When the ac compressor not working but the fan is running, chances are the outer unit housing the compressor isn’t receiving power. The fan keeps running because the central unit has no such problem. If the compressor isn’t starting, check the wiring connecting the two units.
What can I do if my AC compressor is not working?
There are various reasons behind AC compressor not working:
- Excess refrigerant flow : The compressor's job is to compress the low pressure cool refrigerant into high pressure hot gas. ...
- Lack of lubrication: A compressor needs lubrication for proper operations. ...
- Poor heat dissipation: The compressor compresses the cool low pressure gas into high pressure hot gas. ...
Why is AC unit fan not working?
Air conditioner fans not working can be a sign of a frozen evaporator coil. The evaporator coil sits inside your home within the air handler unit (furnace or fan coil), pulling heat and humidity from indoor air as it passes through. The evaporator coil can freeze up as a result of indoor blower fan malfunction, low refrigerant charge, low ...
How to check air conditioning when AC not working?
Method 3 of 3: Diagnosing Air Temperature Problems
- Find the front of your AC condenser. It is normally located in front of your radiator. ...
- Look under the hood at the AC compressor clutch. If your air pressure is normal but the air is hot, you may have a compressor problem.
- Check the tension on the belt of the compressor. It should be tight. ...
- Find any coolant system leaks. ...
- Check for freezing. ...
What makes AC compressor work then stop working?
Troubleshooting AC Compressor Issues
- Check For A Tripped Breaker. Check the service panel for the breaker used for your AC. ...
- Test Your Thermostat. Check that the thermostat has been set to the correct temperature and that the batteries are still working.
- Listen For A Buzzing Noise. ...
- Listen For A Clicking Noise. ...
Will AC fan run if compressor is bad?
Inappropriate maintenance of the AC compressor sometimes can lead to its malfunctioning. An air conditioning unit can still appear to run with a malfunctioning HVAC compressor. AC unit is equipped with a pair of fans, which still can run even in case of a malfunctioned compressor.
Why isn't my AC working but the fan is?
Another common and easily remedied situation that sometimes results in a central air conditioner fan not working is a dirty, clogged air filter. Your system's air filter traps dust, dirt and other airborne pollutants to keep indoor air and internal cooling system components cleaner.
Why is only the fan working on my AC?
If the fan is the only thing running when the AC unit isn't, there may be a faulty relay switch prohibiting the settings on the thermostat from being communicated to the fan. Another cause could be a wiring issue or a short circuit preventing the system from recognizing the on and off signals.
How do I reset my AC compressor?
How to Reset an Air ConditionerPower down your AC. Start at your circuit breaker panel and flip the breaker that powers your AC. ... Find the button. Most air conditioning units are equipped with a reset button. ... Hold down the reset button for 3 to 5 seconds and then release.Restore power to your AC.
How do I get my AC compressor to kick on?
At the compressor's front side, unplug the single wire connector, take a jumper wire and attach it to the wire that you just disconnected from the compressor. Connect the other end of the jumper's wire to the positive terminal of the car battery. This will enable the compressor to start manually.
Why won't my AC clutch engage?
What's Preventing the A/C Compressor from Engaging? One of the reasons why compressors do not engage is because of a low pressure lockout, a poor ground, a bad clutch coil, an opening in the wire to the clutch coil, or simply a blown fuse. There are several ways A/C compressor clutches receive power.
What causes the compressor not to come on?
Check for Power. The first and most obvious thing to do when your compressor won't start is to make sure that the unit is receiving power. It is always possible that a fuse has been blown or that a breaker has been tripped. If such issues occur regularly, you should have an electrician take a look.
How can you tell if AC compressor is bad?
5 Signs & Symptoms of a Bad AC CompressorYour AC Is Making Growling, Screeching, or Clattering Noises. Electrical failures in the compressor will make your AC emit unusual clunking or rattling noises. ... You Have a Hard Time Getting Your AC to Start. ... Your AC Stops Blowing Cold Air. ... Circuit Breaker Problems. ... Diminished Airflow.
How do I know if my AC compressor is not working?
System blows warm air If the condenser does appear to be running, but the system is blowing warm air, that's also a symptom of AC compressor failure about to happen. A compressor in trouble is not able to pump refrigerant through the system, resulting in a lack of cooling power.
Do AC compressors have a reset button?
It sometimes comes down to a defective thermostat, no matter how many times you reset your air conditioner. It's not tough work, and I'm sure you could finish it in an hour or two. A reset button can be found inside the air conditioner's compressor. Typically, the button is red in colour and modest in size.
