Easy Air Conditioner Repair: Fan Not Spinning - Blowing Warm Air
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- Опубліковано 29 вер 2024
- This video shows how to perform diagnostics on an home air conditioner unit. This unit had a bad capacitor that I replaced. The unit worked like new after the part was replaced. Please post in the comments section if you have any questions concerning the repair. It is always fun to save money by completing your own repairs!
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Appreciate this video. Very helpful in fixing my fan issue. 🍻
That’s great!
Thank you for posting this! Woke up this morning to a boiling hot house, went outside to see the unit was running but the blades weren't spinning. Finding a new capacitor locally was a challenge but once I did it was running in just a couple minutes! This video saved me a bunch of money that I can't afford to spend.
You’re welcome! I’m glad it worked for you!
Thanks for this video. My idiot AC installers today turned off the breaker to both fan units to replace one, and then forgot to turn the upstairs back on.
Nancy Ross You are welcome. I’m glad you got it fixed.
Got my a/c turn on with a stick. What does it mean in the long run if you have to start your fan the “stick method” is the capacitor bad?
Replace the capacitor.
Capacitors come factory with a flat top, like a military grandpa
MJ Stowers Now that’s funny!
So, the capacitor isn't just for STARTING the fan motor? Because sometimes when I had a bad cap, moving the fan blade w/a stick made it work, until the cycle was complete (cool temp setting was reached), then I'd have to go "start" it w/the stick again. Replacing the cap fixed the problem.
Eventually, I also had to replace the motor - I did that a couple years ago. Now I have an issue where the motor gets HOT and the stick start trick won't work. I ordered a new motor and will get a new cap too. Hopefully today I will find out of switching just the cap works, or if the motor is bad.
AMchickennuggets The capacitor starts multiple functions on your unit. It can be so bad that nothing works at all.
Our exterior unit, just like the one you have here in the video is humming and the fan's not spinning. Just to clarify, if I jump start it as you did here and it starts up, is the culprit most definitely the compacitor?
Shakey Perspective I would say 90% chance it’s the capacitor. Even if the fan doesn’t jump start, it could still be the capacitor. I have a second video with more info.
Shakey Perspective Here is the other video - ua-cam.com/video/VO7sDl1q8WY/v-deo.html
I did in fact, succesfully kick start the fan and it did start spinning as normal. However, I did this several hours ago and it's still 80 degrees in the house. I just went back out and the fan has now stopped completely. What are your thoughts?
Shakey Perspective Change the capacitor ASAP. I’m confident that is your issue.
@@TightWadDIY I'm a bit confused as to why the house didn't get cooler when I kicked started the fan. It was 80 degrees and I set the theromostat at 69 to insure that it would continually run. But in that hour and half, two span it never got below 79 degrees. Does that make sense?
My ac unit has 1/4 hp if I put 1/5 hp will it work the fan got Stuck any issues wil i have thanks
If using a stick to nudge the fan works, what is the reason it stopped? Or possible reasons? How can this problem be avoided in the future?
A bad capacitor causes that issue too.
I have a question my ac unit goes on a few times then the fan will kick on, now what is going on the ac kicks on but the fan will not spin, is this a thermostat issue? I will check the capacitor , but in case it is not that
Melody Davidson That is most likely a capacitor issue. The fan should turn on every time the unit turns on. Otherwise it will overheat.
TightWadDIY thank you and I believe it is, coz I pushed the blade and it went. Gonna change it and hopefully that resolves the issue. Thanks.
TightWadDIY thank you for this video I fixed it. The only difference I had was the capacitor was taller and thinner than my original so I had to rig the holder and screw it in tight. Same specs.
Melody Davidson Mine was the same way. It’s fine if it’s a little smaller if the specs are the same.
My fan doesnt turn on, but if I hit with stick like u had shown, it starts up, but doesnt run as strong as maybe it should?
Cathleen McCarty That’s common. Change the capacitor.
what would cause the outside unit running HOT and the Fan not spinning at all ( seems as if the fan died while trhe outisde unit and the compressor was working ?)
The capacitor would cause the fan not to run. Less common issue could be the fan motor is bad.
thanks so much ... so if the fan stops running and only hums quite loud, while also being quite hot , you would still think it's the capacitor ?@@TightWadDIY
@@mamumonkanYes! The capacitor starts the fan and compressor. If one leg of the capacitor fails it could power the compressor (humming) and not the fan. The fan cools things down so if it’s not running things will get hot very quickly.
thank you ... I changed the capacitor in July ? ... but ok I'll check again :)@@GrillThisSmokeThat
Excellant job! T.Y. !
Jo Scrivani You are welcome. I’m glad you liked it. Be sure to subscribe.
Mine stopped spinning so I swapped out the capacitor. Worked for about 20 minutes and now it’s not spinning again 😩
Hmmm. There are other parts that could go bad or you could just have a loose connection.
Great tip about keeping the wires connected on the old capacitor and then switching them to the new capacitor one at a time. I'm not having problems atm but I'm picking up a spare to have ready when needed.
