Why Is My AC Fan Not Spinning?
Air conditioners are powerful appliances that work hard to keep your home cool. One of the crucial components of the AC is the fan. If your fan stops spinning, you’ll notice almost immediately because cool air will no longer come out. Your AC fan not spinning can be caused by a lot of reasons.
Keep reading to discover a little about the most common reasons why an AC fan is not working, including:
- Power supply problems
- Faulty capacitor
- Defective fan motors
- Blocked or frozen fan blades
- When to call a professional for AC repairs
The good news is that an AC fan that is not working can almost always be repaired by a professional. It typically doesn’t mean you need to replace the unit.
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Power Supply Problems
One of the most common reasons an AC fan has stopped spinning is a power supply issue, such as a tripped circuit breaker, blown fuse, or loose electrical connection.
Because these are electrical issues, the safest bet is to hire a technician to review the problem. You don’t want to risk endangering yourself, breaking the unit, or doing a DIY repair that could cause an electrical fire later on.
An HVAC technician can come in, turn off the power to the unit, and use the right tools and knowledge to safely identify the exact power supply problem.
Faulty Capacitor
The outdoor air conditioner fan on your unit is usually equipped with several capacitors. Capacitors act like batteries and can store power to supply the fan in the air conditioner. If one or more of the capacitors starts to malfunction, the fan won’t be able to start or maintain the speed it needs to achieve for the AC to cool your home properly.
A start capacitor starts the fan, while a run capacitor provides a small amount of energy while the fan is running. Both of these capacitors need to function well for the AC fans to continue spinning.
Some of the signs of a faulty capacitor are a humming noise or the fan attempting to start, but failing.
For a quick check, you can visually inspect the capacitor and if you see any physical deformities, including swelling, bulging, or leaking fluids, it’s a good sign that you have capacitor failure.
However, note that you should never touch the capacitors. Instead, contact a professional to test and replace them safely. Capacitors carry a residual charge and you may get hurt if you try to fix them yourself.
Capacitors tend to fail in units that are 10 years or older or units that have not been well-maintained.
Defective Fan Motors
A worn-out or damaged fan motor can cause the AC fan to stop spinning. This could be due to normal wear and tear, lack of maintenance, or electrical issues.
In some cases, a homeowner may be able to resolve a fan motor issue on their own. For example, homeowners can tighten loose mounting screws or lubricate fan motors that have oil holes.
However, it’s far more common for the fan motor to be a complicated issue requiring professional repair. If you smell burning or experience frequently tripped breakers, do not try to repair it yourself.
Blocked or Frozen Fan Blades
Debris, like leaves, dirt, or even ice buildup, can block the fan blades, preventing them from spinning. Blocked or frozen fan blades can likely be the issue if the outside AC unit fan is not running, but the inside is.
You can try turning your AC off and carefully cleaning all the blades. Make sure to remove any environmental obstructions safely.
If you see ice on your unit, wait for the ice to thaw naturally before cleaning and restarting the air conditioner.
When to Call a Professional for AC Repairs
Unless your air conditioner problem seems fairly straightforward (like a loose screw or dirt blocking the fan blades), you probably need to call in a professional for AC repair.
DIY repairs might seem like a money-saving solution, but they come with many risks. If you try to DIY a complex issue, you might hurt yourself, break the unit entirely, cause a refrigerant leak, or even cause an electrical fire.
Instead, hire a professional technician from Champion Air to come in and fix your unit safely and quickly.
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