- On February 15, 2022
When the heat in Arizona reaches scorching temperatures, you rely on your air conditioning unit to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. Your system is made up of several components, and if one of them malfunctions, your unit won’t work smoothly or efficiently. The AC fan on your outdoor unit is one of the most important components of your HVAC system. When it stops spinning, you need to call a professional immediately to keep your house from getting too hot. Here’s what you need to know about your AC fan and why it sometimes stops spinning.
How the AC Fan Works
Before you can figure out why your AC fan stopped spinning, you need to understand how the fan works. Your unit actually has two fans; the inside fan is responsible for blowing cool air inside your home, and the outside fan blows over the coils to cool air before it enters your home. Both fans must be working properly for your home to stay at a comfortable temperature. If either one stops spinning, your house won’t get cool.
Sometimes, your AC fan stops spinning for a simple reason that you can easily fix. However, if none of the following steps cause your fan to start spinning again, you need to call a professional:
- Change the air filter.
- Clean any dirt or grime that has built up on your fan blades.
- Clear away any debris that could affect the way your AC fans spin.
AC fans stop spinning primarily for two reasons. You probably won’t be able to fix them, but you may be able to explain the issue to your technician so that they can come prepared to fix it.
The AC Compressor Works, But the AC Fan Doesn’t Spin
You may have a bad capacitor if you hear a hum when your unit is running but can’t see the fan moving. Each fan has a start capacitor that gives the fan blades enough energy to start turning, but because capacitors use a lot of high voltage, they sometimes need to be replaced.
If your capacitor isn’t working, your fan won’t get the energy it needs to start spinning. You may be able to hear the unit trying to run, so it’s a good idea to unhook the system to keep it from overheating while you wait for a technician. You should never try to check a capacitor yourself because it uses so much electricity and can harm you if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Both the AC Compressor and AC Fan Are Not Working
If you can’t hear your AC unit running when you turn it on, you may have a bad compressor. The compressor supplies power to the fan and capacitor, so if there is no sound coming from the unit, it probably isn’t getting any power. You can check your breaker to make sure it hasn’t tripped, but if resetting the unit doesn’t fix the problem, you need to call a professional HVAC technician.
Compressors are designed to last for many years, but they may not have the same lifetime as your unit. You’ll likely have to replace your compressor once or twice before you have to upgrade to a new unit. Remember that a compressor is more likely to malfunction as it gets older, and poor maintenance is a major contributor to a broken compressor. you want to extend the lifetime of your compressor and reduce the risk of needing repairs, regular maintenance is important.
If possible, the expert technicians at Howard Air will repair your compressor to get our AC fan spinning again. If the component is beyond repair, we can replace it with a new compressor that will get our fans spinning again so that you can be comfortable inside your home.
Professional HVAC Services in Phoenix
Keeping your AC unit in good condition is important for maintaining a comfortable temperature inside your home. If your AC fan isn’t spinning, it’s important to take quick action so that you don’t get overheated at home. Trying to resolve the issue yourself is never a good idea if you don’t have HVAC experience. Howard Air is here to help residents of Phoenix, Arizona, with all of their air conditioning needs.
Our shop is located on North Cave Creek Road in the heart of Phoenix, so we can respond quickly when your AC fan stops spinning. Our expert technicians have the skills and tools necessary to repair or replace AC fans as necessary. Contact us today to schedule an appointment to have your AC fan looked at.
Image Source: Rana X / Shutterstock
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