Anyway, into the bag of tricks, although I always test them anyway. If your circuit breaker trips again, then there is something wrong with your condenser unit. But when set to cooling the compressor fan stops and starts, it will not stay on when compressor is on. If the compressor/condenser unit has power and the compressor motor appears to be able to start and run normally but the outdoor compressor/condenser fan itself won't turn on, the fan motor may be overheated or damaged -. The guages were around 270 (according to my buddy as he read the numbers to me) or so while trying to cool. Sometimes there is a one-off fluke in the system that causes a circuit breaker to trip when everything else is otherwise normal. Read further to diagnose the issue. The system won't cool your unless both sides of the system are working. Whether its changing an air filter, troubleshooting a blower motor, or just buying a new humidifier, I want to make sure that youre covered. Sebastian/Vero Beach 772-778-2272. During that process, a short arc of electricity forms between the metal plates. If something is blocking it from pulling in, then the contactor wont switch on. Am I barking up the wrong tree and should I be looking elsewhere? After the service panel is removed, find the fan capacitor. Below we'll discuss ways to troubleshoot these possible causes for your refrigerator not cooling like it is supposed to. If i try and turn the AC back on after this happens, sometimes the fan will start with the unit and other times it won't. The best way is to clean them using contact cleaner. Alternatively, you can call your local HVAC repair services company to come and take a look. DISCLOSURE: We may earn a commission when you use one of our coupons/links to make a purchase. Once you find the fan capacitor, take a look at it. If you don't have a meter they aren't all that expensive. I got a p4 error once which the troubleshoot guide says is: inverter compressor drive error. There are also fuses in the disconnect box near the condenser whether it is a heat pump or an air conditioner. This can cause your refrigerator to run constantly to try to cool down. 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. That identifies what each of the wires are. Not enough space clearance. with power removed, try turning the Motor shaft by hand..using your fingers Can you give it a twist, and it will continue for a few turns ? 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. Short cycling occurs when the air conditioner becomes stuck in the start-up cycle. A slow condenser fan (or air handler unit fan) could be caused by a bad start-run capacitor. That could also mean that its bad. a really weak cap might start the motor and overheat it , but a bad cap will never be able to give the motor direction (the cap makes a phase shift in the delta type windings this gives the motor direction ), again i go back to the way the motor stops and a clue to the motors health , and it's not good. Either can shut down the fan motor. OR is it more likely a problem with the motor? Learn how to troubleshoot like a Master Samurai Tech MASTER SAMURAI TECH document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hi, my name is Trey Lewis and Im the founder and chief editor athvactrainingshop.com. The problem still came back in the mid day heat. Naturally, this will cause the condenser fan to fail. I'm not sure how refrigerant leak would make the fan run intermittently. The condenser fan motor itself is a part that can go bad. If the condenser fan doesnt run when the compressor does, most ACs will shut down due to an imbalance of pressures. 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. 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. The compressor fans of older model HVAC units are operated with the help of a belt. Also. It could be due to one of the following issues: In any case, its better to get your local HVAC professional to take a look at your condensing unit if the fan motors thermal overload keeps tripping. Turn The Fan Switch To "Off" And Back To "Auto": If the . Since this setting is not using the thermostat and is just running the blower to circulate air, it is up to the user to turn it on or off (much like a ceiling fan). Be sure that nothing is rubbing or hitting. Check the Evaporator Fan Motor. Within this unit, a fan blows cool air over the condenser to keep it cool. Is there fluid leaking out of the capacitor? Thank you for your response. It's easy! One copper line cold and one warmer like normal. Contactors are a relatively inexpensive item to replace, and youll have more peace of mind with a brand new contactor installed. Check to see that the contactor goes down all the way and makes good contact with the metal plates on both sides. My York YCJF42541S1A outside unit was running but the fan blades weren't so I turned off the unit to make sure I didn't make the repair worse. Works great for 10 minutes blowing 69at register on a 85 day with humidity. Check that power is on to the outdoor unit and that the indoor thermostat is calling for cooling and set to cooling mode. Sometimes it will stay on longer than other times. Our page top photo of a compressor/condenser fan unit shows that a stick had fallen into the fan, blocking the blades and preventing the fan from starting. Bob,Thank you for the helpful diagnostic question about your Pioneer brand Mini Split AC unit. Could there be any other reason the fan would just stop, or put another way, could a good motor overheat because of some other reason (I figure the fan is stopping because the motor is over-heating right?). Why does my condenser keep running? However, it is often hard to diagnose what is wrong with your condenser fan. The contactor coil is the part of the contactor that switches on and off. 