If one part of your cooling unit falls apart, your home comfort falls apart. Why wait? Contact Coral Air Conditioning for solutions today!
Fort Myers’ subtropical climate ensures balmy winters with 72- to 79-degree highs from November through March. Even the winter lows here are comfortable, dipping no lower than the high 50s, but summer is a whole other story.
Come May through September, Fort Myers brings overbearing 90-degree days, and that’s no time to wonder what causes AC unit fans to stop working! Instead, you’ll want your unit working perfectly so that you can face the heatwaves with confidence. Since our stellar team at Coral Air Conditioning has to put up with these temperatures themselves, they understand the urgency of immediate assistance when your cooling unit acts up.
After providing highly-rated AC repair services in Fort Myers, FL, for many years, the team is well-qualified to explain how these units work. Below, we share more about why a cooling unit’s fan stops working and how to fix it.
How Your Fort Myers Air Conditioner’s Fans Work
What do centralized systems, ductless mini-splits, and window units have in common? One fan is in the indoor evaporator section, and another is in the outdoor condenser compartment. Here’s how they work together:
- The indoor blower draws in the warm household air, sending it over the evaporator coil.
- The refrigerant running within this coil absorbs the warmth, leaving cool air ready for redistribution via the air ducts.
- The warm refrigerant travels to the exterior unit’s condenser coil.
- The outdoor condenser fan blows air over the condenser coil, cooling the refrigerant to release all that heat outside.
- The refrigerant then reverts to a liquid, returning to the indoor unit to start again.
The closed-loop system seems simple, so what causes an AC unit fan to stop working?
Common Causes and Solutions for Fan Malfunctions in Fort Myers, Florida
Electrical issues in HVAC systems are common, especially in humid locations like Fort Myers. Florida has an average of 51 to 100 power outages annually, which is well above the national average. These blackouts derive from regular electrical storms, floods, and hurricanes, during which all powered appliances, including air conditioners, stop working.
If the power comes back on and your unit stays off, it could be due to an overloaded or tripped circuit breaker or thermostat malfunction. If you’re over trying to cool your home without an air conditioner at that point, you can just flip on the breaker or reset the thermostat. However, you’ll want to look out for the following signs that it’s time to call for professional repairs:
A Faulty Fan Capacitor
What causes AC unit fans to stop working? Fan capacitors store energy and release it at the start of each cooling cycle to jumpstart the unit’s compressor, which turns the fans on and off and controls “fan mode” circulation. If the capacitor fails, nothing will turn on at all.
Usually, with a capacitor issue, you’ll notice unusual noises while your unit refuses to turn on altogether. Fort Myers professionals like Coral Air Conditioning will usually suggest powering your condenser on and off. If the fan refuses to spin, they’ll test the capacitor via a multimeter to see if it’s within 10% to 20% of the expected capacitor value or needs repair.
Blower Motor Problems
No Fort Myers air conditioner fan could work without a blower motor to turn its blades. If your unit has blower motor problems, the unit will switch on but lack air circulation abilities without a working fan. Your unit will not only have trouble sucking in indoor air but will also struggle during the heat transfer process due to an inadequate flow over the coils.
In turn, you’ll have little to no air blowing from the vents or warm air coming out instead, but what causes an AC unit fan to stop working? Primarily, fan motor failures occur with overuse, which is understandable in the sweltering Fort Myers climate. Insufficient maintenance may also be to blame.
From Our Fort Myers Family to Yours!
Consistent climate control keeps families safe, especially in Fort Myers’ dangerously hot temperatures. Our family-owned and operated company offers dependable services seven days a week from licensed and insured technicians with five-star ratings on Google and Facebook.
Whether you’re wondering, “Can you add zones to an existing HVAC system?” or “What causes AC unit fans to stop working?” Coral Air Conditioning has the answers. Call today for our #1 service in Fort Myers, Florida!
