A blower for a furnace is provided where the blower has an impeller that is configured to create a primary air flow of combustion air into the blower housing and a secondary air flow of cooling air through the blower motor. The primary air flow of combustion air into the furnace generates hot exhaust gases for a heat exchanger in the furnace. The secondary air flow cools the blower motor. The secondary air flow is mixed with the hot exhaust gases in the blower housing and cools the exhaust gases before being discharged from the blower housing.