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? My AC unit is 18 years old, and I was afraid it was hopeless, but I decided to run through your checklist, and I was able to get it cleaned up and running again. Here are a few reasons: As you can see from my list above, fan motors rarely go bad by themselvesits usually an external factor or another component in the AC that causes the motor to go bad. Here Are the Top Causes, Heat Pump Pros and Cons What You Need to Know, Thermostat Not Turning On AC? Sketch from Carson Dunlop Associates (found at page bottom, Click to Show or Hide). Note: appearance of your Comment below may be delayed: if your comment contains an image, photograph, web link, or text that looks to the software as if it might be a web link, your posting will appear after it has been approved by a moderator. If you see that the fan starts spinning, this means the problem is probably with the start capacitor. My new cap and motor arrive Wednesday, so I'll change them both out. Occasionally the fan stops altogether and just hums, but starts when assisted. 1. (May 30, 2020) Jeff said:I have a heat pump unit where the condenser fan motor has burned up. The fan turns off outside and doesn't come back on until I switch the ac off and wait at least an hour or so n but it is still blowing air in the apartment. There also may be a reset button on the outside AC unit that can be pushed. ", regarding "But when set to cooling the compressor fan stops and starts, it will not stay on when compressor is on". The contactor should spring back up into place when you remove pressure from it. 12 - Sub Zero Refrigerator Condenser Fan Motor. Or more likely the fan motor? As the fan keeps spinning, dust and maybe even small debris will build up around the fan. Thank you for the helpful comment. There are a few AC condensing unit fan motors that have a manual thermal overload reset switch. Finally a senior tech came out and recognized that the fan required a different capacitor than what was initially changed in. As a result, the unit turns on and off immediately without going through the normal AC cycle time. Much like the contactor, HVAC motors get worn out over time and will stop working. Thermostat Issues. Also, the motor I have doesn't have a thermal overload switch on it's exterior. Replace the blade, taking care not to bend it. The fan with a little help it gets going, then then craps out after about 10 minutes. Next, press the thermal overload reset button. Turn the power back on and make sure everything works. Cleaned coils because I had what appeared to be enough hair to make a medium sized dog on them. Sign up for a new account in our community. You may detect this by noticing that you can wobble the fan motor shaft (when power is OFF) or you may notice that you can pull the shaft in and out of the motor (loose end-play). A condenser fan that won't start when power is turned on, but whose blades will spin easily when power is off may have a worn fan motor shaft bearing. When there's a loud banging as your unit runs, it's broken and needs . The service panel may have some labels or stickers on it. Also possibly there may be no power to the fan and fan blades are moving due to local breeze blowing through the unit. Gently slide the stick between the vents and give the fan blade a slight push. A contactor is a moving part that pulls in when it switches on. The unit cooled fine until late last week when we noticed it being extra warm but we have had a mild spring until the last couple of weeks. Any idea what this could be? Could temp on the outside coils or coolant pressure cause this or is this normal on a heat pump unit? A capacitor may be used to start the fan and keep it runningas in a start/run capacitor. This article series discusses the outdoor components of air conditioners and heat pumps: how the air conditioning compressor-condenser unit works; the detection of defects in air conditioning compressor and condensing units, including The unit is 8 years old. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. The fan should not run with only one side powered. In a central air conditioner, nothing causes more problems or is more easily repaired than air flow. Whats thermal overload protection used for? I can hear the coil from the tinny fan control circuit board turning the fan off and then back on during this problem. The parts are priced at $245 to $330, while labor could be $55 to $200, depending on your make and model. However, if they're stuck, the compressor . One copper line cold and one warmer like normal. I installed that cap and the motor shut down in five minutes. Straight AC or HeatPump? Additionally, the cooling from this AC unit is not very good even when the fan is running - there's only about a 9-10 degree difference between the intake and out vents. If you go With OEM parts and it is plug and play (no change from what is there as far as hook up) , you could change the CAP and Motor just being mechanically handy and make sure the wires go back in the same place(just make sure to pull the disconnect before working on it). 