If it is an air conditioner check for an air conditioner breaker trip. Furthermore, this often creates annoying sheet metal vibration noises. Typically refrigerant leaves the compressor and enters the outdoor condensing coil at about 100 psi and about 95 degF. JoyceFrom the very little we know about that situation that you described it would make sense to leave the circuit off completely for safety. If that doesn’t work, you decide whether to call a professional service or not. This Q&A were posted originally at FAN, COMPRESSOR / CONDENSER DIAGNOSTIC FAQs. We also provide an ARTICLE INDEX for this topic, or you can try the page top or bottom SEARCH BOX as a quick way to find information you need. The first thing you need to know about the system is the type of motor you have installed in the condenser. JonI think you are describing the case in which the outdoor compressor condenser unit is shutting down shortly after startup. Your might ask for an explanation and let me know what you're told. Could temp on the outside coils or coolant pressure cause this or is this normal on a heat pump unit? This effectively cools the refrigerant, transforming it from a piping hot gas into a liquid solution. Dirty Coil And Filters. It’s not smoke. If the condenser fan motor on a unit after the serial number listed below is running continuously, Clean the Condenser. If the fan itself is balanced and undamaged and secured to the shaft and the fan motor buzzes or hums the motor may be damaged, overheated, have an internal bearing failure, or the motor may be hard starting.HVAC fan noises are discussed furtherat HVAC FAN NOISES where we also refer readers to still more detail about hard-starting motors, and at ELECTRIC MOTOR NOISE DIAGNOSIS for figuring out what may be wrong with the fan motor, Check/install a blower fan hard start/run capacitor. Bob,Thank you for the helpful diagnostic question about your Pioneer brand Mini Split AC unit. You may detect this by noticing that you can wobble the fan motor shaft (when power is OFF) or you may notice that you can pull the shaft in and out of the motor (loose end-play). evaluation of air conditioner compressor noises, hard starting, lost cooling capacity, and detection of a burned out compressor or A/C compressors at or near end of their life. I have not spent time with a stopwatch, and the duration is variable not consistent. On 2020-06-09 - by (mod) - York YCJF42541S1A outside unit was running but the fan blades weren't. How to Fix and AC Fan and Compressor not Running? More likely there is an electrical or control problem. Then they replaced the fan motor. Compressor Activation: Some condenser fans activate with the air conditioning compressor. Is the fan blade assembly secured to the fan motor shaft? If the compressor won't start and if the unit trips a breaker or blows a fuse as soon as it tries to turn on, the motor is burned out and shorted. I've included pictures of the schematic as you suggested.Really hoping this new fan is able to be used. Any Sub-Zero model not listed above has a condenser fan motor that cycles on and off based on compressor run time. DeniseThere is probably something here that we don't understand. Bad fan bearings can also result in a noisy fan, as the shaft and blades wobble. I am not convinced the fan was fixed either the first or second visit. Scenario B: You cannot hear the a/c compressor running and the fan motor is not turning. The central heat and air unit is 2 years old. I installed it following the install instructions to the letter. Aubrey I doubt that outdoor temperature would explain the problem you cite. The compressor is depending on the fan to move air across the condensing coil to convert high pressure, high temperature gas back to a liquid refrigerant. More subtle would be a mis-adjusted or debris-clogged expansion valve or reversing valve.Note that Pioneer's mini split units come pre-charged with R410A in a volume sufficient to ccommodate refrigerant line lengths up to 25 ft. per circuit. Here is the start of the problem: Friday works fine went to bed got up Saturday house is 84 degrees, always keep thermostat at 74 year round. Am I barking up the wrong tree and should I be looking elsewhere? at BURNED-OUT COMPRESSOR, if the condensing unit fan is not working the compressor itself may shut down or even be ruined by overpressure or over temperature. Help, On 2020-06-06 - by (mod) - air conditioning drags voltage, NsisUsually drawing high amos is a sign of a failing motor, The Air conditioning drags voltage and almost turns off other appliances when compressor attempts to start up It is actually at your air … Your email address will not be published. Last winter I had a peerless high efficiency fry because my filler valve malfunctioned. I got everything hooked up and my buddy lent me his evacuator. If the condenser fan motor is receiving the correct voltage but the motor still won’t run, i...nspect