What is a condenser fan motor?

Category: home and garden indoor environmental quality
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A condenser fan motor is part of your HVAC system that is located within the condensing unit. This unit also consists of the compressor and condenser coil. The condenser fan motor is what runs to turn the fan blades and blow air across the condenser coil, where it cools the refrigerant from a hot gas into a liquid.



In respect to this, what happens when condenser fan fails?

When the condenser overheats, all of the components of the AC system will begin to overheat until they eventually get hot enough to burn and emit an odor. A failed fan will not only fail to produce cold air, but can even result in damage to the AC system due to overheating.

Also Know, how do I know if my condenser fan motor is bad? Signs and Symptoms of a Bad AC Fan Motor
  1. The fan won't start even though the AC is on.
  2. The fan won't stop, even when you shut the AC off.
  3. The fan turns on, yet the blades are rotating very slowly.
  4. There's a rattling noise coming from the condenser unit when the fan is turned on.

Thereof, what is a condenser fan?

A condenser fan is a piece of a warmth pump or focal cooling framework that circles air over the framework's condenser loop to build the exchange of warmth. In an air conditioning system, the condenser fan's role is really best explained by this simple fact: If the fan isn't working, the device won't cool anything.

How much does it cost to replace a condenser fan motor?

The average cost of a condenser fan motor repair is between $300 and $500. This price includes both the price of the part and the labor to have it installed. However, it needs to be replaced right away to prevent further damage to the compressor.

31 Related Question Answers Found

Why is my condenser fan not running?

A slow condenser fan (or air handler unit fan) could be caused by a bad start-run capacitor. Unfortunately this condition could indicate a burned-out A/C or heat pump compressor motor. This can leave the fan motor running. A bad fan motor can also cause the fan to turn but only abnormally slowly.

How do you know if condenser is bad?

How do I know if my air-conditioning condenser has gone bad? The air will be warmer than you want, or your vehicle windows will be foggy. If refrigerant leaks, the air conditioner won't spit out much cold air, if any. Leaks can be located by adding an ultraviolet dye to the refrigerant.

Do condenser fans always run?

A common reason a condenser fan is continually running within a refrigerator is the thermostat. This sensor takes readings from the refrigerator (and freezer if you have one) and flips the cooling system on when it sees the temperature isn't where it needs to be.

How long do condenser fan motors last?

Air-conditioning compressor fan motor is designed to with stand up to 50 to 60 * c temp. You can run motor until it reaches to that condition. Standard well insulated motor will run continuously 24 hrs,then you may have to switch off to give rest to the machine.

What causes a condenser fan motor to fail?


However, a condenser (outdoor) fan-motor failure can be even worse. The main causes of failure are loss of lubricant, a failed run capacitor, a failed bearing in a belt drive, a little water dripping into the windings or a voltage problem.

How much does it cost to replace a condenser fan?

The average cost for an air conditioning condenser fan motor replacement is between $309 and $404. Labor costs are estimated between $72 and $92 while parts are priced between $237 and $312. Estimate does not include taxes and fees.

How does a condenser fan work?

How Does it Work? While the condenser unit works to cool the air conditioner while it's running, the fan motor functions to blow the air through the condenser coils to convert hot, refrigerant gas into a cool liquid. As the fan blades turn, your air conditioning unit will continue to blow cool air in the entire house.

Can a bad capacitor ruin a fan motor?

Using the wrong capacitor rating or a poor quality capacitor can adversely affect the operation of the motor, the compressor or an entire HVAC system. Most HVAC systems use a motor run capacitor to run the blower motor, the condenser fan motor and/or the compressor.

Why do we use condenser?

In thermal power plants, the purpose of a surface condenser is to condense the exhaust steam from a steam turbine to obtain maximum efficiency, and also to convert the turbine exhaust steam into pure water (referred to as steam condensate) so that it may be reused in the steam generator or boiler as boiler feed water.

Can a fan run without capacitor?


Capacitor is not only used to start your fan but also to run. So, to answer your question simply, The fan won't work without a capacitor, even if you rotate it manually because capacitor is needed to create magnetic flux which makes the fan rotate.

What do you mean by condenser?

In systems involving heat transfer, a condenser is a device or unit used to condense a gaseous substance into a liquid state through cooling. Use of cooling water or surrounding air as the coolant is common in many condensers.

How do you test a motor?

Check for shorts between the power wiring and ground. Select ohms resistance on the multi-meter and set for the 30,000-ohm range. Touch one lead to each motor power lead and the other to the metal motor casing. Any value less than about 0.2 mega ohms is a reason to discard the motor.

Will AC fan run if capacitor is bad?

Symptoms Of a Bad HVAC Capacitor
If you take a stick and spin the fan blade and the condenser fan starts to run, the run capacitor has likely failed. Even though the fan is operating, we recommend that the AC unit should be shut off. Without the run capacitor in the circuit, the motor will pull excess amperage.

How long do AC capacitors last?

approximately 20 years

What is the AC fan outside called?


The outside unit, called the a/c condenser, contains a compressor, cooling fins and tubes and a fan. The fan sucks air through the fins and cools a special coolant, which the compressor then pumps into the house to the evaporator through a copper tube.

How much is a AC fan?

The replacement parts will cost you anywhere from $200 to $400. This includes parts and labor. The labor tends to be around the $80-$90 range for replacing the AC fan, but with some vehicles, it can cost you closer to $120. The price of parts varies based on what kind of car you have as well.

How much does it cost to replace a home AC condenser?

Home AC Condenser Repair & Replacement Cost
Repairing an air conditioner condenser costs an average of $150 to $1,000 or more. Replacing the entire coil runs $900 to $2,800. Labor alone makes up about half the fees. HVAC technicians charge anywhere from $50 to $150 per hour.