The most common issues for air conditioning services are refrigerant leaks, inadequate maintenance, electric control failure, sensor problems, and drainage problems. Unfortunately, your AC’s fan can also be a source of concern. And if you found out that your AC’s fan stops spinning even though the system is running, then the following factors might be the culprit.
Capacitor Breakdown
Your air conditioner’s capacitors can be found inside the AC unit connected to three main motors; the compressor, the blower, and the outdoor fan motor. It is a small cylindrical device that supplies and stores electrical energy, which runs the fan motor and the rest of the AC unit. Although there are various reasons for the capacitors’ failure, the most common causes are exposure to high voltage, high temperature, or due to old age.
Solution: Turn on and off your condenser to see if the fan will work. If the fan is still at rest, it needs to be replaced by a professional air conditioning repair technician.
Power Issues
Since your AC system is powered by electricity, you may want to check the power supply. Typically, the circuit breaker can be tripped if the AC system overheats, which can cause your AC to shut down.
Solution: Look for your main breaker box panel to confirm if the AC system circuit breaker was tripped. If so, it can be fixed by flipping the switch at the circuit breaker.
Burnt Out Motor
If your AC fan is not working, your first suspicion would be its motors. Fan motors are prone to wear and tear just like any mechanical device. Poor maintenance, old age, and being overused are some of the reasons why fan motors break down.
Solution: Depending on the condition of your AC system, the answer for burnt out or bad fan motors are either air conditioning repair or system replacement, which can be quite expensive.
Clogged Air Filter
A dirty filter causes various problems for the users and their system. Once your air filter is clogged by dust or dirt build-up, it can restrict its normal airflow that could cause the formation of ice. An ice build-up will result in your air conditioner’s fan to work harder than usual, which can cause it to shut down.
Solution: Change or clean your air filters regularly. Look into the manufacturer’s manual if you want to know how often the air filter should be cleaned or replaced.
A Damaged Belt
If your air conditioner unit is an old model, the problem might rely on its belt. Over time, the belt might get loose or break, which results from the fan to stop working.
Solution: a professional HVAC technician can quickly replace the belt, but you might consider replacing your AC system into a newer model to avoid belt-related issues.
Contactor Problems
There is a small device located inside of the compressor, which controls the flow of electricity to many components of your AC system. It’s called a contactor and It works like an off/on switch to the electricity allowing the system to run smoothly, including the fan. If the contactor becomes faulty then the AC won’t work correctly.
Solution: Call your trusted HVAC technician for air conditioning service to replace the contactor properly.
Contact Tri-City Heating today for all your AC repair needs in Loveland and Fort Collins, CO!
