Air Conditioner Fan Not Working?

How to Repair an HVAC Fan

HVAC maintenance

How to Repair an HVAC Fan

Air conditioner unit with fan and coils surrounded by green foliage, illustrating common HVAC issues related to air conditioning fan operation.

As a heating and cooling service company, the most common issue that we find is an air conditioner fan isn't working. In most cases the HVAC fan isn't rotating, however, the rest of the system is still running. There are a few possible reasons for this issue, but the most common cause is a damaged capacitor. The capacitor is what provides the air conditioning follower its energy to launch. If the capacitor isn't functioning properly, the HVAC fan won't either.

Is Your Air Conditioning Follower AND Compressor Not Running?

It's important to distinguish between an HVAC fan that isn't working, an air conditioner fan, and also a compressor that isn't functioning. If you don't hear your outside HVAC system at all, then it's likely a power issue. To troubleshoot this issue follow the steps below.

  • Switch off your air conditioner unit if you haven't already. This can be done on the thermostat.
  • Examine your circuit breaker panel and see if the circuit breaker tripped somehow. Be on the lookout for "COOLING AND HEATING", "Air Conditioner" or words similar to those. If the breaker did trip, simply reset it. If the circuit breaker didn't trip, you can switch it off for a short while and then turn it back on.
  • Switch the power back on to your air conditioning unit and see if the outside unit works properly.

If this doesn't fix your problem, please call your local HVAC repair business. The problem with your external HVAC machine needs to be repaired by a trained specialist.

If your compressor is running as it should, you should hear it humming. If your compressor is running but your air conditioning follower is not functioning, read below.

What to Do if Your Air Conditioning Fan Isn't Functioning

If your air conditioning fan or AC compressor fan is not functioning, the first thing you want to do is switch off your HVAC system. By switching off the device, you're preventing any other problems from occurring.

Next, you can try to determine what the problem is by reviewing the list below or you can call a professional. Your local HVAC repair company can pinpoint the issue quickly and fix it.

Why Your HVAC Fan is Not Working

As we specified previously, one of the most typical reasons for an air conditioning fan not working is a defective capacitor. While this is one of the most common causes, there are a few other things to consider.

  • A power supply issue
  • An icy HVAC system
  • A damaged HVAC fan motor
  • A poor contactor
  • Belt slippage with older systems

We hope this has given you some understanding regarding why your air conditioner fan isn't functioning effectively. For the most part, the trouble is a power supply issue, a bad capacitor, a frozen air conditioner unit, or a broken fan motor. In rare cases, the issue can be a negative contactor or a few other faulty elements.

Unless the root cause of your HVAC fan not functioning is a straightforward power problem, we suggest speaking to a specialist to repair the issue today.

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Customer Testimonials

See what our happy customers have to say about their experience with Best Owner Direct HVAC & Electrical and why they continue to choose us for their home comfort needs.

    Been using them for years after the owner Kevin showed up so fast when our furnace went out one year. Been a fan since! Now, Danny is so great to work with, also. So friendly, knowledgable, fast. You guys are the best!

    Jessie M.

    Danny came out on a Saturday to diagnosis and fix my mom’s hvac unit.   He was able to quickly determine what the problem was and had all the parts to complete the repair right then.  His communication was clear and did a really good job helping us understand what caused the issue.  I would definitely recommend him and will be calling his company with any needs in the future. Thanks again!

    Michael R.

    Fantastic customer service! I had a furnace issue, called late morning and they fit me in for diagnostic right away. Technician was extremely knowledgable, walked me thru everything he found - unfortunately needed a new furnace (was 24 years old anyways), got it scheduled and installed within 24 hours as everything was in the warehouse (probably got lucky on what we needed). Overall excellent customer service, from scheduling to diagnostic, to installation. Highly recommend.

    Brad D.

    WOW! So impressed with so many aspects of this company. We had an animal die under the house in and could smell it coming out of the vents. When I called around, pest control was weeks out and Best Owner Direct was able to come the next day. Our technician, Danny was absolutely INCREDIBLE! Very professional, kind and made sure we had the problem taken care of the same day so we could breathe again! I look forward to continuing to work with them in the future for our HVAC needs.

    Todd & Tiffany F.

    Daniel was excellent, attentive to detail and committed to completing all tasks other installers overlooked. He worked tirelessly into the evening making sure everything was working properly with a water heather install, and he had a great attitude all along.

    Alma H.

    Excellent customer service, great communications answering all of our questions, left the site clean, and very respectful of our space within the house. Arranged to have someone come from the office later in the week to explain how the thermostat works.

    Vinod S.

    BOD is fast, efficient and affordable life save for my client who is purchasing a home with an old HVAC. Best Owner came quickly to help her asses the cost to replace it, and I will continue to recommend their services!

    Laurel A.