I wake up this morning with this grinding sound coming from my furnace. First thought that goes through my head is a new furnace is going to be our Christmas present. But having the presence of mind to not start calling around looking for a new furnace I go downstairs and take a look at it. Thinking the bearings on the fan are toast, I go get the oil to try and lubricate them in hopes that they will last the remainder of the winter that way. I open up the furnace, and start turning the pulley on the motor. The motor turns, the belt turn, and the pulley on the fan turns, but the fan doesn't. So, I give the fan a little turn, nope it's not seized up. Turns out the set screw that holds the pulley on the fan had just come loose. Grabbed the right sized allen wrench, and viola, it's fixed.. Whew, there's at least three grand I don't have to find right now. What a way to start the week, stress, frustration, and relief all in about ten minutes...
Hope the rest of the week goes better.