How to Tell If Your Unit Has a Failing Fan Motor

Being the local leader among air conditioning companies means knowing what’s best when it comes to AC unit maintenance. If you notice something isn’t working properly with your unit, you can rely on us to properly service it. In most cases, there’s no need to completely replace the unit, but there could be something wrong with your unit’s fan motor.

How Your AC Unit’s Fan Motor Works

Your air conditioner’s fan motor, like most components in your unit, is an important part of the whole system. The fan pumps outside air in through your unit to help cool or warm your home. Because of its active function in the system, it’s fairly normal to have this component serviced frequently with the occasional replacement so it runs like new again. If you want to see if this is the case for your unit, keep an eye out for these common signs: 

The Fan Is Rotating Slowly

If you notice that the fan blades in your AC unit are rotating more slowly than usual, this could be a sign that your unit’s fan motor is failing.  If left unattended, this can seriously affect your unit’s airflow, making your system so inefficient when in use that it has difficulty keeping your home comfortable. You might have to call a trusted air conditioning and heating company to have it serviced, or you may just need to set your unit to a low fan speed, so check your controls first.

Buzzing or Rattling Noises

If you hear an unusual noise coming from your AC unit, there’s a good possibility that its fan motor is starting to fail. Small debris caught in the fan motor is also a possibility, as well as the fan blades hitting the housing unit. If you inspect your unit closely and see none of this in the fan, yet it’s still making a sound, then the motor itself is probably failing. 

The Fan Starts and Stops at Random

Loose wiring or an overheated motor are the most likely culprits behind the fan randomly starting and stopping, which is something that can affect your system’s airflow. In addition, your home won’t be as comfortable as it should be because the airflow is interrupted constantly by the failing AC motor, and it also won’t run as efficiently. Call your local technician and have it serviced immediately if you have this problem with your unit..

Why Your Fan Motor Is Failing

There are a number of reasons why your AC fan motor may be failing. One common reason is that the fan motor is already burnt out, which happens especially when it hasn’t been well-maintained and has gone through a lot of stress. It can also be a bad capacitor, which can affect how the fan blade spins. Whatever the reason, you need to have it repaired as soon as you can.

If you need to call someone to service your AC unit, why not ask your trusted expert among professional air conditioning and electric panel companies? You can rely on All Seasons, Inc. to know what’s the best solution for your home. You can contact our NATE-certified HVAC team at (253) 879-9144, or you can reach us by filling out our online request form. We serve Tacoma and nearby areas in WA.

As a local leader among air conditioning and heating companies, All Seasons Inc. explains how your AC fan motor can fail in this blog post.