A central air conditioning system has two fans: one located in the outdoor condenser cabinet, and the other in the HVAC cabinet inside the house. These two fans are essential for the air conditioner to do its job. Obviously, an air conditioner that cannot send air out through the vents isn’t going to be much good to you! And if the outdoor fan fails, the air conditioner won’t be able to effectively move heat from the indoor air to release it outside.
When one of your air conditioner’s fans (or possibly both) stops working, you’ll want to have the problem remedied as soon as possible—because your house will soon start to overheat in the summer weather. Our technicians are ready to come to your assistance, and usually, they can solve the problem fast.
We’re going to take a closer look at why an air conditioner’s fans may fail. This way you’ll have a better understanding of the work we need to do.
The fan motor tripped its circuit breaker
A failed fan may be a simple problem you can correct on your own. If the fan motor overloads the electrical circuit, it will cause the circuit breaker to trip and cut off power. This can happen because of excess strain on the fan due to a clogged air filter. (This is one of the many reasons to keep on top of changing the filter for a fresh one every one to three months.) Reset the breaker and turn the AC back on. If the problem persists, you’ll need technicians to look into the electrical connections in the air conditioner.
The thermostat isn’t communicating with the fan
The thermostat has several different connections to the fans to turn them on and off. A loss of connection will cause the fan to fail to turn on. (A different lost connection will cause the fan to run continuously.) If adjusting the thermostat isn’t helping, it will require technicians to restore the connection, or, in some cases, replace the thermostat.
Failed motor capacitors
Capacitors are essential components of almost any electrically-powered device. They serve as temporary batteries where voltage is stored and then sent to the motors to start them up and keep them running. Capacitors will eventually fail, and you’ll hear a clicking sound from the cabinet as the motor tries to turn over. Technicians can replace failed capacitors—and please don’t try to purchase a capacitor yourself to replace it, since getting this wrong can result in a dangerous shock.
Burnt-out motors
When a motor overheats—something that can happen if the AC doesn’t receive regular maintenance—it will fuse the wiring in its casing and burn out. The motor cannot be rescued at this point; it must be replaced by skilled technicians.
For the Burlington, VT, air conditioning service you can count on, call Red Rock Mechanical, LLC. We offer free estimates and will get any repair done right the first time.
Red Rock Mechanical, LLC serves Northwest Vermont and Northeast New York. Schedule your AC repair with us today and we’ll see you keep your cool!