1. I've bought nothing but Amrad caps for 3 years now. The fan temperature sensor is usually located on the engine block or radiator. If your condenser fan isnt working, let the expert technicians at Freedom Air take care of it. I adjusted up the temperature setting from 0-37 to 0-40 yesterday. Step Four: Check The Outdoor Unit's Disconnect. Filter,and coils clean; ventsare open. These include overheating, running too long, power surges, and age. Eventually, the layer of black soot prevents the metal plates from forming contact with each other. This fan blows building air across the evaporator coil (or cooling coil) to cool and dehumidify indoor building air. I got everything hooked up and my buddy lent me his evacuator. Some units also have dual capacitors that power you air conditioner's fans, as well as your compressor. When an outside fan fails, the most likely cause is a capacitor issue. The fan motor is located behind the fan itself. Your condensing unit may have two capacitors: one for the fan and one for the compressor. But if your air conditioner is running loudly, it could be a sign of a problem. Does this seem reasonable? Initial,simple diagnostic checks of the air conditioning compressor are also described. Also, noticed the old fan wire actually has a quick connect coupler for all four wires to connect into a circuit board. 2. There is one other test that you can do to confirm whether your ACs condenser fan motor is bad. Ordered a new one off Amazon with the same CAP rating. I say that because mine is 30 UF +0.3 cap and I bought a 50+ UF cap at 470 volts. Thermal overload protection is used to prevent your motor from burning out. The fan contactor is the switch that turns the condenser fan on and off. If these coils are dirty, then your air conditioner runs longer, causing the air conditioner to overheat. replace with OEM motor if you can afford it and can still get it . Over an extended period, that will cause the fan to stop working. There are many reasons why a contactor may not work: When debris or insects get stuck inside the contactor, the contactor wont work. Inside the house is warm and could have been blowing warm air. When the capacitor fails, the condenser fan will no longer rotate. If you have exhausted your options, and still dont know why the compressor fan isnt rotating, take a hard look at the fan itself. Trane xb1000. The inside unit uses . (May 20, 2015) Aubrey said:Correct. PDo let me know what your service repair technician says. Or use the SEARCH BOX found below to Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia. Engine running hot. The compressor and fan runs to dry out the air blowing onto the windshield. Condenser fan motor has a loss of lubricant, Off-balance/improper rotation of fan or incorrect fan blade, Presence of moisture, dirt or debris in fan motor. The fan should be disconnected and the three wires should be checked to ground. Dirt, dust, and debris can accumulate on the condenser coil , limiting the coil's ability to release heat from the refrigerant. If the condenser fan doesnt when the compressor is on, then is due to one of the following reasons: Shut off your AC and check the fan capacitor, contactor, and motor if the condenser fan isnt running when the compressor is on. Shut off your AC and check the fan capacitor, contactor, and motor if the condenser fan isn't running when the compressor is 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. Ok so I had same issues listed above pulled motor and capacitor out of a running exact same unit put in mine and now compressor kicks on contractor working as it should and still condensing fan will not run and all parts are oem and brand new off running unit makes absolutely no sense please help my house is heating up hotter than outside temperatures in the day time and its 3 am and finally down to78 degrees, You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. It's free turning when I turn it with a screwdriver (not bound). Help, On 2020-06-06 - by (mod) - air conditioning drags voltage, NsisUsually drawing high amos is a sign of a failing motor, The Air conditioning drags voltage and almost turns off other appliances when compressor attempts to start up Watch out: the wiring instructions and diagram for your specific air conditioner or heat pump compressor/condenser unit are model dependent. This process converts hot refrigerant . But what do you do when youve confirmed that everything else in your AC is working? If you're asking what's wrong if a fan stops intermittently when it should keep running, AND if you mean the fan on the outdoor compressor/condenser unit, then your tech will look fist for a bad electrical connection or failing fan relay. Poor air conditioning performance. Homeowners often report a heat pump fan not spinning. This indicator light is connected to the units control board. if you go. Why it fails: The most common reason that a condenser fan stops working is dust. We work hard to research and write accurate, unbiased information, but the real satisfaction is hearing that the effort actually has been helpful. On 2020-06-09 - by (mod) - York