Signs Your Air Conditioner Fan Needs Replacing
Finding out on the hottest day of the year that your air conditioner isn’t working as well as you’d hope is never a fun time. If you stay alert to signs that your air conditioning system might be having trouble, you’ll be better prepared and can address the issue before your unit breaks down completely. Spending a few seconds occasionally checking on your unit will help prevent more expensive repairs and inconvenient (and uncomfortable) downtime.
There are two fans in your air conditioning system, the blower fan and the condenser fan. Should either of these fall into disrepair, it could lead to other serious and expensive issues. By keeping an eye on their condition, you might get away with simply replacing one of these fans to prevent a system breakdown, saving you a bundle in the process.
Air Conditioner Fans
Most residential air conditioning systems have two fans, sometimes more. The unit’s condenser fan is the section of your system that is outside. This fan helps to expel heat outside of the home while helping to cool your air conditioning system’s refrigerant. Should this fan stop working, it can cause the entire system to overheat. The unit’s blower fan moves cooled air throughout your home via ducts and registers, removing heat from your home. If the blower fan fails or is not working correctly, it may make loud noises, and your air conditioning system will lose cooling power.
Signs Your Air Conditioner Fan Needs Replacing
Poor Air Flow – Poor or weak airflow from your home’s vent may mean the blower fan is not working correctly. This can be caused by a slow or burned-out motor or even a fan that needs cleaning. If you can, take a peek at the blower fan to see if it is turning properly at its regular speed. If it is running slowly or not turning at all, call us right away!
Strange Noise – If your unit is making noise, the first thing to do is determine whether the noise is coming from the indoor or the outdoor section of your air conditioning system. If you hear a buzzing sound from your indoor unit, it may be a sign that the blower motor is working, but the fan is not turning. There are other noises you might hear, including rattling or squealing. Whatever the noise, it’s not good. Call for repair right away. If you’re hearing a rattling noise from the outdoor section of your system, it is likely a sign of debris inside the unit being blown around by the fan. An air conditioning system inspection & tune-up or cleaning will get this fixed relatively inexpensively.
Fan Moving Slowly or Stopped – If either fan is turning more slowly than it should, or not at all, it may be a sign of a bad capacitor, an electrical component that delivers power to the fan. Luckily, this is a cheap & easy fix by a licensed HVAC technician.
Burning Smell – First, determine whether the burning smell is coming from the indoor or the outdoor component of your air conditioning system. If the smell is coming from inside your home, it might be the blower fan’s motor overheating. Usually, this will cause your system’s safety mechanisms to automatically power down the system. If the odour is coming from the outdoor unit, it could be caused by several things. Perhaps an object is lodged inside the unit, or a malfunctioning condenser fan is causing the compressor to overheat. In either situation, power down the unit right away and call in a professional.
Many of these issues can be headed off by a regular HVAC system maintenance appointment. These appointments ensure your unit is working at its best, helping you avoid costly repairs and uncomfortable temperatures in your home. Reach out to Reliable Home Environment to get your air conditioner back up to speed today!