An air conditioner blower plays a significant role in how well the unit functions. This article looks at blower issues and solutions to the issues.
Table of Contents
What Is a Blower Motor in AC Unit?
The blower motor is responsible for powering the fan inside the air conditioner so that it spreads the air out of the unit and into your home. With the motor, the fan circulates cold air so that the internal temperature in your home reaches the set point on the thermostat. In other words, there will be no cold air inside your home without the blower motor or fan.
How to Use Blower in AC
The blower in your air conditioner does not work alone. There are other components that work together with the fan to produce the cold air from your air conditioner. The refrigerant in the system makes the cold air available and a process of heat exchange transfers the heat out of the house, through the system, and into the atmosphere.
Furthermore, the fan works at different speeds, which can also play a role in how much cold air the air conditioner produces. However, this fan speed is only a more recent invention; older blower fans used only a single speed function to operate.
Some air conditioning units use the same blower as the furnace. Some units feature both a heating and cooling function and use one blower to run. So, if you have to replace the blower at any point, be aware that you are replacing it for both the furnace and air conditioner. Other units do not share blowers with the furnace. In other words, they use a separate blower from the furnace.
Air Conditioner Blower Motor Not Working – What to Do
If you suspect the motor of the blower in your air conditioner is not working, it is best to replace it. But before doing that, it is ideal to find out if the blower is getting power. Check the breaker panel to ensure the breaker for the air conditioner is not tripped. You can check the thermostat because a faulty thermostat can affect the fan motor. Also, ensure the blades are not stuck; otherwise, the motor will not run no matter how hard it tries.
Turn off the air conditioner, wait a few minutes, and turn it on again. Next, check the blower motor to see if it is working. If the fan is still not working because of the motor, replace the motor. The air conditioning system will not produce cold air without the blower, even if all other components are in good working condition.
Blower motors last a long time. In some cases, they last as long as the air conditioning unit and you never have to replace them. However, a few issues can cause the motor to burn out and stop working. Excess moisture, worn bearings due to age, or loose internal wiring are some of them. Also, a bad capacitor can affect the functionality of the blower motor.
How to Replace an Air Conditioner Blower Motor
You will need to disconnect electric power from the air conditioning unit before replacing the blower motor. Locate the housing that holds the blower and pull it out. If you are unsure where to find it, consult the user manual for instructions.
Follow the wiring diagram to disconnect the necessary wires before separating the motor from the blower. Then, fix the new motor in the place of the old one, reconnect the wires, and push the blower back into its housing.
This video demonstrates easy DIY steps to replace the blower motor in your air conditioner…
Air Conditioner Blower Fan Making Noise – Quick Fix
You may have to replace the blower fan if it is making noise. If you hear a squealing or screeching noise from your air conditioner within your home, it may come from the blower. If the noise seems to be coming from within the house but is louder when you step outside, it is the condenser fan.
Typically, a blower fan makes no noise during operation. If you are unfamiliar with the components of an air conditioner, you may not be aware of the fan. But when the blower fan becomes noisy, whether or not it is loud, it is time to replace it. The noise may be coming from the motor because of worn-out bearings or dirt stuck to the blades. You can clean the blades, but ensure the motor is not noisy.
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Air Conditioner Blower Leaking Water – Solved
The blower in an air conditioner does not leak water. It has nothing to do with the water in the system but has the job of blowing cold air out of the unit. So, if you find water leaking from the area around the fan, it is best to check the drain tube.
When the drain is clogged with debris, condensate water cannot flow out. As a result, the water backs up into the unit and leaks out from other channels. It may flow to the area around the blower and over time, it will pool there and begin leaking. Fixing the drainage issue will preserve components, including the blower.
Check the drain tube to ensure it is not blocked. Use a wet/dry vacuum to clear the drain line of dirt so that water can flow out again. A solution of water and vinegar can also clear the line, but you have to use it carefully as it may not be the easiest step.
The best step is to hire a qualified HVAC professional to check the drain and clear it if necessary. The technician can also check other parts, including the blower, to ensure everything is in good working condition.
Air Conditioner Blower Starts and Stops – What to Do
Check the capacitor that supplies power to the blower. If it is leaking oily fluid or is bulging, it is time to replace it. If there is no visible evidence of damage, you may have to use a multimeter to test the capacitor. A faulty capacitor will cause the fan to start and stop due to an insufficient power supply.
Loose wiring, overheating, or even an obstruction can also affect the functionality of the blower. Check the fan to see if debris is obstructing it. If it is obstructed, clean the fan to remove it and reduce the heat. Obstruction can cause the motor to overheat as it struggles to run with the debris around it.
You may not be able to do much about the loose wiring because it is technical. Therefore, hire an HVAC technician to check the blower and determine why it starts and stops. That way, you will get a permanent solution to the problem.
Air Conditioner Blower Will Not Turn Off – How to Fix
The following are possible causes of the blower not turning off and how to fix them:
1. Thermostat Setting
The thermostat in your home should be set to Auto instead of Cool. If the setting is not Auto, adjust it accordingly. Otherwise, you will find the fan running without stopping as it tries to cool the house round the clock.
The thermostat may also be faulty, causing the fan to stick at a spot. Consider checking the batteries and wiring of the thermostat to determine whether or not it is faulty. Replace the thermostat if it appears to be malfunctioning.
2. Outside Temperature
When the weather is too cold or too hot, the blower may run without stopping to cool your home. That is because the outside temperature may be beyond the set temperature and the fan picks the slack to cover up. It will continue in that manner until the weather changes.
