When your air conditioner runs throughout the day and night without shutting off, or if it cycles on and off continuously, there are several causes for concern: Consequence #1: WASTED ENERGY. Capacitors send an electrical jolt to start a motor (a “start capacitor”) or to keep one running (a “run capacitor.”) In an air conditioning system, capacitors work with three different motors: the compressor, the indoor blower fan, and outdoor fan. The fan on my Trane outside air conditioning unit is always running. If it’s extremely hot outside, your AC may be unable to catch up with the … In that sense having the AC run periodically is not actually crazy, mainly just to keep the humidity down. When the panels of the air conditioner are removed to reveal the evaporator fan compartment, give the fan a turn by hand. 2 months ago I noticed the outside fan was not spinning when the compressor was running. Inside your air conditioning unit, the fans turn with the assistance of motors and capacitors. Actually, the opposite is true. These fan systems were designed to run all the time and, assuming your system is properly installed with the correct size ductwork, it may even extend the life of the fan. When your AC’s running constantly, it’s also running up your electric bill. This does not seem to happen at other times of day. Did Your Outside AC Unit Break Down But the Inside Unit Still Runs? thought i fixed it. More cold air is circulated throughout the house causing the need to hike your heat up. The only thing I can suggest is (with the power turned off), check where the fan wires are connected. … A start capacitor is an electric device that gets the electric motor running at startup by providing a "jolt" of stored electrical energy. Has someone recently done work on your outside A/C unit? Have them come out and check your A/C before you buy a new unit of course! Usually an AC mechanic or tech company will come out and check the refrigerant with industrial gauges for about $30 dollars. The inside temp is already at set point and drops to a couple degrees below the set point within a few minutes of the fan coming on and stays there the whole time the fan is running. Cause #1: Restricted airflow/low blower speed If kept running in the hot summer months, the fan will be blowing hot air all over your house. Once the AC cools your home down to the temperature you’ve set, then both the AC and the fan will shut off. Why you can’t afford to ignore your AC running constantly. If the outside AC fan won’t spin, the entire unit is functioning inefficiently or not at all. You can think of the motor on a fan just like the motor in your car. I leave my fan on to keep air circulating but I’ve heard lots of different answers, including ‘The AC pulls in air from the outside,’ but I don’t think that happens unless a door is open. To be safe – unless you have a specific reason to keep the fan running constantly, just place your central air or furnace fan setting on auto. If the bearings of the evaporator fan are grimy or dirty, the fan doesn't turn as freely as it could. Your split-system cooling system can’t operate unless both units – the indoor evaporator and the outdoor condenser/compressor – are operating. Many people are under the assumption that running their furnace fan all the time will cause it to fail prematurely. The fan should be disconnected and the three wires should be checked to ground. We'll diagnose your unit and provide a fair quote for the air conditioning repair. The best thing you can do to keep your outside air conditioner unit running efficiently is to have annual maintenance performed by Hyde’s. If it’s cloudy and relatively cool outside but feeling stuffy in your home, running the fan for an hour or so can certainly help. If your fan is set to On, that means the fan going to stay on all the time, whether the AC is running or not. As air conditioners get older, they begin to lose their ability to … The only exception is defrost (heat pump in heating mode only). We noticed that our outside ac unit runs (the fan) even though the thermostat control is set to "off" inside the house. If the motor is intermittently stopping then it … Air conditioning units have two main components, one that cools the air, and another that distributes the cooled air around the house. The condenser fan outside does not come on, so i used a stick to make it run, and it did ! When the a/c is off the fan spins but not too fast, it does goes fast when the a/c is running. However, it still seems strange to me that if the AC should kick on (aka the house is warming up) at all if it is 2-5°F (1-3°C) cooler outside than the temperature I have the AC set to. Favorite Answer The outside fan should run in ac and in heat. *The stars on the cooling are because my outside ac unit has lost freon for the second time, and I'm trying to run the fan until I can coordinate a repair on this undersized and damaged unit, or preferably a new unit install. The other answer I’ve heard is that ‘It costs just as much to run the fan on as it does when the AC is also running,’ but I thought fans … The fan should always run while compressor is working. The bearing make it possible for the fan to spin. This may indicate an electrical issue that will need to be fixed. There are two reasons for the outdoor fan to remain on while the system in side is off . but the fan speed was slow compared to the other unit and the air coming out was not warm like the other unit - and then within a few minutes the fan turned off again. I called the AC guy and the fan was hard to spin so he replaced the fan motor. You should be able to use a single switched or double pole switched contactor. In turn, this necessitates the need to run the AC much more often to combat the extra heat. Restricted/reduced airflow. Your air conditioner is getting old. However, if your AC is always running but you’re never comfortable, that’s a clear sign of a problem that needs to be fixed. Outside temperature is high. We currently have the system shut off at the breaker to prevent it from running. Unit Not Receiving Power – If you have a split AC, there is a possibility that the outside unit which … When your air conditioner’s outside fan is not working, inspect the fan itself If all else fails, check to see if there is a problem with your air conditioner’s physical fan. If you haven’t had your A/C serviced in a long time, you could have very dirty evaporator … If you don’t want to turn the fan off and on all of the time, there are some new technologies that will allow you to program the blower fan to run for 10 to 15 minutes each hour. Is this a problem with the unit, or the thermostat inside the house? Instead, homeowners should choose the "auto" option, or if homeowners choose to run the fan, they should do it for just a few minutes after the cooling part of the unit shuts off. During annual maintenance, we’ll inspect your condenser unit for any problems and clean off any dirt that has built up over the year. Its job is to cause motion, and that motion moves the air. Answer 4 – A bigger air conditioner unit is not always better when it comes to HVAC equipment. I havn't been able to get a straight answer to this question so maybe someone can help me without having to pay another $65 service call. If the condenser fan is still always running, then it would appear that something may be miswired. On the other hand, if your fan is set to Auto, that means that the fan will only come on when the AC does. The only way to stop it is when I flip off the power at the breaker box. The first is that the contactor on the outside condensing unit is frozen closed. Background: I had a new outside AC/Heat Pump unit installed about 2 years ago. Malfunctioning Thermostat – A faulty thermostat can cause your AC fan to run constantly by not knowing when the desired temperature has been reached. If the outside unit stops working, but the inside unit is still running, with the blower fan operating, you’re still out of luck. If homeowners find this is beneficial, it is generally suggested to only run … The problem: You have a bad fan motor and/or bad start capacitor. To do that, it will run longer in order to maintain a constant, desired temperature in your home. The motor could be going bad or its run capacitor. The thermostat seems to be working the way it should. Here are 4 common causes of an AC that constantly runs and never delivers. If the actual room temperature is below what your thermostat is set for, there’s a good chance you’re due for a repair or replacement. One problem that you may experience with your outside air conditioner is when the fan does not come on. Homeowners should experiment to see if it works best for their home to have the furnace fan running continuously or not. It is considered OK to continuously run a furnace fan. The same goes for running the fan in the winter months. The fan should not run with only one side powered. The ball bearings need to be oiled with electric motor oil If the fan doesn't turn freely. For more info including a troubleshooting guide, … What's your goal: comfort or efficiency? Scenario A: Compressor works, but the fan does not spin. Most likely a shorted winding. 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