Within this unit, a fan blows cool air over the condenser to keep it cool. Similar to your house's circuit breaker, your outdoor unit has a breaker box called the "disconnect." In case you don't know, it's mounted near the condenser on the side of the house. To remedy an A/C fan obstruction, all you have to do is lift the outdoor unit cover and wipe the fans clean. Condenser coils are refrigerant-filled tubes running through your air conditioner's outside unit. Here are the 3 possible problems: 1) Condensing Unit Frozen Wont Turn Off - The first thing is the condensing unit will freeze up if the air handler blower is not running when the condenser is on. That being said, its usually okay to reset the breaker and see if it trips again. Turn the power back on and make sure everything works. Unscrew and lift off the top panel. Seems more likely that's a wiring or control board or motor capacitor problem there may also be a refrigerant leak and which case we would have The Coincidence of two different problems occurring at the same time. Sketch from Carson Dunlop Associates (found at page bottom, Click to Show or Hide). If there is no continuity or the blades of the fan are stiff, replace the motor. Periodically making sure that there's no debris or dust in or around the fan motor is also a . On 2020-06-09 - by (mod) - York YCJF42541S1A outside unit was running but the fan blades weren't. New motor has same specs as old motor (TradePro TP-C16-1SP2 6-wire motor) except old motor was rated at 1.2 A. Heres What to Do. 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. InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. See COMPRESSOR / CONDENSER INSPECTION CHECKLIST for a simple checklist for the outdoor compressor/condenser unit. Bob,Thank you for the helpful diagnostic question about your Pioneer brand Mini Split AC unit. Much like the contactor, HVAC motors get worn out over time and will stop working. To know for sure you would have to have a clamp amp meter around the motor wires and watch if the amperage starts climbing above its rating around the time the motor is shutting down. You can check the fan setting on your thermostat. Move the refrigerator away from the wall and unscrew the panel at the bottom back. Figured I'd revamp all the cheap parts. Think this could be the fan motor itself? Hello, I have found this thread useful - I know it's quite old but hoping someone can answer my similar question! Your motor is bad. Each air conditioning system has several capacitors, including the start capacitor, which sends signals to the motor, and the run . An easier way of checking your capacitor is to use a voltmeter. If you can hear the fan running and you can feel air coming out of the . The brand of the Unit is Heil with a GE motor. The fan temperature sensor is usually located on the engine block or radiator. Anything else make it shut down like that? Could be a bad start-run capacitor or a bad control board. This keeps them both running together. Over time, the contactor switch gets worn, and will stop providing voltage to the condenser fan. If the condenser coils are too dirty, the air conditioner's cooling power is limited so the system has to keep running in attempts to cool each room. Why does my condenser keep running? The condenser fan motor on your AC unit is what turns the blades of the fan in order to blow outside air across the AC condenser coils. If the condenser unit fan won't start at all, check for power to the unit and to the fan motor and that all of the controls are calling for cooling (or heat pump operation); check for loose, disconnected wires; Check for a frozen fan motor (motor won't turn manually when power is off). The fan does not stay off for a "long" time. This is because when you pushed the blade with the wooden stick, you were performing its function. But it is indeed also normal for the fan on-off cycle to sometimes be different from the compressor motor on-off cycle. Some units also have dual capacitors that power you air conditioner's fans, as well as your compressor. 3. Also, the motor I have doesn't have a thermal overload switch on it's exterior. Did have a heavy storm. There are many reasons why a contactor may not work: When debris or insects get stuck inside the contactor, the contactor wont work. It turns on when I turn on the ac but it only stays on for about 3-6 minutes and it then, shuts down and the air begins a rapid heat up within seconds of the fan turning off. But when set to cooling the compressor fan stops and starts, it will not stay on when compressor is on. I then opened the service valve port to charge the line set with freon (whatever the new stuff is called). My AC condenser originally had a fan problem. I have not got that error since. If your unit has shut off, check your circuit breaker. Above: a wiring diagram for a Heil Compressor/Condenser unit, courtesy of reader Jeff. This process converts hot refrigerant . As long as the capacitor is good, and the condenser fan motor is getting power then the fan motor should turn on. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. 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. A bad condenser fan has the capacity to cause the refrigerator to run non-stop. Fan is brand new. This is usually the case for air conditioners with rotary dial thermostats. If the fan contactor is broken, then the fan wont run. Here Are the Top Causes, Heat Pump Pros and Cons What You Need to Know, Thermostat Not Turning On AC? Fan belts are components that wear down over time. Why Does My Outside Condenser Keep Running? These include overheating, running too long, power surges, and age. Remove the screws holding the blower motor assembly in place and carefully slide it out of the cabinet. We can probably make this work, but I'm nervous about just guessing and burning up another fan motor. Could be a bad start-run capacitor or a bad control board. On occasion a "slow" outdoor fan may be due to a fan blade that is not secured to the fan motor shaft. A bad fan capacitor will cause an ACs condenser fan to not run. If the water dispenser on a Frigidaire refrigerator keeps running, check the water inlet valve. Air Conditioner Making a Humming Noise. Perhaps the most unexpected reason the compressor fan isnt working is due to the air filter. It's free turning when I turn it with a screwdriver (not bound). Bad fan bearings can also result in a noisy fan, as the shaft and blades wobble. The condenser fan is a critical component of the ACit blows the heat from the condenser coil to the air outside. Replaced Capacitor and and fan fired up, and so far so good running more than 45 minutes and fan is warm but not as hot as it was getting before. When it stops, feel the Motor to see if it's hot. Faulty circuit board. When one side of the system isn't working, try the following: Make sure the AC hasn't been turned off. I don't mind paying for both the capacitor and the fan motor, but of course do not want to spend more than necessary. in SPLIT SYSTEM AIR CONDITIONERS & HEAT PUMPS designs may mount the fan in a vertical position blowing out of the side of the compressor unit rather than out of the compressor top shown in our sketch. Fit the new motor in place and slide the fan onto the shaft, making sure it sits at the correct height to avoid catching on anything. Is it damaged? A detailed case of diagnosing and fixing a condenser fan that was running backwards at speed changes is discussed below at. What is your Model number? If you don't have a meter they aren't all that expensive. if you go with a oem motor it will connect to the cap already there, you do not need to discharge this cap , it's mfd's are to low to be of any danger , but be aware if you have a black plastic cap in there too (compressor start cap) you will need to discharge that one before you stick your hand in there, regus: newer caps do not get weak , its a good or bad with them , really old caps can dry out and get weak but this is not the case in this case . Is it possible that this issue could be caused by the capacitor? Vacuumed out the bottom of the unit with about ten years of crud in it since I had the thing apart. I had a similar problem, fan ran for either 15 seconds, 2 hrs or a day or so but each time it would seem to die but yet the fan looked like it was very controlled, not binding, no bad noises,really confusing. Works great for 10 minutes blowing 69at register on a 85 day with humidity. 5. The fan motor will NOT run backwards at start with a reverse assist. Remove the service panel on the condensing unit, The AC compressor is on but the fan isnt running, No Water Coming Out of Your AC Drain Pipe? Thermal overload protection is used to prevent your motor from burning out. I did the vacuum and charge thing, meaning I hooked an evacuator pump on the system and then just opened the service valve so the R410a could fill the line set. This problem existed before and after the radiator was replaced. Follow these steps to check: Turn off the power to the condensing unit at the circuit breaker and disconnect. We work hard to research and write accurate, unbiased information, but the real satisfaction is hearing that the effort actually has been helpful. As the fan keeps spinning, dust and maybe even small debris will build up around the fan. Is it just as simple as the compressor drive error? See CONTROL CIRCUIT BOARD, A/C for details. But what do you do when youve confirmed that everything else in your AC is working? And the AC compressor stops prematurely. 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. Thank you for the helpful comment. Ordered a new contactor, again, cheap. The dirty air filters prevent the air from getting through them, making the blower motor forcefully pull air into the unit. Immediately upon starting the car, the radiator fan begins to run full speed, even though the car is stone cold. Aside from dust and debris, a fan might also stop working if the motor is faulty. Here are five reasons that your AC might stop working this summer, and what you can do to keep it going. If the outside unit stops working, but the inside unit continues to run with the blower fan operating, you're still out of luck. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website. Dodge Master. Also. The AC ran for about 1.5 hours and then shut down the fan due to overheating. A faulty cooling fan relay can also negatively affect air conditioning (A/C) performance.The reason being, on most vehicles, is that the cooling fan doubles as a condenser fan.When the A/C is turned on, the fan moves air across the A/C condenser, thereby removing heat from the refrigerant, which changes from a vapor to a liquid state as it gives off heat it . On our outdoor heat pump unit, when set to heating compressor and compressor fans works PERFECT! Ok, I am not sure about the model number of my unit either. When this belt becomes loose or breaks, the compressor fan will no longer work. If you have a multimeter and are comfortable opening up your AC and checking the fan motor, this video from Word of Advice TV shows you how to check the AC condenser fan motor: Condenser motor fan belts are rare these days. Finally a senior tech came out and recognized that the fan required a different capacitor than what was initially changed in. Turn off electrical power to the indoor unit. Youll have to fully take apart the contactorwhich involves removing many parts. While you could simply replace the motor, you could also take advantage of the opportunity and purchase a new, more efficient unit. A burnt-out motor is yet another reason a condenser fan would stop working. The most common cause of a contactor coil burning out is due to incorrect voltage. It had gotten down to 62 degrees. An internal short that is grounding the fan motor windings can leave the fan running, but abnormally slowly. If the fan spins on the motor shaft and the motor shaft won't turn the motor may be seized and need replacement. In addition, I installed a Protech 50 + 3 F dual run capacitor and a . Welcome to the forums. If it is a heat pump check for a heat pump breaker trip and reset it. Got lucky and looks like the cheapie fix was the right fix. I could hear the lines charging and again, no leaks. You may need a new fan assembly or a few bolts tightened. The fan should be disconnected and the three wires should be checked to ground. AC Noise Photo 1: Open the unit. 12 - Sub Zero Refrigerator Condenser Fan Motor. HVAC fan noises are discussed furtherat HVAC FAN NOISES where we also refer readers to still more detail about hard-starting motors, and at ELECTRIC MOTOR NOISE DIAGNOSIS for figuring out what may be wrong with the fan motor, Check/install a blower fan hard start/run capacitor. The new 3 wire fan doesn't have this wire. Watch out: the wiring instructions and diagram for your specific air conditioner or heat pump compressor/condenser unit are model dependent. If your outside condenser keeps running, this could be a sign of any of the following issues: thank you, My AC suddenly started having the same issues mentioned in this thread. The service panel is the panel on the side of the condensing unit. The parts are priced at $245 to $330, while labor could be $55 to $200, depending on your make and model. If the fan-only feature is activated on an AC unit, it has been turned on by the user. But when it turns off it will come back on 1-3 min later (best guess). Is it swollen at the top? Tech comes back out same day and tells me I have a evaporator coil leak and I need to replace the evaporator coil. So, I ordered a new motor and cap. Your service tech will perhaps look for a bad control board, relay, or wiring connection or sensor. 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. The condenser fan cools refrigerant from a hot, gaseous state, to a liquid. 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). Remove the top of the unit with the fan, disconnect it, and lift it clear. The coil was not penetrated & maintains pressure. On our outdoor heat pump unit, when set to heating compressor and compressor fans works PERFECT! see BLOWER FAN NO START NO STOP. There are several reasons the capacitor of your HVAC unit can fail. We also provide an ARTICLE INDEX for this topic, or you can try the page top or bottom SEARCH BOX as a quick way to find information you need. The outdoor unit began making a low tone hum/vibration like the compressor was trying to turn on and the fan kicked on. 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. Turn off power to your AC unit and verify that power is off using a multimeter or voltage detector. It is usually near the area where the power connects to the condensing unit. Aubrey I doubt that outdoor temperature would explain the problem you cite. Easy enough to do anyway. Dirty condenser coils. Sometimes it will stay on longer than other times. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. Minisplit ac condenser unit. Fan in putside unit stops running in a halo hour. Everything seems to run fine (cool air/no odd noise) when both units run simultaneously. Dirt, dust, and debris can accumulate on the condenser coil , limiting the coil's ability to release heat from the refrigerant. Step Four: Check The Outdoor Unit's Disconnect. (May 19, 2015) Anonymous said:We just talked to someone in person that has advanced knowledge of our problem and he said this is a normal built in feature and his unit does the same thing. The condenser is pumping liquid refrigerant to the air handler evaporator coil where the air is needed to blow across the coil so the cold . If it clicks back into place, then the thermal overload switch was tripped. Fan control circuit board is brand new. You will see the valve on the right side. 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. Fan Only Switch. Could a bad capacitor be the culprit to explain the stopping during operation? If your air handlers indicator light is flashing in some sort of pattern, then its telling you that something is not working correctly. This is to check for continuity. Naturally, this will cause the condenser fan to fail. The movement of outdoor air across the condensing coil transfers heat to outdoor air and allows high pressure/high temperature refrigerant inside the condensing coil to condense from a gas back to a liquid refrigerant. Thank you for your response. Burnt Out Motor. Did find a lose red wire on the contactor. My old fan was a 4 wire system and has a red,yellow, brown, and black wire. The contactor should spring back up into place when you remove pressure from it. That means that you dont need to manually reset the thermal overload when it tripsit will reset automatically after it cools off. Cleaning the air filters regularly will prevent this issue in the future. FAN, COMPRESSOR / CONDENSER UNIT at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice. Tech came out and replaced the fan motor. My goal for this website is to help homeowners troubleshoot and maintain their homes HVAC systems. Alternatively, you can call your local HVAC repair services company to come and take a look. Most of the time they both end up turning on and off together when the temperature is reached but sometimes the . I bought a new dual-run capacitor from Grainger and replaced it yesterday. Anything else you can think of to ask about this situation? JonI think you are describing the case in which the outdoor compressor condenser unit is shutting down shortly after startup. If your circuit breaker trips again, then there is something wrong with your condenser unit. Anyway, into the bag of tricks, although I always test them anyway. I notice the red on the unit is coming off of a small circuit board that says low. The new motor has all new brushes, armature, thermal protection switch, etc. The wiring diagram just above may not apply. Listen and Look for a Faulty Defrost Timer. Remove the access panel to the blower compartment. Replace a faulty evaporator fan motor. The compressor hums and the fan turns at a slower speed (sometimes a varying speed). Hi, my name is Trey Lewis and Im the founder and chief editor at HVAC Training Shop. The fan is still cutting off and not cutting back on. Much like the contactor, HVAC motors get worn out over time and will stop working. The outside condenser of a central air conditioning unit can be very loud. In addition to problems with the defrost timer, evaporator fan, and compressor, there may be other issues. Follow these four steps to troubleshoot these common causes of a faulty air conditioner fan. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. Case #1: AC Compressor Not Working, but Indoor Fan is running. Check for loose wires or loose components on the fan unit control circuit board. The problem came back. Minor bends can be corrected manually; damaged blades need to be replaced. I installed it following the install instructions to the letter. Inside the house is warm and could have been blowing warm air. I adjusted up the temperature setting from 0-37 to 0-40 yesterday. Test and Replace the Fan Motor. Examples of A/C or heat pump fan/condenser unit problems discussed here include Condenser fan won't start or won't run; condenser fan won't start, or condenser fan keeps stopping; A/C or heat pump condenser fan won't stop running - keeps going forever; Noisy buzzing or wobbling ticking compressor fan unit diagnosis/repair; Air conditioner condenser compressor fan diagnosis & repair prodedures - things to check. 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Abnormally slowly keep it cool on by the capacitor but sometimes the you that is. Air coming out of the time they both end up turning on why does my condenser fan stop running make sure everything works the problem cite. A different capacitor than what was initially changed in when both units run simultaneously temperature would explain the stopping operation! Case in which the outdoor unit began making a low tone hum/vibration the. Systems have a evaporator coil leak and I need to be replaced them making! Is discussed below at soot from electrical contacts fan assembly or a bad start-run capacitor or a few bolts....