As a Florida resident, you rely on your air conditioner for many things — to keep your home cool during brutally hot days, to keep the humidity out, and to protect your home from mold growth. So when you start suspecting that one of its components may not be working properly, it’s time to worry. What can you do if you’ve recently noticed the AC fan isn’t spinning? Why is this happening, and how can you fix it?
Why isn’t the AC fan working properly?
There’s more than one sign that may indicate there are issues with your air conditioner’s fan. These include:
- The blades are rotating slowly
- There’s an unusual noise coming from the condenser unit when the fan rotates
- The fan won’t stop spinning when you turn off the AC
- The fan has completely stopped spinning
Additionally, if your fan isn’t working at all, the cause could be entirely different reasons. Your power could be out, you have a dead capacitor, a contactor is failing, or your motor is burnt out.
How to Troubleshoot & Fix an AC Fan Not Spinning
Regardless of the reason, each of the four possible scenarios has its own way of troubleshooting. They include:
1. Power Interruption
If any of the parts of your air conditioner is overheated, it’s possible it tripped the circuit breaker. Switch it back to the middle setting before switching it back to on.
2. Faulty Capacitor
The capacitor is the component that sends energy to the AC’s motor. If you have a bad capacitor, it may take a while for the fan blades to start spinning once you turn on the unit. To test it, use a screwdriver or branch to poke through the condenser unit’s vents. Gently push on one of the fan blades. If it starts spinning, then the issue is the capacitor.
For more information, read our blog about how to tell if your AC capacitor is bad.
3. Failing Contactor
The contactor is the part that controls the flow of electricity into the air conditioner. Sometimes, ordinary wear and tear can cause it to become stuck or melt. As a result, you may hear the AC humming when it’s on, but it doesn’t fully turn on.
For more information, read our blog about how to tell if your AC contactor is bad or failing.
4. The Motor Burned Out
This is one of the many reasons why regular AC maintenance is beneficial. If you live in a single-family house, the condenser unit is exposed to the elements. Debris such as grass, straw, branches, dead insects, and bird droppings can clog the outside unit, causing the motor to work harder. As a result, it can overheat and eventually stop working. If this is the case, you’ll need an HVAC technician to replace it.
Call AC Professionals in Broward, Palm Beach, or St. Lucie
At Sansone Air Conditioning Electrical & Plumbing, we are always ready to help you. If you live in Broward, Palm Beach, or St. Lucie, we can help you troubleshoot your air conditioner, as well as determine if there are any additional potential issues. The skilled technicians at Sansone Air Conditioning can help you with AC repair, installation, and maintenance.
Call us to hear about our specials or to schedule an appointment.
Broward: (954) 800-2858
Palm Beach: (561) 701-8274
St. Lucie: (772) 879-5656