Sound-based diagnostics for a combustion air inducer

A Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) analysis method, comprising:

• operating an HVAC system, w herein operating the HVAC system comprises sending a command to initiate a heat cycle;
• determining a speed of a combustion air inducer, wherein the combustion air inducer is configured to provide combustion air to the HVAC system;
• determining that the speed of the combustion air inducer exceeds a first speed threshold value;
• in response to determining that the speed of the combustion air inducer exceeds the first speed threshold value, activating a microphone to capture a first audio signal;
• receiving the first audio signal from the microphone while operating the HVAC system;
• determining that the speed of the combustion air inducer exceeds a second speed threshold value, wherein the second speed threshold is greater than the first speed threshold value;
• identifying a first audio signature for the combustion air inducer from an audio signature library comprising a plurality of audio signatures, wherein:
• each audio signature identifies one or more attributes for a portion of an audio signal;
• each audio signature is associated with a fault type for the HVAC system;
• and
• each fault type is associated with a component identifier for a component of the HVAC system;
• in response to determining that the speed of the combustion air inducer exceeds the second s peed threshold value, determining the first audio signature for the combustion air inducer is not present within the first audio signal;
• identifying a second audio signature for an integrated furnace controller from the plurality of audio signatures of the audio signature library;
• determining whether the second audio signature for the integrated furnace controller is present within the first audio signal;
• determining a fault type based on the determination of whether the second audio signature for the integrated furnace controller is present within the first audio signal;
• identifying a first component identifier for a first component of the HVAC system that is associated with fault type;
• and
• outputting a recommendation identifying the first component identifier.

A Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) analysis device, comprising:

• a memory operable to store an audio signature library comprising a plurality of audio signatures, wherein:
• each audio signature identifies one or more attributes fora portion of an audio signal;
• each audio signature is associated with a fault type for an HVAC system;
• and
• each fault type is associated with a component identifier for a component of the HVAC system;
• and
• a processor operably coupled to the memory, configured to:
• operate the HVAC system, wherein operating the HVAC system comprises sending a command to initiate a heat cycle;
• determine a speed of a combustion air inducer, wherein the combustion air inducer is configured to provide combustion air to the HVAC system;
• determine that the speed of the combustion air inducer exceeds a first speed threshold value;
• in response to determining that the speed of the combustion air inducer exceeds the first speed threshold value, activate the microphone to capture a first audio signal;
• receive the first audio signal from the microphone while operating the HVAC system;
• determine that the speed of the combustion air inducer exceeds a second speed threshold value, w herein the second speed threshold is greater than the first speed threshold value;
• in response to determining that the speed of the combustion air inducer exceeds the second speed threshold value, determine a first audio signature from the plurality of audio signatures of the audio signature library for the combustion air inducer is not present within the first audio signal;
• determine whether a second audio signature from the plurality of audio signatures of the audio signature library for an integrated furnace controller is present within the first audio signal;
• determine a fault type based on the determination of whether the second audio signature for the integrated furnace controller is present within the first audio signal;
• identify a first component identifier for a first component of the HVAC system that is associated with fault type;
• and
• output a recommendation identifying the first component identifier.