![\"desk-fan\"](\"https:\/\/www.touchstoneheatingonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Air_Conditioning_1294264_21547665-300x199.jpg\")
Your air conditioning system has two fans that are essential for it to work. The fan you\u2019re most used to hearing and feeling is the indoor blower fan. This fan is located at the bottom of the HVAC cabinet, where it pulls air from the return air ducts and then pushes it past the evaporator coil, where it\u2019s cooled, and then into the ventilation system.<\/p>\n
The second fan is in the condenser cabinet outside. This fan draws air through the grill of the cabinet to run it across the condenser coil and release heat. The fan then pushes this heat through the top of the cabinet.<\/p>\n
If either fan stops working, you won\u2019t have a cool home. A broken indoor fan means air won\u2019t move through the ducts. A broken outdoor fan means the AC can\u2019t effectively release the heat it drew from\u00a0indoors and won\u2019t cool down the home’s air.<\/p>\n
What causes these fans to break, and what can you do about it?<\/p>\n
Whenever one of the fans suddenly stops working, check the electrical panel for the house to see if the circuit for the AC has tripped. (The indoor and outdoor units have separate circuits.) The fans can sometimes put too much demand on their circuit and trip a breaker. If the fan keeps tripping the breaker after you re-set it, don\u2019t try to tamper further\u2014call for technicians to see to the electrical fault in the AC.<\/p>\n
The contactor in a motor allows electrical voltage to move through it. If the contactor fails, the motor will stop. An HVAC repair expert can replace the contactor to restore the motor.<\/p>\n
Capacitors are electrical components that store voltage and then transmit it to the motors to start them running (start capacitors<\/em>) or keep them running (run capacitors<\/em>). Capacitors are temporary components, and they\u2019ll usually wear out before the AC does, so you will probably need to replace them at some point. Handling capacitors is potentially dangerous if you\u2019re an amateur, so call our team for the replacement.<\/p>\n Excessive strain placed on the fan motor due to a build-up of dust, lack of lubrication, neglected maintenance, or basic age can lead to the motor burning out. When this happens, the motor cannot be repaired; it must be replaced by professionals.<\/p>\n New air conditioners use direct motors to turn the fans. Older ones use fan belts, and then can break or loosen and cause the fan to stop turning. Although you can have the fan belt replaced, any air conditioner that\u2019s old enough to still use a fan belt is a prime candidate for replacement\u2014especially if it still uses R-22 refrigerant. (Ask us about this, it\u2019s serious.)<\/p>\nThe fan motor has burnt out<\/h3>\n
Loose or broken fan belt<\/h3>\n