Does your air conditioner blow hot air instead of cool air? Before spending a fortune on repairs, check for these common issues that could easily solve your cooling troubles. From tripped circuit breakers to clogged filters, your air conditioner fan may have stopped spinning due to problems that you can diagnose and fix yourself. Let’s uncover what could be overheating your home as we explore the top seven reasons your air conditioner fan isn’t working.
Reason 1: Tripped Circuit Breaker
A circuit breaker is like a safety switch for your home’s electrical system. It monitors the power flowing through the wires and trips (switches off) if it detects a problem like a short circuit or overload. This instantly cuts power to that circuit to prevent fires or damage.
If the circuit breaker for your air conditioner trips, it will stop electricity from reaching the AC unit. This leaves the fan and compressor without power, so they won’t run.
Signs Your Circuit Breaker Has Tripped
How do you know if the circuit breaker is the culprit? Here are some clues:
- The air conditioner won’t turn on at all
- None of the lights or controls come on
- You don’t hear any humming or clicking noises when you try to start it
Basically, the AC unit will be totally dead, as if someone pulled the plug. All the power is off.
How to Reset the Circuit Breaker
Resetting a tripped circuit breaker is simple if you follow these steps:
- Find the breaker box. It’s usually located in the basement, garage, or closet. Look for a metal box with a door that has switches inside.
- Check for a tripped breaker. Look at the switches carefully. A tripped breaker will either be in a halfway point between ON and OFF or it will be clearly switched to OFF.
- Reset the breaker. Flip the tripped breaker all the way to OFF first. Then flip it back ON. You should hear a click.
- Test the A/C. Go try to turn on your air conditioner now. If it works, then hooray! The problem was a tripped breaker.
Reason 2: Faulty Capacitor
The capacitor is a small device inside your air conditioner that stores electrical energy. When you turn on the AC unit, the capacitor releases this stored energy to give the fan motor a jolt of power to start spinning.
So what happens if the capacitor is faulty and can’t provide that starting jolt? The fan motor may not be able to get going, leaving the fan stalled.
Signs of a Bad Capacitor
Watch for these warning signs that your AC’s capacitor needs replaced:
- The fan doesn’t start spinning when you turn on the unit
- You hear a loud humming noise, but the fan doesn’t run
- The fan starts but stops again quickly
The capacitor just can’t give the fan enough kick to get it moving properly. Time for a capacitor check!
How to Check and Replace the Capacitor
Follow these safe steps to test and change out a bad capacitor:
- Turn off the power to the AC unit at the breaker panel or by unplugging it. Safety first!
- Remove the outer housing to access the capacitor. It’s a small cylinder attached to the fan motor.
- Carefully discharge any leftover energy in the old capacitor. This prevents shocks.
- Use a multimeter to test the capacitance reading. Check it against the rating on the capacitor.
- If the capacitor is faulty, install an exact replacement with the same capacitance rating.
- Reinstall the housing and turn the power back on to test the air conditioner.
Reason 3: Broken Fan Motor
The fan motor is the power unit that spins the fan blades to circulate air. If this motor is broken, the fan won’t be able to run.
What are signs the motor is bad? And how can you fix it? Let’s find out!
Clues Your Fan Motor is Broken
Watch for these symptoms:
- The fan blades don’t spin at all
- The fan makes weird noises like squealing or grinding
- The fan starts and stops randomly
Basically, the fan has trouble spinning properly or can’t spin at all. The motor just can’t provide the smooth power it should.
Diagnosing and Replacing the Fan Motor
Follow these safe steps to test and replace a faulty fan motor:
- Turn off the power to the AC unit at the breaker panel or unplug it. Safety first!
- Remove the outer housing to access the fan motor. Locate where it connects to the fan.
- Disconnect the motor wires. Test it with a multimeter to check for problems.
- If the motor is defective, install an identical replacement motor. Reconnect the wires.
- Replace the housing and turn the power back on to test the air conditioner.
Reason 4: Clogged Air Filter
The air filter is a thin mesh screen inside your air conditioner. It blocks dust and dirt from getting inside the AC unit. But when the filter gets clogged up, it restricts airflow. This can put extra strain on the fan motor and cause it to stop working.
Let’s go over how to spot and fix a clogged filter.