Why is my outside AC unit not running?
Check the circuit breaker and see if there is a blown fuse. There could have been a blown fuse to the circuit breaker that caused the outside AC unit to stop working correctly. A blown fuse is caused by an overloaded circuit breaker, which can happen if the AC unit is overworked or the wires are loose and aging.
Should I turn my AC off if it's not cooling?
So, if your air conditioner isn't cooling, and you suspect a refrigerant leak, or if you've checked the air filter and thermostat to no avail, yes, you should shut your air conditioner off and call us right away.
What causes the outside AC unit not to come on?
Usually when the outdoor unit doesn't turn on, it is because something tripped the circuit breaker. When this happens, you can easily reset it after locating the circuit breaker panel. If you find that the AC unit still does not work, the next place to look is the thermostat.
Should the AC fan stay on?
Your HVAC fan should turn on and off with the rest of your heating and cooling system. It's normal for the fan to kick on a couple of minutes before heating starts or to stay on for a couple of minutes after cooling stops, but your fan shouldn't run for hours on its own.
Should the fan be on when the AC is on?
Keeping your fan on AUTO is the most energy-efficient option. The fan only runs when the system is on and not continuously. There is better dehumidification in your home during the summer months. When your fan is set to AUTO, moisture from cold cooling coils can drip and be drained outside.
Does the outside fan run when the AC is on?
Your split-system cooling system won't work unless both units – the indoor evaporator and the outdoor condenser/compressor – are operating. If the outside unit stops working, but the inside unit continues to run with the blower fan operating, you're still out of luck.
Why is my AC compressor not working?
Another reason your compressor may not be running could be because your AC unit is not receiving power. Your fan, however, may still be running because it is receiving ...
Why won't my compressor turn on?
Your capacitor is also responsible for providing your compressor with power. If there is an issue with the capacitor relaying power to the compressor , your compressor won’t turn on.
Why does my air conditioner shut off automatically?
When you don’t clean your condenser coils or replace your air filters regularly, you increase your compressor’s chances of overheating, which causes your compressor to automatically shut off. One way to address, or even prevent, this issue is by performing some HVAC maintenance.
What happens if my air conditioner compressor fails?
When your compressor fails to function properly, however, your air conditioning system is unable to complete this important step in the process of keeping your home cool. A great way to ensure that your compressor continues working as it should is through regular air conditioner maintenance.
What to look for when your air conditioner is not working?
Whenever there’s an issue with your air conditioning system, the first thing you’ll want to look at is your thermostat. Double-check your thermostat settings to make sure that they are correct. In some cases, a change in the settings can lead to your compressor failing to run.
Why is my fan running?
Your fan, however, may still be running because it is receiving power from inside your home. Whenever assessing an electrical issue, we recommend proceeding with caution. The easiest (and safest) thing you can do is check your circuit breaker. If there is a trip or a blown fuse, this could be your issue.
Can you replace a thermostat?
In other words, your thermostat isn’t adequately communicating to your system that your compressor should be running. If that is the case, you may need to replace your thermostat, which can easily be done by an HVAC technician. Pro tip: If you plan to upgrade your thermostat, consider installing a smart thermostat.
Why is my AC compressor not working?
If you notice a humming sound and your AC compressor isn't working, it could be that the compressor is attempting to access the capacitor, only the capacitor is faulty. If this is your problem, contact an HVAC professional. This is an inexpensive repair, but should be done by a qualified technician.
Why does my compressor keep running?
When your system isn't able to cool, the compressor will keep running as it attempts to drop the thermostat temperature. This places unnecessary wear-and-tear on the compressor and it will eventually wear out.
Why does my AC shut down?
In fact, the entire AC system can shut down if your filter (s), condensor coil, or evaporator are dirty. Even if your air conditioning system is still operating, when your air filter and condenser coil are dirty your compressor is required to work harder and it will eventually overheat.
What happens if you don't change the filter on your air conditioner?
The majority of the debris is collected by the filter, but if the filter isn't changed regularly the debris will build-up on the condensor coils.
Why does my compressor break down?
There's a lot of reasons why your compressor breaks down. It could be a refrigerant issue: Too much, not enough, or blocked lines. Or it could be that the compressor's oil lubricant was inadequate. It might even be an electrical issue such as the one discussed above.
How to tell if refrigerant is low?
