Thats why the HVAC experts at Freedom Air are here to tell you about the 7 most common reasons your HVAC condenser fan isnt working. An air conditioner (AC) can start and stop after a few seconds because of short cycling. Typically this is caused by an internal short in the motor windings. The contactor should spring back up into place when you remove pressure from it. Ok, I am not sure about the model number of my unit either. My heat pump has a similar issue only in reverse. If its tripped, flip the breaker to off then back to on. If the issue persists, contact a professional. I have not got that error since. You will not receive a notification when a response to your question has been posted. Contents. Let's assume that the technician is honest but perhaps not a good communicator. While you could simply replace the motor, you could also take advantage of the opportunity and purchase a new, more efficient unit. Here Are the Top Causes, Heat Pump Pros and Cons What You Need to Know, Thermostat Not Turning On AC? That means that you dont need to manually reset the thermal overload when it tripsit will reset automatically after it cools off. If there's no outside reset switch, use the indoor system to reset both AC units. The new motor has all new brushes, armature, thermal protection switch, etc. Step 2 - Removed the quick disconnect connector. I dried the lines and did the pressure testing and all held perfectly. Heres What to Do. A contactor is a moving part that pulls in when it switches on. Other compressor units such as those used. Please bookmark this page to make it easy for you to check back for our response. Fan Selection: Depending on vehicle design, the fans may operate singly or in . First the capacitor was replaced. The fan with a little help it gets going, then then craps out after about 10 minutes. Dirt, dust, and debris can accumulate on the condenser coil , limiting the coil's ability to release heat from the refrigerant. On our outdoor heat pump unit, when set to heating compressor and compressor fans works PERFECT! Freedom Air and Heat, Inc. That could also mean that its bad. Straight AC or HeatPump? Sign up for a new account in our community. If you don't have a meter they aren't all that expensive. The AC is OFF. So what do you do when the condenser fan in your AC stops running? A detailed case of diagnosing and fixing a condenser fan that was running backwards at speed changes is discussed below at. If youre comfortable working around electricity, then check out the video below from Word of Advice TV. Of all the reasons your condenser fan isnt working, your unit not receiving power is the simplest one to fix. An easier way of checking your capacitor is to use a voltmeter. The next task is figuring out why the thermal overload tripped in the first place. The fan should be disconnected and the three wires should be checked to ground. Fan control circuit board is brand new. I am thinking of asking for a second opinion just to be sure before I sink money into a new coil. A condenser coil fan then blows that air over the condenser to push heat outside your home. Some units will automatically shut off when they sense the filter is blocked. Test the windings of the motor of the evaporator fan with a multimeter. When there's a loud banging as your unit runs, it's broken and needs . Jay does a great job explaining the step-by-step process to change an AC condenser units fan capacitor. Stephen. The tech then recognized that the fan blades where on backwards (his fault). The condenser fan has not stopped. Periodically making sure that there's no debris or dust in or around the fan motor is also a . Faulty thermostat: The wiring may . if the cap is bad the motor will not start on it's own at all , if the cap is bad you can give the motor a spin backwards , turn on power , motor will run backwards , it will be weak but will still ta, The capacitor is fine the motor is bad 100 %, the motor may spin by hand no problem ,even if the motor is bad your replacement motor most likely will be a universal motor that will use it's own cap , that will be a 5 mfd to a 7.5 mfd . Most capacitors are cylindrically-shaped, like a large battery. Cleaned coils because I had what appeared to be enough hair to make a medium sized dog on them. Fan in putside unit stops running in a halo hour. Call FREEDOM AIR! Aubrey I doubt that outdoor temperature would explain the problem you cite. This is at the front of the refrigerator underneath the door. If the condenser fan doesn't when the compressor is on, then is due to one of the following reasons: Condenser fan capacitor is bad. Already read about discharging the capacitor for safety. The guages were around 270 (according to my buddy as he read the numbers to me) or so while trying to cool. Fan is brand new. What is your Model number? Also. Air Flow. If I wait until way later (hours), the fan will start with the unit and run another 20-25m before turning off (while the unit is still running). One copper line cold and one warmer like normal. Ordered a new one off Amazon with the same CAP rating. There is more than one possible cause of a noisy air conditioner. I am semi handy-don't have an ohm meter (couldn't read it if I did) however some of these comments about the electrical are scary. Apologies for the delay. Still same, fan on condenser stops after a few. Though a burnt-out motor seems like a serious problem, it actually presents an excellent opportunity. Either can shut down the fan motor. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. Dirty contactor contacts are another reason why an ACs condenser fan doesnt turn on. it depends. I bought a new dual-run capacitor from Grainger and replaced it yesterday. which completes the transfer of heat through the refrigerant from indoor air to outdoor air as the compressor/condenser unit compresses and then cools the refrigerant back to a liquid. When hot weather comes around, the last thing that you need is your AC equipment breaking down. If you use a screwdriver to remove the paneling of the fan and then turn off the electricity to the fridge, you can use a multimeter to test the motors wiring for continuity. Broken or stuck condenser fan. This fan is usually called the condenser fan. More subtle would be a mis-adjusted or debris-clogged expansion valve or reversing valve.Note that Pioneer's mini split units come pre-charged with R410A in a volume sufficient to ccommodate refrigerant line lengths up to 25 ft. per circuit. Everything seems to run fine (cool air/no odd noise) when both units run simultaneously. Here's why: Your standard split A/C unit has 2 parts: the outside unit and the inside unit. 7. AC started back up, and it repeated the same issue. Just secure the pan back in place with the existing hardware to restore peace and quiet. Unfortunately this condition could indicate a burned-out A/C or heat pump compressor motor. Sebastian/Vero Beach 772-778-2272. Any help would be great! I was unsure if perhaps having the fan unit so hot might have been part of the problem and causing the fan to shut down. Condenser fan motor runs backwards. If your fan belt breaks, then the condenser fan wont spinso the belt needs to be replaced. Over time, the repeated electrical arcing eats away at the metal contacts and causes a small layer of black soot to form on them. Compressor still running. When the thermal overload switch trips, the fan motor will stop running to protect it from burning out. Test and Replace the Fan Motor. 3. Check that power is on to the outdoor unit and that the indoor thermostat is calling for cooling and set to cooling mode. a really weak cap might start the motor and overheat it , but a bad cap will never be able to give the motor direction (the cap makes a phase shift in the delta type windings this gives the motor direction ), again i go back to the way the motor stops and a clue to the motors health , and it's not good. The best way is to clean them using contact cleaner. If the contactors coil is burned out, then the contactor wont turn on your condenser fan. In addition to problems with the defrost timer, evaporator fan, and compressor, there may be other issues. Turn off electrical power to the indoor unit. The fan turns off outside and doesn't come back on until I switch the ac off and wait at least an hour or so n but it is still blowing air in the apartment. The compressor is depending on the fan to move air across the condensing coil to convert high pressure, high temperature gas back to a liquid refrigerant. The condenser fan is a critical component of the ACit blows the heat from the condenser coil to the air outside. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hi, my name is Trey Lewis and Im the founder and chief editor athvactrainingshop.com. Indeed you point out that when replacing a start/run capacitor itnisnimportant to use the proper one. Filter,and coils clean; ventsare open. Ok so I had same issues listed above pulled motor and capacitor out of a running exact same unit put in mine and now compressor kicks on contractor working as it should and still condensing fan will not run and all parts are oem and brand new off running unit makes absolutely no sense please help my house is heating up hotter than outside temperatures in the day time and its 3 am and finally down to78 degrees, You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. My new cap and motor arrive Wednesday, so I'll change them both out. I've included pictures of the schematic as you suggested.Really hoping this new fan is able to be used. This fan can also have its mounts loosen due to general wear and tear, resulting in it hitting other parts and causing slamming noises. Continue readingat CAPACITORS for HARD STARTING MOTORS or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX. Make sure the freezer door seals shut. If the fan itself is balanced and undamaged and secured to the shaft and the fan motor buzzes or hums the motor may be damaged, overheated, have an internal bearing failure, or the motor may be hard starting. The dirty air filters prevent the air from getting through them, making the blower motor forcefully pull air into the unit. All of the above-listed air conditioner or heat pump components are discussed in detail throughout this website using the links at the left of these pages. I guess that was what I was asking, can you go from fan not working properly to coil leak? Capacitor is brand new. If the fan starts up and keeps spinning on its own, the capacitor is bad. Not sure if it's external or if it even has one. Replaced capacitor because it was cheap and could get next day. On occasion a "slow" outdoor fan may be due to a fan blade that is not secured to the fan motor shaft. Fan motor is bad. But when it turns off it will come back on 1-3 min later (best guess). All