There are several reasons the capacitor of your HVAC unit can fail. These include overheating, running too long, power surges, and age. When the capacitor fails, the condenser fan will no longer rotate.

Besides, How long should an AC blower motor last?

The blower motor in your home or office should last anywhere from 10 to 20 years. Modern sealed bearings and sealed bushings can push the lifespan to its maximum of 20 years.

Keeping this in mind, What causes AC fan motor to burn up? One of the main reasons a fan motor might malfunction is dirt inside the cabinet. … Like any motor, an air conditioner fan motor can become overheated if it works too hard and doesn’t receive proper maintenance. If your AC has worked for you most of the summer, the stress could cause the fan motors to burn out.

What causes an air conditioner motor to burn out?

Some common causes of compressor overheating are lack of external cooling, poor ventilation, short cycling, low suction pressure, high head pressure, lack of lubrication, excessive wear and tear, and electrical problems.

What happens when a condenser fan fails?

The first symptom of a failed fan is warm air coming from the vents. This happens when the condenser is too hot and isn’t able to convert the refrigerant into cooled liquid form. Since the fan is designed to prevent the condenser from overheating, warm air indicates that this component is not cooling the condenser.

How often does a blower motor need to be replaced?

Blower motors that are clogged with debris, or that become saturated with moisture can fail due to overworking or electrical shorts. Something to consider when replacing the blower motor in your HVAC system is how often you are paying for repairs. Most residential furnaces should last between fifteen and twenty years.

What are the symptoms of a bad blower motor resistor?

If the airflow from the vents is weak…

If you try to increase the air pressure and you feel no difference in the pressure blowing, then your blower motor resistor may be failing. A damaged blower motor resistor will work on one fan speed which may not be enough to keep the inside of your car cool or warm enough.

What does it cost to replace a blower motor on a furnace?

On average nationwide, a furnace blower motor replacement costs $400-$600, including parts and labor. A single-speed blower motor costs around $450 to replace while a variable-speed motor costs $600+.

What causes a fan to burn out?

The fan will stop circulating the air throughout your HVAC system. It most commonly occurs when the blower fan motor becomes aged or is overworked. A lack of regular maintenance is generally to blame for blower fan burnout.

Why do fans burn?

Faulty electrical wiring can cause a burning smell. If the circuit breaker controlling the fan tripped when the smell was initially detected then an electrical fault is the likely cause. … You will have to rewire the fan and eliminate the fault.

What can cause an AC blower motor to stop working?

A number of things could cause this to happen, from tripped circuit breakers to a faulty thermostat. However, it is also possible that the blower motor has stopped working. … One sign of a faulty blower motor is an air conditioner that still runs without blowing cool air.

How does an AC unit burn out?

When an air conditioning compressor has “burned out” by shorting of internal components – it will fail to start at all. This failure is detected by disconnecting all power and wiring from the unit and measuring resistance (ohms) between the motor start/common and run/common terminals.

How do you stop a fan motor from burning out?


How Can I Prevent Blower Fan Burnout?

  1. Regularly changing/cleaning the furnace air filter.
  2. Ensuring the area around the fresh air intake vent is kept free of dirt and dust.
  3. Regularly vacuuming around their furnace.
  4. Regularly vacuuming registers.
  5. Cleaning the blower fan.

What problems can occur if the condenser fan stays off too long?

What problems can occur if the condenser fan stays off too long? Air-cooled compressor motor overheating and erratic TEV operation result.

What do you do if your condenser fan doesn’t work?

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).

What happens if fan motor fails?

Symptoms of Failure

If the motor fails, these blades won’t spin at all and they won’t generate any air flow. Another symptom is that your vehicle overheats. It doesn’t matter what type of car you drive, the cooling fans are thermostatic, meaning they come on as soon as a certain temperature has been reached.

How do you diagnose a bad blower motor?


Bad Blower Motor Symptoms in HVAC

  1. Airflow is weak from the vents. This is often one of the first signs or symptoms of a bad blower motor. …
  2. Sounds Coming From the Blower. …
  3. Overheating is One of the Symptoms of a Bad Blower Motor in HVAC.

How long do fan motors last?

More likely is a lifespan of 10 to 20 years which means by the time the AC motor fails it’s often time to consider replacing the entire system. One reason they last so long is they are designed and manufactured to withstand extreme heat up to 140℉.

What does a bad blower motor sound like?

A defective blower motor will make a continuous sound noticeable by the passengers in the vehicle. It can manifest as a knocking, whirring, clunking, vibrating, squealing, or whining noise that persists until the blower motor is replaced.

What can a bad blower motor resistor cause?

A common symptom of a faulty blower motor resistor is a blower motor that is stuck on one setting. The blower motor resistor is the component directly responsible for controlling the blower motor fan speed. If the resistor shorts or fails, it may cause the blower motor to remain stuck on one fan speed.

How do I test a blower motor resistor?

Place one lead of the Ohmmeter on terminal 1 of the resistor. Place the other lead on terminal 2 and check against specifications. If this circuit is open, showing infinity on the Ohmmeter, the blower resistor must be replaced. Move the lead from terminal 2 to terminal 3 and check this reading against specifications.

Can I bypass blower resistor?

In the highest speed state, the blower resistor is bypassed completely and the fan is connected directly to the car’s battery, which allows maximum current through the motor. Power to the blower motor is fed through the blower motor resistor, so if it fails or has any issues power can be cut off to the motor.

What does a bad furnace blower motor sound like?

A thumping, banging or clanking sound could be the result of a loose or broken off part in the motor or blower assembly. Should you hear one of these noises, turn off your furnace immediately. Call a professional to examine and repair or replace the broken part before you turn your furnace on again.

Is it hard to replace a blower motor?

If you don’t want to sweat or shiver, then find a good mechanic. The replacement of the blower motor is common and straightforward, so most shops will perform the repair — many on the same day.

Why is HVAC labor so expensive?

Conclusion. When it comes down to it, the most expensive parts of any HVAC unit installation will be the machine and the labor. The device is so expensive because it is filled with complicated electrical gadgets that measure airflow and temperature.