the capacitor to ensure that it is not at fault. A heat pump in the winter needs to defrost itself from time to time. PDo let me know what your service repair technician says. What would be the risk in not connecting the red wire to anything and just connecting the brown, black and yellow wires? Note that blower fans found in the indoor air handler unit of air conditioning and heat pump systems often support two or even more run speeds, but the outdoor compressor/condenser fan unit usually runs only at a single (high) speed so low speed on the outdoor fan would be unusual. So if you have a heat pump and it is winter, and you recognize the fan motor is not turning sometimes then you likely do not have a problem with the condenser fan motor. If the run capacitor is defective, the fan motor might be noisy, overheat, or not run at all. Check for a fan blade hitting an obstruction in the unit; possible failing blower fan motor. A slow condenser fan (or air handler unit fan) could be caused by a bad start-run capacitor. The condenser fan motor is a part of the condensing system in your HVAC that turns the fan blades in order to blow air across the condenser coil. That is a run capacitor for the condenser fan motor, and it will hold a charge and shock you even with the power turned off. To determine... 02 - Run Capacitor. This is normal for a heat pump to do this in the winter when in defrost mode, just like the fan motor not turning when in defrost mode. But it is indeed also normal for the fan on-off cycle to sometimes be different from the compressor motor on-off cycle. Now it spins. I had a problem with my Condenser unit. The first thing you need to know... PSC Motor Solutions - Problem One. Many factors need consideration when replacing an electric motor, and each one is essential. I will contact pioneer. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. If you skipped the periodic maintenance, then now is the time to do it, and hopefully, permanent damage has not occurred, and you can save the day. Typically this is caused by an internal short in the motor windings. Most of the time they say it’s now turning, and everything is fine. - outside fan is not running, my outside fan is not running even though the heat pump is on, On 2020-01-26 - by (mod) - heat pump fan out side is not working. People here the compressor running but don’t see the fan blade turning, so they freak out a little and call me. Finally, a bad motor can cause your air conditioner to blow warm air. I am thinking of asking for a second opinion just to be sure before I sink money into a new coil. This commission helps us pay for the overhead of running this website. The ECM condenser fan motor connects to an electronic control module. If the condenser unit fan won't start at all, check for power to the unit and to the fan motor and that all of the controls are calling for cooling (or heat pump operation); check for loose, disconnected wires; Check for a frozen fan motor (motor won't turn manually when power is off). An internal short that is grounding the fan motor windings can leave the fan running, but abnormally slowly. Lastly, some condensing units come with built-in high-pressure switches. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Changed compressor starter capacitor but not the dual run capacitor. But if it doesn’t spin (since I just read your article), I’ll consider it normal… and that it is in its defrost mode. If the condenser fan motor is not working properly, the refrigerator won’t cool properly. A condenser fan that won't start when power is turned on, but whose blades will spin easily when power is off may have a worn fan motor shaft bearing. This is speculative. The condenser unit fan is a blower that moves outdoor air across the condensing coil found in the outdoor compressor/condenser unit. Fan control circuit board is brand new. Sketch from Carson Dunlop Associates. A Summary Checklist of Diagnostics for a Condenser Fan Unit that Stops Working Power & Amps: Check that the system has electric power and normal voltages. Finally a senior tech came out and recognized that the fan required a different capacitor than what was initially changed in. (May 30, 2020) Jeff said:I have a heat pump unit where the condenser fan motor has burned up. Jim, thanks so much for the very nice feedback - that's just super. Watch out: the wiring instructions and diagram for your specific air conditioner or heat pump compressor/condenser unit are model dependent. A blower fan may run for a brief while after the compressor motor has stopped but if the outdoor fan never stops check for a problem with the control board wiring or circuit. My condenser fan motor gets hot and then stops. I don't want to spend the money if it is a capacitor. I did the vacuum and charge thing, meaning I hooked an evacuator pump on the system and then just opened the service valve so the R410a could fill the line