A Goodman air conditioner fan should run as long as the unit is running. Without the fan, the unit may not produce cold air and may overheat. If you have problems with the fan, this article discusses solutions to the problems.
Table of Contents
Goodman Air Conditioner Fan Not Running – How to Fix
Check the following if you find that your Goodman air conditioner fan is not running:
1. Motor
Disconnect power to the air conditioner and locate the fan. Ensure there is nothing obstructing the blades. If they are dirty, clean them and turn them with your hand. When you do, they should turn without a hitch. But if they are stiff, it may be an indication that the bearings of the motor have worn out and cannot carry the motor any longer. Since they are not replaceable parts, the only solution is to replace the motor of the fan.
However, check to see whether or not the motor is receiving power if the blades turn freely. It means the bearings are not the problem. Using a multimeter, check the motor for power. Replace the motor if the motor is receiving power, yet it will not run. It means the motor is faulty.
2. Thermostat
Leave the air conditioner on and set its temperature to cool. Next, take a multimeter and run a continuity test on the thermostat to check for continuity. If there is no continuity in the thermostat as the unit runs, replace the thermostat.
Check the wiring diagram of the air conditioner for assistance if the thermostat has more than two terminals and controls a heater. You will know what to do from the diagram and the user manual.
The thermostat has a sensor that detects the temperature of the surrounding air. When the air becomes hot, it provides power for the compressor and fan to turn on and run. So when the thermostat fails, the fan will stop running, along with the compressor. That also means the air conditioner will not work as it should.
3. Relay Board
The board ensures different components of the air conditioner receive the voltage they need to run when necessary. Without the board working well, the fan may not run. However, ensure you do not remove the board as a first option because it is easy to misdiagnose. Before touching it, check other components that are more likely to cause the problem. When you eliminate them from the list, you can check and replace the relay board.
4. Dual Shaft Fan Motor
Check the dual shaft fan to ensure it is working and the motor has not failed. Also called a circulation fan, it has a blade on the front and on the back of the motor. Both blades join the motor by fixing on a shaft. One blade pulls air from outside and sends it over the condenser coil; the other pulls air over the evaporator coil to cool it.
If the shaft on which the blades stand is loose when you wiggle it, it may indicate that the bearings of the motor are no longer able to hold the shaft. They may be worn or loose. In such a case, replace the motor since you cannot replace the bearings.
5. Temperature Control Thermostat
Check to see if the fan is running while the compressor is operating. If the fan is not running, the capacitor or the motor may be defective. Run a continuity test on both the motor and capacitor using a multimeter, and replace the faulty one.
However, if the compressor does not run at the same time as the fan, the thermostat is the source of the problem. It has electrical contacts that may have burned out with use. Check the continuity of the temperature control thermostat using a multimeter. If the thermostat does not show continuity, replace it.
As with the other thermostat, you may want to check your user manual to see if the thermostat is the type that controls a heater. If it is, it may have more than two terminals. As a result, you will need the wiring diagram to test for continuity correctly.
6. Capacitor
Find the capacitor that connects the fan to the compressor using electrical leads. The fan will not run if the capacitor is not working. The capacitor of the fan motor must be in good working condition for the motor to run, so run a continuity test on it using a multimeter. If you find no continuity, replace the capacitor.
7. Thermistor
A continuity test will let you know whether or not the thermistor is in good working condition. Take a multimeter and connect it to the thermistor. If the thermistor registers no continuity, it is defective and needs a replacement.
It is a sensor on the control board that detects the air temperature. That way, the control board knows when to turn on the compressor and fan. A faulty thermistor will not send the correct signal to the control board, thereby truncating the flow of power to the cooling components.
8. Selector Switch
Go to the control board of the air conditioner and make some selections. When you press any button, check the fan; intermittent runs by the fan means the selector switch is bad and needs a replacement. Also, replace it if you notice arcing on it. The switch should direct voltage to the motor of the fan, so is vital to the fan’s operation.
9. Rotary Switch
Check the wiring diagram of the air conditioner to determine how to check the switch for continuity. Then, take a multimeter and check the continuity of the switch; that will tell you if the switch is conducting electricity as it should. The switch’s internal electrical contacts may become pitted with continuous usage, reducing their ability to conduct electricity. Replace the switch if there is no continuity.
10. Blower Motor
The blades of the blower must turn without a hitch if the motor is working well. So, if they do not turn, it may be time to replace the motor. But if they do, check to see if the motor is receiving power using a multimeter. If it is, yet will not run, the motor has failed. The only fix is to replace the motor because you cannot repair it.
11. Main Control Board
The board should be the last component you check. It hardly fails but is diagnosed wrongly when something goes wrong with the air conditioner. Therefore, ensure other parts are in good working condition before checking the control board. Burns on the solder points or arcing will let you know the board needs a replacement.
Goodman Air Conditioner Fan Won’t Shut Off – Quick Fix
Check the thermostat and the relay if your Goodman air conditioner is stuck in the running mode. Typically, the fan should run when the compressor runs. Since the compressor is the heart of the unit, all the other components are activated by its operation so that the unit can spread cold air.