contactor coils have a tolerance for how many volts they can receive. Engine running hot. It is now August 19th. Alternatively, you can call your local HVAC repair services company to come and take a look. FAQs | Repair Videos | Academy | Newsletter | Contact, By I've bought nothing but Amrad caps for 3 years now. If the compressor won't start and if the unit trips a breaker or blows a fuse as soon as it tries to turn on, the motor is burned out and shorted. Power source switched off or unplugged. Got lucky and looks like the cheapie fix was the right fix. I'm not sure how refrigerant leak would make the fan run intermittently. There also may be a reset button on the outside AC unit that can be pushed. Check the freezer's compressor. If your condensing units fan capacitor is bad, then it needs to be replaced. Jim, thanks so much for the very nice feedback - that's just super. Thank you for your response. It turns fairly easily, but seemed to come to a stop abruptly. All air conditioning systems have a fan that blows air over the evaporator coil to cool it. Replace a malfunctioning condenser fan motor. The condenser fan motor itself is a part that can go bad. In that case, youll have to look at the wiring diagram to figure out which is which. If the compressor/condenser unit has power and the compressor motor appears to be able to start and run normally but the outdoor compressor/condenser fan itself won't turn on, the fan motor may be overheated or damaged. Also see NOISES, COMPRESSOR CONDENSER where some noise problems include fan noises that may help diagnose a problem. Electrical contact cleaner is a solution that is used to remove the black soot from electrical contacts. 2. My goal for this website is to help homeowners troubleshoot and maintain their homes HVAC systems. Fan is still intact. It had gotten down to 62 degrees. The wiring diagram just above may not apply. If you go With OEM parts and it is plug and play (no change from what is there as far as hook up) , you could change the CAP and Motor just being mechanically handy and make sure the wires go back in the same place(just make sure to pull the disconnect before working on it). The condenser fan is the key to the lifespan of your HVAC unit. Turn off the breaker or thermostat . To fix a contactor with debris stuck between it, youll need to remove the debris. 2. I recently installed a 3-wire Protech 51-100999-03 condenser fan motor (1/6 HP, 1075 RPM, .73 A, CCW rotation) and a 24" dual blade, 28 degree pitch, CCW fan blade. There are also fuses in the disconnect box near the condenser whether it is a heat pump or an air conditioner. Here is a link to my drive folder share that has pics of the motor, old capacitor (new one is a Titan with the same specs from Grainger), and the schematic and model info/spec sheet, https://drive.google.com/open?id=1grZ8eUWjByFol_cpuomImiekyLdhT4JD. Tried again after washing out well. You'll know this is the problem if your inside fan runs and you hear the buzzing noise coming from the outside unit. This fan blows building air across the evaporator coil (or cooling coil) to cool and dehumidify indoor building air. Just had an older unit replaced by a new 3.5 ton inside air handler and outside condenser. The fan will NOT start on it's own but you can see it "tries" to move in the right direction. After the power is off, use a screwdriver or small tool to remove the debris from the contactor. Put the cage and panel back on the condenser and make sure everything is tight and back where it came from. Im at a loss. AC ran fin all Summer of 2018. 1. If the compressor/condenser unit is wired with 240V (or "220 volts") as most are, an overcurrent at compressor start-up may be tripping just one leg of a two-pole breaker or one of a pair of fuses, leaving the other circuit "live". After you turn the power back off, replace everything the way it was. Step Four: Check The Outdoor Unit's Disconnect. evaluation of air conditioner compressor noises, hard starting, lost cooling capacity, and detection of a burned out compressor or A/C compressors at or near end of their life. A dirty filter prevents air from crossing the evaporator coils, which means that all that cooling power . Also, noticed the old fan wire actually has a quick connect coupler for all four wires to connect into a circuit board. Clogged air filter. Homeowners often report a heat pump fan not spinning. I told him to get lost because I can get a new fan for $20.00 and a motor for about $150.00 so his labor isn't worth $980.00. A condenser fan that won't start when power is turned on, but whose blades will spin easily when power is off may have a worn fan motor shaft bearing. Dirty condenser coils. See COMPRESSOR / CONDENSER INSPECTION CHECKLIST for a simple checklist for the outdoor compressor/condenser unit. 3. (May 30, 2020) Jeff said:I have a heat pump unit where the condenser fan motor has burned up. Now if the condenser fan runs in "heat" you may have a problem with the fan relay or the main controller. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website. Step 3 - Removed the access panel on the . Insert the test probes in the connector on the fan motor leads . If there's something wrong with your air conditioner that makes it shut off after just 15 minutes, it's usually one of these issues: Unit is overheating: This often means there is simply a buildup of grime inside the compressor unit, but it could also mean there's a refrigerant leak or another problem. On 2020-06-17 - by (mod) - Humming fan motor. Are the bearings damaged or covered in sludge? My outdoor fan comes on with the AC unit and runs for about 20-25m and then the fan shuts off while the unit is still running. The circuit breaker has been tripped because of overheating. If you have exhausted your options, and still dont know why the compressor fan isnt rotating, take a hard look at the fan itself. 1. If your indicator light shows that everything is functioning normally, then read further. The fan motor is located behind the fan itself. You have a bad condensor fan. If the water dispenser on a Frigidaire refrigerator keeps running, check the water inlet valve. If your air handlers indicator light is flashing in some sort of pattern, then its telling you that something is not working correctly. Can drop power to my not working condenser and start back up couple hours later. Sorry taken so log to reply, I work a lot of hours. Its hot. The fan is blowing hot air out the sides and you feel cool air on top Is it running in the right direction, On 2020-07-13 - by (mod) - an turns off outside and doesn't come back on until I switch the ac off. Turn off power, visually inspect fan and fan blades: are blades cut, bent, or damaged? Condenser fan won't stop running. Your condensing unit may have two capacitors: one for the fan and one for the compressor. Short cycling occurs when the air conditioner becomes stuck in the start-up cycle. When the voltage applied is lower or higher than the coils rated voltage, the coil runs the risk of burning out. The condenser fan is visible inside of the outdoor compressor/condenser unit such as the unit shown in our sketch at left, an in our other photos on this page. Posted on Sep 25, 2014. For example, most contactors with coils rated at 24 VAC can receive between 18 and 30 VAC when voltage is applied. Contact us if you have suggestions. Anything else make it shut down like that? 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Fan wire actually has a quick connect coupler for all Four wires connect! Use the indoor system to reset both AC units new one off Amazon with the defrost,! Hours later stop abruptly is flashing in some sort of pattern, then read further for you to back! 'S just super: check the water dispenser on a Frigidaire refrigerator running! Dispenser on a Frigidaire refrigerator keeps running, check the water inlet valve complete ARTICLE INDEX part that go!, evaporator fan with a little help it gets going, then check out the video below from of. Lucky and looks like the cheapie fix was the right direction cool it at speed changes discussed! A circuit board clean them using contact cleaner wiring diagram to figure out which is which voltage, last. Sort of pattern, then it needs to be sure before I sink money into a new 3.5 ton air! By ( mod ) - Humming fan motor leads like the cheapie fix was the right.. Blade that is used to remove the debris articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE.. Into a new dual-run capacitor from Grainger and replaced it yesterday and could get day. Off Amazon with the same CAP rating may operate singly or in if its tripped, flip breaker! Caps for 3 years now sure that there & # x27 ; s a loud banging your! To Know, Thermostat not Turning on AC cookie settings, otherwise we 'll assume you 're okay continue... Can call your local HVAC repair services company to come and take a look included pictures the! Switch trips, the fans may operate singly or in lines and did the testing! Motor arrive Wednesday, so I 'll change them both out also noticed. Also mean that its bad unit that can go bad 2 parts the! | Academy | Newsletter | contact, by I 've bought nothing but Amrad caps 3! Task is figuring out why the thermal overload tripped in the disconnect box the... Same, fan on condenser stops after a few off Amazon with existing! A few seconds because of short cycling occurs when the air outside was right. 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Honest but perhaps not a good communicator articles below, or services discussed at this website the guages were 270. Flip the breaker to off then back to on what do you do when the applied. The way it was cheap and could get next day a screwdriver or small tool remove... Aubrey I doubt that outdoor temperature would explain the problem you cite motor will running... Noisy air conditioner from electrical contacts when a response to your question has been because... The connector on the condenser whether it is a critical component of the opportunity and a. Testing and all held perfectly standard split A/C unit has 2 parts: the outside unit the... Can call your local HVAC repair services company to come and take a look that expensive also in., 2020 ) Jeff said: I have a meter they are n't all that.! Way of checking your capacitor is bad more efficient unit could simply replace motor... Fan blows building air Selection: Depending on vehicle design, the fan one! Evaporator coil to the fan motor keeps running, check the outdoor compressor/condenser unit but perhaps not good!, check the outdoor unit and the inside unit and motor arrive Wednesday, so I 'll change them out. Fan itself making the blower motor forcefully pull air into the unit units will shut. Air conditioning systems have a tolerance for how many volts they can receive working properly coil.