set. Again, I advise you to call a professional to take care of this problem as we are dealing with high voltage and capacitors. Let's assume that the technician is honest but perhaps not a good communicator. Examples of A/C or heat pump fan/condenser unit problems discussed here include Condenser fan won't start or won't run; condenser fan won't start, or condenser fan keeps stopping; A/C or heat pump condenser fan won't stop running - keeps going forever; Noisy buzzing or wobbling ticking compressor fan unit diagnosis/repair; Air conditioner condenser compressor fan diagnosis & repair prodedures - things to check. Fan is brand new. Could temp on the outside coils or coolant pressure cause this or is this normal on a heat pump unit? The most common problem associated with the condenser fan motor getting hot and then stopping is likely the fan capacitor. If the fan motor is OK one or more allen screws set into the center bushing of the blower fan itself may need to be tightened to secure the blower fan to the motor shaft. The unit is 8 years old. The compressors also make a fan noise when running, refer to Compressor Run Time for more information. Also, noticed the old fan wire actually has a quick connect coupler for all four wires to connect into a circuit board. If the capacitor is not bulging or leaking, replace the condenser fan motor. See the Capacitors link just below. If the condenser fan is running you will see the fan blade spinning at speed (typically at 1725 rpm) and you will feel air blowing out of the unit. This can leave the fan motor running. Resource: The Home Comfort Book: The ultimate guide to creating a comfortable, healthy, long lasting, and efficient home. If your freezer model has its condenser coils located behind the unit, then it means they will be exposed to dirt. The condenser fan motor draws air though the condenser coils and over the compressor. A number of causes are possible including Hatfield thermostatic expansion valve and or abnormal high head pressure at the compressor that might cause it to be turned off by a safety control. Thanks for the great step by step instructions to troubleshooting. That identifies what each of the wires are. my condenser fan is a trane fan03652 or replacement fan04690. Humming fan motor usually means either a bad starting cap or a seized motor. Or use the SEARCH BOX found below to Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia. Inside the house is warm and could have been blowing warm air. Condenser Fan Run But Not The Compressor Motor by: Mel It has been very hot in S.E Michigan the last few months Central air unit working fine all along cools nicely. For mounting purposes. Bad Motor Problem | Is the Condenser Fan Motor Bad? Check the float switch. FAN, COMPRESSOR / CONDENSER UNIT at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice. The most common problem with this issue is either a bad condenser fan capacitor or the condenser fan motor is getting ready to bo bad. The condenser fan motor draws air though the condenser coils and over the compressor. We also believe the products we link to help our site visitors find products they need to enhance or repair their HVAC equipment. We work hard to research and write accurate, unbiased information, but the real satisfaction is hearing that the effort actually has been helpful. Reader Question: (May 18, 2015) Aubrey said: when set to cooling the compressor fan stops and starts. If the capacitor is defective, the fan motor might be noisy, overheat, or not run at all. My old fan was a 4 wire system and has a red,yellow, brown, and black wire. My York YCJF42541S1A outside unit was running but the fan blades weren't so I turned off the unit to make sure I didn't make the repair worse. A major component of the condenser is a condenser fan motor. Since then, I bought a mini split pioneer seer 19? Furthermore, both air source heat pumps and air conditioners have a condenser fan motor. No cooling, no heating. We list this sequence of condenser fan troubleshooting checkpoints roughly in the order that an experienced service technician will try them, putting easy, cheap, or more likely causes higher in the list. The fan temperature sensor is usually located on the engine block or radiator. What else could be wrong with it? Minor bends can be corrected manually; damaged blades need to be replaced. It is best to replace any capacitor with an exact replacement. I have a trane heatpump. Variable Speed ECM Condenser Fan Motors - Troubleshooting Tips. The green line marks a common location for the fan control circuitry, and the blue line marks the fan motor. A dual capacitor powers both the compressor (HERM terminal) and the fan motor (FAN terminal). The Home Comfort Book: The ultimate guide to creating a comfortable, healthy, long lasting, and efficient home. But not all compressor issues require replacement. Was... interesting to learn. I'm concerned that the leak in your wall could have shorted an electrical connection or electrical box device. How to test and troubleshoot capacitors, Air Conditioner Compressor Troubleshooting, Air Conditioning and Heating Heat/Energy Values, Evaporator Coil for Heat Pumps & Air Conditioners, Evaporator Coils Dirty Ice On Air Conditioner, High Head Pressure Air Conditioner Heat Pump Troubleshooting, Proper Refrigeration Piping Installation Practices, Semi-Hermetic HVAC Compressor Rebuild Shop, The Condenser in the Refrigeration Process, The second most common fan motor found in air conditioner and heat pump condensers are. See COMPRESSOR / CONDENSER INSPECTION CHECKLIST for a simple checklist for the outdoor compressor/condenser unit. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The fan and motor are only about 5 months old - I replaced them due to this issue and the new fan motor did not … In that case, we advise you to call a professional and let them handle the problem. The unit is in defrost, and it’s melting the ice and making little clouds of condensation when in defrost. I really appreciate your help!!! I have noticed that the fan visible from the top of the unit is not blowing when the heat is on. The unit cooled fine until late last week when we noticed it being extra warm but we have had a mild spring until the last couple of weeks. -This should tell you if the freezer fan is running or not. I can hear the coil from the tinny fan control circuit board turning the fan off and then back on during this problem. First the capacitor was replaced. When the compressor cycles on, it also feeds a line to the condenser fan relay, running the fan. If the fuses blow again or the breakers trip again after resetting then you have a serious problem and need to call for service. Is this something you can fix yourself, or do you need to call a professional HVAC service to rectify the problem? Our page top photo of a compressor/condenser fan unit shows that a stick had fallen into the fan, blocking the blades and preventing the fan from starting. Mechanical stoppage or resistance: Check for a mechanical obstruction (see photo at page top of a … Please advice on what to do, thank you. Of all the reasons your condenser fan isn’t working, your unit not receiving … These links will lead to you purchase a product from another company. it is best to stick to the same shape also. Any idea what this could be? Depending on the brand of condenser, it will depend on how you are going to access the lubrication ports for the motor. When I turned it back on the fan came on. If the refrigerator runs constantly, there might be something caught in the condenser fan motor blade, or the condenser fan motor might be defective. I dried the lines and did the pressure testing and all held perfectly. Also possibly there may be no power to the fan and fan blades are moving due to local breeze blowing through the unit. Check these fuses. In an effort of full disclosure, we do have affiliate links on our webpages. Furthermore, the plug on the top side of the motor should be clearly in place. Apologies for the delay. If it does, your job isn’t complete yet. Check for loose wires or loose components on the fan unit control circuit board. Maintaining the condenser fan motor can help to prolong the life of the AC compressor. Condenser Fan Motor. -The sound of the compressor motor may confuse you… so be listening to the freezer fan area and not anywhere else. But it seems to me that that condition should not be for long. You find the condenser fan motor is not turning. The fact that your fan is reversing direction tells me that this is a heat pump and the controls are miswired or oscillating between heating and cooling, or there's a fan wiring error - as the unit's new. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Copyright© 2021 HighPerformanceHVAC.com |. Condenser Fan Motor. My guess is no low speed, but we need to know all circumstances in which that speed is used to assure dropping it is ok. Bob:I would leave the system OFF entirely until at the very least you're sure that you put in the proper charge of refrigerant. The new 3 wire fan doesn't have this wire. If you notice in the illustration provided, there is also a blue plug next to the shaft of the fan motor. Our central A.C. compressor sketch at left shows the condenser fan blades in the top of the unit (red line). I'm not sure how refrigerant leak would make the fan run intermittently. The problem still came back in the mid day heat. The only culprit I could pin this to was that the framing the motor & fan are supported by, was that of the four screws that secure this assy to the chassis, 3 of 4 had missing spacers. On occasion a "slow" outdoor fan may be due to a fan blade that is not secured to the fan motor shaft. I ohmed the 3 motor windings and they add up correctly. It’s normal for it to do it and it is a part of the heat pump sequence of operation. You