Since you cannot change the weather yourself, you may want to adjust the thermostat setting to suit the weather. That way, the blower may turn off.
3. Short Circuit or Broken Switch
If you find that other parts of the air conditioner are working but the blower is not, it may be that the relay switch is broken, keeping the thermostat’s setting from reaching the fan. As a result, the fan keeps turning even when it should not. The same applies when there is a short circuit. You will need the services of a technician to check the switch and the thermostat wiring, and fix the faulty one.
Air Conditioner Blower Not Blowing Hard – Solved
Check the blades to ensure nothing is snagged in them. When the blades do not turn well, the blower cannot blow air hard. Clean the blades and motor to remove debris if there is any. Next, check the motor for continuity using a multimeter. Replace the motor if it has no continuity.
In addition, ensure the air filter is not excessively dirty. When the filter is dirty, it will affect the blower’s capacity to blow cold air. Remove the filter and wash it but only if it is not older than three months. Otherwise, replace it.
Air Conditioner Blower Not Working in Car – Quick Fix
The best fix for a blower that is not working in your car is to replace it. The fan may have a short, debris, or a blown fuse. Dirt can cause the fan motor to stop working, especially if debris usually gets caught in it. Let a qualified auto mechanic check the fan and replace it if necessary. Otherwise, they can fix the faulty part.
How to Tell if Home AC Blower Motor Is Bad
The first sign that the blower motor is bad is that it does not work at all. You will notice that the air conditioner is running but is not blowing cold air. If you have the training, you can check the air filter and other components that are likely to block airflow. By elimination, you can tell whether or not the blower motor has stopped working. If that is the case, replace the blower motor.
Another sign of a bad blower motor is noise. Buzzing, humming, and rattling noises are indications that the motor may be bad. But first, ensure nothing is stuck in the baldes to cause the noise. Then, check the motor and replace it if necessary.
Also, intermittent running is a sign of a bad motor. The problem may stem from a bad relay or a short circuit. If it is a short circuit, it is best to replace the motor. But replace the relay switch if it is faulty so that the fan can run with the thermostat setting.
When the fan runs without stopping, it is another indication that the motor is malfunctioning. However, the ambient temperature or thermostat setting can also cause the fan to run constantly. You will have to eliminate other possible causes of the fan running without stopping before you can replace the motor.
Furthermore, when the air conditioner does not blow cold air, you can check the blower among other components. Find the faulty ones, such as a dirty air filter, a defective thermostat, a dusty condenser, or obstructed air vents. When all are in good working condition and the airflow does not improve, it is time to check the blower motor.
Employ the services of a qualified HVAC technician to check your air conditioner and fix faulty parts. Regular maintenance averts most of these air conditioner issues before they become big problems.
How to Remove an Air Conditioner Blower Wheel
Unmount the screws holding the air conditioner’s front panel in place. Next, remove the unit’s drain pan. After that, remove the set screws holding the wheel to the motor of the blower; the screws are on the far right side of the wheel.
Then, locate three screws on the evaporator coil’s left side. Unscrew them and without removing them, lift the coil a little forward so that you can remove the wheel behind it. You must handle the wheel with caution so that you do not damage it. If you want to wash it, use only water and spray it with a hose. Avoid dunking the entire wheel in water.
Here is a video demonstrating how to remove the blower wheel in your air conditioner…
How to Clean Indoor AC Blower
To clean the blower in your indoor AC unit, disconnect the unit from electric power. Next, flip the cover of the indoor unit or unscrew the screws to remove it completely. Lay it aside and move the evaporator to one side after unmounting the set screws holding it in place.
Use a wet rag to clean the blower when it is exposed. Do not remove it to dip it entirely in water. When it is clean, fix the parts back into position and reconnect the air conditioner to electric power. More dirt may come out as the unit starts operating because you have loosened the dirt. Be ready to clean it from the AC and floor.
Types of Air Conditioner Blower
There are four main types of air conditioner blowers: tube-axial, vane-axial, centrifugal, and propeller fans.
The tube-axial type looks like an ordinary car tire but comes in different sizes, from small to big. The vane-axial type looks like the usual fan wheel, round like a disk but fixed in a cylindrical house. Vanes guide the airflow from the fan in the cylinder.
A centrifugal fan is a powerful type of blower and looks like a water wheel. Because it uses a lot of power and pressure, it is used in places where there is a need for a lot of air from the air conditioning unit.
A propeller fan is the commonest type of blower. It is most likely the type you have in your home air conditioner. It looks like a disk set on a round plate with a motor fixed to it. The blower may generate some noise, but not as loud as a centrifugal fan.
What Causes AC Blower Motor to Stop Working?
One of the commonest reasons a blower motor stops working is a damaged capacitor. Replace the capacitor if it is leaking or bulging. You can also test it with a multimeter to check for continuity if there is no visible damage. Replace it if there is no continuity.
A dirty air filter can cause the evaporator coil to freeze, reducing the flow of cold air. The fan will run more than it should and wear the motor out. Check the filter and replace it if it is excessively dirty.
Power surges can also affect the fan motor if there is no surge protector. The surges may trip the breaker and stop the fan from working. Check the breaker and turn it on, then use a surge protector for your air conditioner.
Recap
An air conditioner blower is a vital part of the unit because it blows the cold air from the unit into the house. So, if it is faulty, it is crucial to find a lasting solution as quickly as possible. Contact the manufacturer or hire an experienced HVAC technician to service the air conditioner and fix faulty parts.