Signs Your Air Filter is Clogged
Watch for these warning signs:
- Reduced airflow and weak cooling from the vents
- The AC unit has to work harder and runs loudly
- The fan seems to labor and move less air
The blocked filter acts like a boulder in a river, obstructing the free flow of air through the AC unit. Time to check that filter!
How to Check and Replace a Clogged Filter
Follow these simple filter maintenance steps:
- Turn off the AC unit so the fan stops spinning. Safety first!
- Open the filter access panel on the furnace or AC unit. Locate the filter.
- Slide out the old filter and hold it up to the light. If it looks darkened or covered in dust, it’s clogged.
- Install a fresh filter of the same size. Make sure the arrows point in the direction of airflow.
- Close up the unit and turn it back on. The fan should run better with clean airflow!
Reason 5: Thermostat Issues
The thermostat is like the command center that controls your air conditioner. It senses the room temperature and signals the AC unit to turn on when cooling is needed.
If the thermostat malfunctions, it can’t properly tell the fan to start running. Let’s look at some thermostat troubleshooting tips.
Signs of a Faulty Thermostat
Watch for these issues:
- The AC doesn’t turn on even though it’s hot
- The fan doesn’t run even when set to “ON”
- The temperature doesn’t change even though the settings are lowered
Basically, the AC unit doesn’t respond properly to the thermostat’s commands. Time to investigate the thermostat!
Fixing Thermostat Problems
Try these steps to get the thermostat working again:
- Check the thermostat settings. Make sure it’s set to COOL mode, and the temperature is lowered.
- Replace old batteries if needed. Low battery power can cause issues.
- Set the thermostat 5 degrees lower as a test. The AC unit should turn on.
- If problems persist, you may need to replace the thermostat.
Reason 6: Blown Fuse
A fuse is another safety device in your electrical system. It’s designed to blow (burn out) if there is a power overload or short circuit. This breaks the flow of dangerous excess electricity.
If the fuse for your air conditioner blows, the fan and compressor lose power. The AC unit will shut down to prevent damage.
Signs You Have a Blown Fuse
Watch for these clues:
- The air conditioner doesn’t turn on at all
- The fan isn’t running, but other parts seem to work
- You find a burned-out fuse in the fuse box
The fan relies on that fuse to receive electricity. No power = no spinning fan. Time to check those fuses!
How to Replace a Blown Fuse
Follow these safe steps:
- Turn off the power to the AC unit at the breaker panel before checking the fuses. Safety first!
- Locate the fuse box and check for any burnt fuses. Burnt spots or broken connections indicate a bad fuse.
- Unscrew the blown fuse and replace it with a new fuse of the same amperage. Never use a higher amperage fuse.
- Turn the power back on and test the air conditioner. The fan should start up with the replaced fuse.
Reason 7: Obstructed Fan Blades
The spinning fan blades circulate air through your air conditioner system. But what if something blocks the blades so they can’t spin properly? This can definitely cause issues.
Let’s discuss how to spot and fix obstructed fan blades.
Signs of Blocked Fan Blades
Watch for these warning signs:
- The fan makes grinding or choking noises
- The fan seems to be struggling to turn
- The fan is spinning slower than normal
Basically, something is interfering with the fan blades and preventing smooth operation. Time to investigate!
How to Check and Clear Blocked Fan Blades
Follow these safe steps:
- Turn off the AC unit power before checking the fan blades. Safety first!
- Remove the housing to access the fan blades.
- Look for any debris, dirt, or other blockages on the blades. Remove anything stuck.
- Carefully turn the fan by hand to test for smooth spinning.
- Replace the housing and restore power. The fan should run better now!
Conclusion
We covered a lot of ground on why your air conditioner fan may not be working and how to get it going again. Let’s recap the top reasons and fixes:
- Tripped breaker: Reset the circuit breaker switch.
- Faulty capacitor: Replace the bad capacitor.
- Broken motor: Test and replace the fan motor.
- Clogged filter: Clean or change the air filter.
- Thermostat issues: Check settings and batteries.
- Blown fuse: Find and replace the blown fuse.
- Blocked blades: Remove obstructions from the fan.
Diagnosing the specific issue and then following the right steps can get your fan spinning properly.
Here are some tips to help prevent future AC fan problems:
- Check filters monthly and replace them when they are dirty.
- Clear debris and leaves from outside the unit.
- Have a yearly AC tune-up done by a technician.
- Make sure fuses and breakers are the correct size.
With proper maintenance and care, your air conditioner fan can keep working smoothly for many summers to come!