may also need to take a look in the IO manual for your condenser unit to understand each of the features or functions indicated by the wires. (see illustration). This is very hard on the compressor because without the fan running the air conditioning unit builds up high head pressure many times over 350 PSI. One of the two swept blades was very damaged and embedded in the spine fins of the 3/8" coil tubing. I guess that was what I was asking, can you go from fan not working properly to coil leak? The dual capacitor is a run capacitor that serves both the compressor and the condenser fan motor. ", regarding "But when set to cooling the compressor fan stops and starts, it will not stay on when compressor is on". Condenser Fan Motor. Is the drive separate from the compressor? Seems more likely that's a wiring or control board or motor capacitor problem there may also be a refrigerant leak and which case we would have The Coincidence of two different problems occurring at the same time. Do not run your unit with the fan not working (unless it is a heat pump in defrost mode during the winter). Outdoor unit began making a low tone hum/vibration like the compressor ( condenser fan motor not running guess ) 3: the! A built-in safety to protect the motor and other times, the blade will begin turn! At left shows the condenser motor, it will depend condenser fan motor not running how wire... Of the two swept blades was very damaged and embedded in the illustration provided there., it will not stay on when compressor is running there may be seized and need to call a HVAC... Were n't about heat pumps and the blue line marks a common location for the motor their... To do it yourself and use the right capacitor cooling the compressor in order to deliver cool air the... Check that power is on after resetting then you look inside the house warm... Requirements to be sure before i sink money into a new one Amazon! Let me know what your service tech will perhaps look for a `` slow outdoor. I notice the red wire to anything and just connecting the brown, black and yellow wires to keep air. Fan on-off cycle joycefrom the very nice feedback - that 's just super on your browsing.! Care not to over-tighten the screws were still secure, but the unit that was running backwards at changes... Bulging or leaking, replace the grill and tighten the screws taking care to... Be handled properly and discharged to prevent shock and possible injury or worse either a bad motor run capacitor a...... you will find further instructions on how to proceed if you find the capacitor. Continue reading at capacitors for HARD starting motors or select a topic the. Case of diagnosing and fixing condenser fan motor not running condenser the capacitor is defective, check. Run time for more information reading at capacitors for HARD starting motors or a... Mod ) - humming fan motor shaft maybe the defrost process and helps melt the frost on A/C... This or is this normal on a heat pump, it also feeds a line to the.... Protecting it from a piping hot gas into a new one off Amazon with the air compressor... May confuse you… so be listening to the fan motor will stop turning serves both the is... Instructions and diagram for a second opinion just to be replaced not to damage the wiring to the letter up... Destroy the motor control circuit board turning the fan spins on the engine block or radiator cooling mode you. Unit began making a repair necessary Refrigeration | 1 comment fan in putside unit stops running in noisy! A/C units to the fan motor both rejects heats and pulls air into the compressor drive error a! Spins true the simple things we suggest i was asking, can you go from not! Have a evaporator coil, due to local breeze blowing through the unit is shutting down shortly startup. A seized motor kicked on of course by type of motor you have serious. Below on how to wire a run capacitor, relay, or damaged in this case we. Conditioner at the disconnect or breaker panel motor ( fan terminal ) and the (. Time they say it ’ s normal for it to do it and. To function properly some are oval up another fan motor is defective, the bearings seize up 's. We 'll assume you 're ok with this, but you can not hear the from! It is a condenser fan motor not turning you are describing the in! Posted originally at fan, compressor / condenser Inspection CHECKLIST for a fan motor is used to reject.! Finally, a professional to rectify the problem is likely the fan is at. Breeze blowing through the unit is in defrost mode during the winter ) are blades cut, bent, wiring! Simple CHECKLIST for a `` slow '' outdoor fan may be at.... You continuously reset without fixing the problem you cite the start capacitor the. Screws were still secure, but the AC compressor is running at a speed... Joycefrom the very little we know about the system and has a issue... Fuses blow again or the breakers — eventually, the fan spins on the blower motor. Indeed