In many cases, the first sign of low refrigerant is when the AC is on but the air never seems to get cool. But it is possible that you'll see some fluid along the refrigerant lines.
What to do if your compressor overheats?
If your compressor overheats, cross your fingers that it shuts down automatically before any damage was done. But if it didn't, you'll need to replace your compressor. If this is your problem, you should be able to fix it yourself, unless of course, the compressor was damaged.
Why won't my AC compressor start?
Seven Reasons Why the AC Fan Runs But Compressor Does Not Start: 1. Faulty Thermostat or Improper Setting. It is possible that the thermostat settings were inadvertently changed. As a result, you expect the compressor to cool the room down, but it has been given the opposite message. It thinks the room is already cold, so it stops working.
Why does my AC compressor shut down?
Dirty Filter and Coils. These can put extreme pressure on the AC compressor and make it overheat. This causes the compressor to shut down. Failing to clean the air filters and condenser coils is a sure way to cause the compressor to fail. Always change the air filters regularly and clean the condenser coils.
Why does my compressor stop working?
Capacitor and Relay Issues. The capacitor and relay are essential for the compressor to get the power it requires to operate. Much of the time, these two things cause the compressor to stop working. They happen to be inexpensive, and buying them for a replacement is not going to put you out financially.
What happens if your AC compressor is blown?
A dead compressor makes for a dead AC unit. If the compressor gets blown, you will need to replace the entire AC unit. If the compressor can be changed out, leave this job to your HVAC technicians, too. 6.
What happens if you blow a compressor?
The worst thing that can happen is that these small issues can wind up blowing the compressor and damage it severely. If the unit overheats or the capacitor is defective, the whole compressor can be destroyed.
How to tell if AC is over 10 years old?
7. The AC Is Over 10 Years Old. An old AC will eventually reach the end of its useful life. Even with proper maintenance, the AC unit will ultimately deteriorate and will need to be replaced. If an old unit’s compressor stops working, but the fan keeps running, this is one of the first signs that the system has reached the end of its life.
Can you replace an AC unit with an outdoor unit?
This is a problem with split AC units. You cannot replace an indoor or outdoor unit with any type you like. You have to be sure that they match one another. If the unit was recently replaced, but the compressor is not operating correctly, it could be that the two groups are different.
Why does my compressor sound weird?
If your compressor sounds weird, you may have a problem with a failing compressor contractor. This is how you detect this problem: Either no power is getting to the outdoor unit or you have a defective compressor contactor. The contractor’s job is to send power to the compressor and fan motor.
What to do if you can't hear your fan motor running?
If you don’t hear your fan motor running, ask the HVAC specialist to check out your fan motor. That means that after checking your breakers, fuses, wiring and everything is fine there, a bad fan motor is the next logical thing to assume.
What happens if you have a starter relay problem?
If there is a problem with your starter relay, then the power will not be able to get from the capacitor to the compressor. In this situation, the compressor will not receive the needed electricity and will not work.
What happens if the capacitor on my AC is out of shape?
If the start capacitor of your AC system is out of shape, the motor , that is turning your fan, will not activate it. You cannot change the start capacitor by yourself and need a specialist to do so.
Do you need a professional to check the wiring on an AC unit?
This is the obvious one, but making sure that your AC unit is receiving power in the first place, is very important! If you know that everything is fine with a circuit breaker and fuses, you need a professional to check out the wiring.
Problem 1: Your AC Fan is Not Spinning
Noticing your AC fan is not spinning is the essential first step. Still, it is impossible to tell whether it is an electric motor problem, a condenser unit, or something that needs our immediate professional service.
Problem 2: AC Fan Spins Slowly
If your AC fan isn't spinning as fast as it should, the central heating and cooling systems in your home or office will suffer. A slow fan impacts your AC unit's cooling power, but extended use can harm other HVAC system components as well.
Problem 3: AC Fan Motor Spins Slowly and Makes Noise
If you can see your AC fan spin, but it isn't spinning at its usual speed, several components could be the problem. Debris in the fan or wrapped around the fan axle is a common cause of this type of air conditioning problem, but there may be problems even without debris.
Problem 4: AC Fan Isn't Spinning and Makes No Noise
If you find your outside AC fan not spinning and you can't hear any noise from the system, don't assume the worst. Often, an AC unit might be in working condition but experiencing outside electrical issues.
Problem 5: AC Fan Won't Stay On
If your AC is running, but it won't stay active long enough to properly cool your home, consider energy problems that might shut the AC down repeatedly.