YCJF42541S1A outside unit was running but the fan blades weren't. I will contact pioneer. The green line marks a common location for the fan control circuitry, and the blue line marks the fan motor. One of the first symptoms commonly associated with a bad or failing cooling fan relay is an engine that runs hot or overheats. October 4, 2012 in DIY Appliance Repair Help. Am I able to wire a 3 wire fan into a heating pump that had a 4 wire fan? Theres usually a reason that it trippeda malfunction. Here's how to do it: Turn your refrigerator off at the wall or unplug it. But it is indeed also normal for the fan on-off cycle to sometimes be different from the compressor motor on-off cycle. The fan does not stay off for a "long" time. Now the compressor comes on (freon line gets cold) however; the condenser fan is not running but humming. Heres What to Do. The dark blue fan shown at right in the sketch is the indoor air handler or blower compartment or cooling coil fan found inside the building. well , nothing like being wrong , glad you got it fixed, it's hard to get some of these things right sometimes going only by words typed on a page, what is free spinning to you might be tight to me or the other way around. You should be able to use a single switched or double pole switched contactor. Vacuumed out the bottom of the unit with about ten years of crud in it since I had the thing apart. Got up this morning and it was off, but the unit was still running. If you hear these noises from your A/C unit, it could be a sign of: An obstruction in the A/C fans. Only one image can be added per comment but you can post as many comments, and therefore images, as you like. Turn the air conditioner completely off, and call in a professional right away to diagnose the cause and prevent further damage to the system. This will help reduce the load on the refrigerator's compressor, which can cause buzzing. Welcome to the forums. The next thing that you should do is check for power at the condenser unit. If the condenser fan is runningyou will see the fan blade spinning at speed (typically at 1725 rpm) and you will feel air blowing out of the unit. The fan motor and capacitor have been replaced. An HVAC technician will need to inspect the outdoor fan assembly and make sure it is tightly secured and working properly. -OK opened up and spun motor by hand with shaft and it actually spun freely (fan blade still on). There is more than one possible cause of a noisy air conditioner. Check to see if the fan starts spinning. Posted on Sep 25, 2014. But when set to cooling the compressor fan stops and starts, it will not stay on when compressor is on. The AC is OFF. Could be a bad start-run capacitor or a bad control board. yes, I am not familiar with the proper terms. The reversing valve must be working (im guessing) because when i call for heat, the fan will come to a stop, pause and then reverse direction. If the refrigerator runs constantly there might be something caught in the condenser fan motor blade, or the condenser fan motor might be defective. Compressor still running. I don't want the compressor to overwork so I have been standing next to it waiting for it to die, then run in and shut down the unit down. Melbourne/Palm Bay 321-727-9969 Please bookmark this page to make it easy for you to check back for our response. Why does a condenser motor fan break? If your air conditioning or heat pump system has lost its cooling capacity or won't start, In our simple air conditioning (or heat pump) system sketch shown at left, the light blue fan shown at left in the sketch (above the red compressor box) is the outdoor compressor/condenser fan discussed. You can check the fan setting on your thermostat. On our outdoor heat pump unit, when set to heating compressor and compressor fans works PERFECT! Jim, thanks so much for the very nice feedback - that's just super. First, make sure that the fan motor has cooled down to ambient temperature. (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. Buzzing can also mean that your condenser fan is not working. Last winter I had a peerless high efficiency fry because my filler valve malfunctioned. Sorry Jedson but I don't understand the question. If you can hear the fan running and you can feel air coming out of the . Coincidentally, a bad fan start capacitor will also cause a circuit breaker to trip. Is it possible that this issue could be caused by the capacitor? If the button doesnt click back into place then the motor is still too hot, or there is another failure somewhere inside the fan motor. It overheats due to a very faulty cap or a faulty motor. A malfunctioning thermostat. A blower fan may run for a brief while after the compressor motor has stopped but if the outdoor fan never stops check for a problem with the control board wiring or circuit. Confirm that power is off by using a voltage detector. Remove the access panel to the blower compartment. Typically, there's an on-off . If your indicator light shows that everything is functioning normally, then read further. Fan is still intact. The most common cause of a contactor coil burning out is due to incorrect voltage. The condenser fan has not stopped. Condenser coils are refrigerant-filled tubes running through your air conditioner's outside unit. 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 .