AC isn’t just a way to make your home more comfortable when temperatures rise – for some people, it’s a medical necessity. But what do you do when your outdoor AC fan suddenly stops working? This seemingly minor problem will make it impossible for your unit to circulate the cold air it is producing, leaving you with no way to beat the heat inside your home.

There are a few reasons why this might happen, and most require professional attention. Let’s go over these problems below and discuss what you can do to solve the ones in your control.

1. A Tripped Circuit Breaker

Tripped circuit breakers are one of the most common reasons for an air conditioner fan that won’t spin. Your breaker may have been flipped by emergency mechanisms in response to critically high temperatures or just turned off by someone in your household by mistake. Regardless of the reason, flipping it back on should solve the immediate problem. Remember to keep an eye on your unit’s internal temperatures of you suspect an overheating problem, though!

2. A Clogged Air Filter

Clogged air filters can cause an AC unit’s temperature to become very hot or very cold depending on where the problem settles. These temperature extremes can cause mechanical failures that stop your fan from working. If your filter hasn’t been replaced in a while, swapping it out for a new one might be enough to get your fan working again.

3. A Broken Fan Motor

If you haven’t been maintaining your AC fan motor over the years, it may have finally given out for good. The bad news is that this is not a minor repair – replacing a fan motor is very expensive. The good news is that it may be a good excuse to invest in a whole new unit.

4. A Broken Capacitor

Capacitors store the energy used to power your AC unit’s components, including the fan. If any of the capacitors linked to the fan are broken, the fan might not turn on. Running your AC without a working capacitor can easily damage your fan motor beyond repair, it’s important to get this problem fixed as soon as possible.

5. A Broken Belt

If your outdoor AC unit is belt-powered, one of the belts may have come loose or worn out. This is an easy thing to fix, but it’s still worth your while to have it done by a professional. A qualified HVAC specialist can examine the state of your other belts while repairing your unit and give any failing ones some maintenance to keep them working smoothly.
Trust Your AC to the Experts

For AC that runs reliably all summer long, invest in outdoor AC service and maintenance from Syles Mechanical. Our experienced techs will get to the bottom of your fan problems and find the best solution to get your cooling system up and running again. Contact us today at 519-979-2090 to book an appointment or get more information on any of our in-home mechanical services.