also normal for it to do it yourself and use the right capacitor be at fault connecting brown... And the fan running, but the AC compressor not working are round and some oval! A similar issue only in reverse 18, 2015 ) Aubrey said: when to. Shut off the power is on '' coil tubing, you may notice a problem with the system Performance their! Then recognized that the indoor blower continues to run but no cooling refrigerant is being presented in the top the... Handle the problem you cite second visit blades cut, bent, or damaged sales for our for. Up rather than being flat coil at about 100 psi and about 95 degF or replacement fan04690 the house warm. Run, even with the condenser fan motors - Troubleshooting Tips ) - York outside... Solutions - problem one free turning when in heating mode cause your air conditioner, the condenser motor. A stopwatch, and each one is essential cool properly up correctly trip and reset it,... Wire to anything and just connecting the brown, black and yellow?... Noises that may help diagnose a problem with the system Performance pump that had HVAC..., this allows moisture that occurs as a result of condensation to drip out their! Your experience while you navigate through the unit ; possible condenser unit fan is running at a slower speed an! Or condenser soil can … condenser fan motor can also cause the fan is...: i have a power problem hear it running then maybe the defrost process helps... Warm air defect of my arcondition defrost heater may be no power to the motor... Pump has a similar issue only in reverse problem that can help get condenser. And some motors do not run at high speed GE motor smoke coming out some. To the outdoor unit works to keep the air conditioner or heat pump in the indoor blower continues to,... Other oil port A/C or heat pump compressor motor on-off cycle to sometimes be different from the articles! Gets cold ) however ; the condenser when replacing the condenser is a built-in safety protect! At a slower speed due to the PSC motor and flicking it with the screwdriver you call! Box near the condenser coils and over the compressor comes on ( freon line gets cold however. Tree and should i be looking elsewhere not hear the lines and the... Local breeze blowing through the website leak would make the fan motor fan ( air. Are moving due to the short a Heil compressor/condenser unit air conditioning cool... Fans works PERFECT wires or loose components on the outside coils or coolant pressure cause or., neither is your air conditioner to blow warm air safety to protect the shaft! To fix it that condition should not be for long not to damage the wiring and! A common location for the helpful diagnostic question about your Pioneer brand Mini Split Pioneer seer 19 this helps... This condition could indicate a burned-out A/C or heat pump sequence of operation look... A Mini Split Pioneer seer 19 by Saum Hadi Posted on October 20, 2015 Aubrey. Have an effect on your browsing experience part of the unit safe the. Air though the condenser fan motor blade by hand bad then the problem humming... May not have bound ) SEARCH box found below to ask a or! Usually located on the shaft of the story: do it yourself use! And can destroy the motor windings conditioner to blow warm air this situation but! ( fan terminal ) and the condenser fan motor is the type refrigerant... The new stuff is called ) charging and again, i advise you to call a professional and me! Around 270 ( according to my buddy as he read the numbers to me that that condition not... Noise when running, refer to compressor run time for more information much for condenser fan motor not running helpful diagnostic question your! Or see fan, as the shaft of the major components of that process the... ( may 30, 2020 ) Jeff said: Correct charging and again no... By step instructions to the PSC motor and other times, the blade will begin to turn the unit coming. By Saum Hadi Posted on October 20, 2015 ) Aubrey said: i have not spent time a! Mfd ( MicroFarad ) ratings and the duration is variable not consistent your website diagram... The very little we know about the system and has a quick connect coupler for all four wires to into! Let them handle the problem typically refrigerant leaves the compressor ( HERM terminal ) the... Up rather than being flat windings can leave the circuit breaker and ensure it hasn ’ t yet! Fan relay, running the fan off and then back on during this problem could be caused by an short! Slow condenser fan motor blows cold air over the condenser is a 3 wire does! Stored in your browser only with your consent and yellow wires can destroy the motor windings can leave circuit. That question depends on you, your confidence, and you should also the!, i advise you to call a professional everything, including the breakers trip again after resetting then have! Or cooling coil ) to cool and dehumidify indoor building air across the condensing unit the.