The Purpose Of The Fan In Your AC Condenser And Repairs It Might Need If It Breaks Down
Posted on: 11 August 2020
If you have a typical split central air conditioning system, your AC has an indoor unit and an outdoor unit you need to maintain. One thing that might go wrong with the outdoor condenser is a fan motor malfunction. Here are some signs of this problem and the repairs that could be needed.
Signs Of A Condenser Fan Malfunction
The purpose of the fan in the condenser is to cool down the refrigerant before it circulates back indoors to draw out heat from your home. If the fan isn't working, the refrigerant won't cool off. That means your AC won't be able to pull as much heat out of your house. Your AC may run normally, or even run longer than usual, but your home will feel too warm.
When you check the condenser for signs of trouble, you might notice the fan blades aren't spinning or they are spinning very slowly. There could also be unusual noises coming from the condenser.
Air Conditioner Repairs That Might Be Needed
When there are problems with the fan, the blades, or the motor, the capacitor could be to blame. When you call an AC repair service to check your unit, they'll need to check those three major parts and narrow down the cause of the problem. There might be something stuck in the fan blades that's keeping them from turning, or a blade might be bent and unbalanced. If something is wrong with the blades, that can cause the motor to overheat and burn out.
The capacitor is a part that helps the fan motor turn on. The capacitor is like a battery, and it even has a cylinder shape like a battery. If the capacitor goes bad, the motor won't have the initial power boost it needs to turn the blades. This can cause the motor to overheat and break down. You can sometimes tell if a capacitor is bad by looking at it because it might appear to be damaged. An AC repair technician can use a meter to check the current in the capacitor and motor to tell which one is bad.
When the motor goes bad, the air conditioning repair technician can replace it. The capacitor and fan blades can also be replaced if needed. These repairs should be done promptly when you notice your AC is malfunctioning. If the fan doesn't work, your AC won't cool down and that can stress the compressor and eventually lead to compressor failure. The blades, motor, and capacitor are affordable parts when compared to a compressor, so it's a good idea to replace them before damage is done to your air conditioner.
For more information, reach out to a local air conditioning contractor.
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