sterling, Herndon, Chantilly, Fairfax, Arlington and Manassas. Every furnace repair price we charge is on our heating page.
More Goodman and Amana, one problem at a time: pressure switch: 3 flashes or EE2; limit switch: 4 flashes or EE3; lockout and weak flame: 1 flash, EE0, EE6; solid red light, no light or rapid flashing; rollout switch: 6 flashes or E11; Goodman heat pump and AC codes; flame sensor: 7 flashes or EE6; display codes: 1dL, 9H, F02; how to reset a Goodman furnace; troubleshooting by symptom; Amana furnace codes; a Goodman heat pump that won’t heat; a Goodman furnace that keeps shutting off; a Goodman furnace blowing cold air; how old is my Goodman: the serial number. Other brands are in our error codes and warning lights guide.
Get it fixed
Call (703) 997-9757 and we’ll get a tech out to look at your Goodman furnace’s inducer. We answer day or night. Rather book online? Pick a time here and a box of warm cookies comes with the visit. A repair visit starts with our $99 diagnostic, and you get the price in writing before any work starts. Already have a quote? We’ll give you a free second opinion. Rated 5.0 stars across 1,138 reviews on Google, Angi, Yelp, the BBB and Facebook, Virginia Class A license 2705192276.
Questions people ask
Why is my Goodman furnace inducer motor so loud?
Usually water in the housing, a loose mount, or worn bearings. Gurgling points at the drain. A whine or grind that keeps getting louder points at the motor.
How do I know if my Goodman inducer motor is bad?
It hums and doesn’t spin, it’s slow to start, or it’s loud and getting louder. A tech confirms it: 115 volts at the motor and no spin means the motor.
Can a blocked vent cause an inducer problem?
Yes. The motor runs but can’t pull enough draft, so the pressure switch never closes and you get 3 flashes or EE2. Check the white pipes outside first.
How much does a Goodman inducer motor repair cost?
The diagnostic is $99. Clearing a clogged drain is $175 to $420. A new inducer motor depends on the model, and the tech prices it in writing before any work starts.