However, check the setting of the thermostat to ensure it is set correctly. Then, adjust it to a point above the room temperature and wait for the unit to go off. That means the compressor goes off, and if the fan is still running, take a look at the thermostat to ensure the fan’s setting is not at On.
If the setting is correct and the fan keeps running, troubleshoot the relay and thermostat. Use a multimeter to check both components for continuity and replace them if they are defective.
It is important to note that the air conditioner may run longer than normal when the weather is hot. It does so in a bid to reduce the temperature inside the house. When the temperature drops to a certain level, the thermostat turns off, and the unit powers off. This process may wear the air conditioner out too quickly, especially if it is not designed to be highly efficient.
Other times, the air conditioning unit runs too often because of dirty air filters, dusty condenser coil, frozen evaporator, or even an inadequate amount of refrigerant. You will notice these problems if the unit runs too long even when the weather is not hot. In such a situation, contact an HVAC technician to service the air conditioner and fix the problems. Doing that improves the AC’s functionality and reduces energy consumption.
Check out these other articles…
Goodman Air Conditioner Compressor [Problems & Solutions]
Goodman Air Conditioner Not Turning On [How to Fix]
Air Conditioner Blowing Hot Air/Not Blowing Hot Air [Solutions]
Air Conditioner Is Not Blowing Cold Air [Proven Solutions]
Air Conditioner Blower [Issues & Solutions]
How to Replace a Goodman AC Blower Motor
Replacing the motor of the blower in your Goodman air conditioner is not a difficult task. But you must know where to look to find the blower in the unit. Your user manual will come in handy in finding the exact location of the blower. This article explains steps to replace the motor and what causes the motor’s failure in detail.
What Causes an AC Fan to Keep Running?
A few factors cause the fan in your air conditioner to keep running. One is that you set the fan to On. When you do this, the fan will not turn off but will keep running until you manually turn it off. It is best to set the AC to Auto so it runs only when the compressor is running.
Another reason is that the relay switch is no longer working. A defective relay switch will stop the thermostat’s setting from reaching the fan so that you will find the fan running even when the AC is not. The best fix for this problem is to replace the switch.
Yet another cause of the fan always running is a malfunctioning thermostat. Such a thermostat cannot sense the temperature needs in your house, causing the cooling system to run even when it is not needed. Consequently, you will find the fan running non-stop. Replace the thermostat to fix the problem permanently.
Sometimes, the problem stems from the AC being smaller than the room or house. A unit that is too small will work harder to meet the temperature needs of the room. As a result, the fan will never turn off as the cooling system tries to keep the room cool. The same rule applies if you live in an area with extreme temperatures. The solution may be an expensive one because it may require replacing the entire unit with a bigger one.
How to Tell If Outside AC Fan Motor Is Bad
The following are signs that the fan in the AC condenser unit is bad:
1. Abnormal Noises
You may hear a rattling, buzzing, or humming noise coming from the outside unit. While these noises may stem from loose parts or screws, they are more likely to be caused by a defective fan. The fan blades may be loose or the motor may be faulty. The shaft may also be rubbing against something, generating noise.
2. Still Blades
Turn the AC on and check the blades while the unit is running. You will hear the hum of the compressor, so the fan blades should spin; the fan and compressor work together. But if the blades remain still while the compressor hums, the fan is bad. It may be something as simple as dirt caught in the blades, or something as bad as the motor being defective.
3. Slow Blades
Typically, the blades of the fan should spin with some speed when the air conditioner is running. So, if the blades turn slowly or sluggishly, it means something wrong with the fan and it is crucial to find out the problem so that you can fix it.
4. Intermittent AC Operation
When the air conditioner is on, it should smoothly run and shut off only when the thermostat senses the temperature is cold enough. But if the AC shuts off too often, and runs only in short periods, it may indicate a problem with the motor or relay. You may want to check and replace the components.
5. No Running
If the fan does not start functioning when you turn the air conditioner on, you know it is defective. This problem is probably the clearest sign that the fan is bad. Consider replacing the entire fan assembly if you are unsure which fan part is faulty.
The compressor must be running, along with other parts, when the fan is not before you can conclude that the problem is from the fan. Otherwise, it may originate from other parts such as a faulty capacitor or thermostat.
6. Always Running
If your AC fan continues running even after you turn the unit off, something is wrong. Check the thermostat and relay switch as they are the likeliest to cause this type of fan problem.
7. No Cold Air
The air conditioner may stop putting out cold air if the outside fan stops working. The condenser may overheat and affect the ability of the unit to produce cold air. In such a situation, it means the fan is not cooling the condenser to help it dissipate the heat from the unit.
It is best to hire a professional and certified HVAC technician to check the air conditioning unit if you notice the fan is not working as it should. The technician is in the position to find other faults and replace more complex parts if necessary.
Note: These same problems and solutions apply if you find that your Goodman air conditioner outside fan is not running.
Recap
A Goodman air conditioner fan plays a vital role in how the unit operates. If the fan fails for any reason, the air conditioner may produce a reduced airflow or may not run at all. Therefore, it is crucial to fix any fan problem as quickly as you notice it. If you are unable to handle the problem yourself, hire a professional to fix it permanently.