Greg Egan Thanks. Great idea to have a spare on hand. Things always seem to break when the stores are closed!
"At my brother in-laws house, his wife called" bro your sister called 😂
More likely it's his wife's brother's house. (His wife's brother's wife called.)
No sir. It’s my wife’s brother…
are you okay ok the head
Great video - mine turned out to be mice related as they chewed through a couple wires. Quick repair and saved a technician visit. Worth taking the box off to take a quick look before calling someone!
Dang! That’s unfortunate. I’m glad you got it fixed though.
Thanks for the help!! Ordered a new capacitor on Amazon and changed it out in :15!! AC fixed for $18!!
Michael Pressley That’s great! You are welcome. You can now proudly consider yourself part of TightWad Nation!
Thank you good sir!!! Saved me hundred dollars by doing this myself. Very clear instructions and details. House got up to 89 degrees before I decided to buy the capacitor and do it myself instead of waiting for HVAC service that I scheduled for the next day.. Seeing the blades spin and the green light turn on without the buzzing noise plus the money saved, today was a good day!
Yes! I’m glad you were able to get it fixed.
life saver! my outdoor unit was humming but blades weren’t spinning so give it a good spin with a stick and got it spinning again! house now cooling. thank you.
Seconded! Saved me a call to my local HVAC guy.
AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU!!! Just saved me $$$$
Same as mine. My unit was humming but blades were not turning so I got the fan spinning with a stick. Did your AC continue to have this problem? What causes the fan to just stop spinning and need a “manual stick push”?
@@strongholdsignarts Mine hasn't needed help (again) to get going this summer, thankfully. (Especially with last week's heat.)
@@strongholdsignarts the capacitor needed to be changed out, that’s what fixed my issue.
Question! When I manually started my blades with a piece of wood, it kept turning. But now I have to do this whenever the AC shuts down in between cooling sessions. What would be the fix for that if anybody knows?
Fantastic. I had this exact issue and followed your video. It saved me some $'s and I learned something. Thank You!
Reuben Boyd I’m glad you found it helpful and were able to save some money. Be sure to subscribe!
Excellent demo. Changed mine out in less that 20 minutes by having this thorough video. Appreciate the effort.
leitning24 That’s great news! I’m glad you were successful!
Very helpful video, especially the saving amount.
Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Brother you made a massive difference in a few lives today thank you.
Glad to help
Thank you for this video. AC work has always scared me but I figured, check youtube to find out more. Knowledge helps that insecurity. Because of your video, I'm going to go check to see if it's my capacitor and hopefully save some money. It is much appreciated that you took the time to record this for us out here to be a little more aware.
Justin Shields You are very welcome. I’m glad you feel empowered to fix yours.
Thank you Thank you! Our AC did this to us on 4th of July. I checked for burnt wires and anything obvious. Found one wire that looked crispy on the capacitor but that was not it. Came in and seen your video went back and pulled the capacitor off and it had swelled up a little top & bottom. I was happy to see that. On Monday morning after two very hot nights I ran down and bought a new capacitor for $25 and switched it out and it fired right up. Buttoned it up and called to cancel my AC service appointment. The owner was happy to hear I took care of it and saved a few hundred dollars. Do take pictures of wiring and make sure you read the top next to each post on the old capacitor.
Steven Cox Thanks for sharing your success story! I’m glad you were able to get yours fixed.
Thank you, spinning it did the trick for me!
If spinning it worked then you need a new capacitor.
Fixed my AC unit today for $16 with your help. Thanks a bunch!
Nice work!
What if the capacitor just got replaced but fan still won't run automatically when turned on only while spinning it manually
You sure you hooked it up properly? There is a chance the Fan motor is bad.
I just experienced this with my AC that is only 6 years old! I took the old capacitor to get it checked and didn't get any readings out of it, put in the new one and right away saw the fan spinning at the right speed! THANK YOU! It is another 104-degree day here and tonight we will not suffer from the heat like we did last night with the AC not working (yesterday was 106-degrees!).
Indoor blows warm air. When I have the thermonstat turned off inside, I can turn the fan on the outside unit with a stick. If I the thermonstat on, and the outdoor unit starts buzzing, its too stiff to move with a stick. What does this mean?
Same, Did you figure it out? Thanks!
Same any fix for this guys?
Thanks, This was exactly the issue. I found a replacement in stock at my Ace Hardware for $26.00 10 minute fix!
That’s great! I’m glad Ace had the part you needed!
Hi! My AC was “fixed” by my apartment complex (it had a plug in to the unit and I didn’t have the plug so they put a new one in and it worked great) but 3 days later the top fan stopped working. I will turn it on, it’ll work for 15 minutes, and then you’ll hear the compressor running but the top fan doesn’t move. I tried moving it with a stick and it doesn’t go. I tried turning it off and back on, no go. I cannot seem to get it open to look at my capacitor because it’s like every panel is screwed into both the top and bottom. My apartment complex sucks with maintenance issues and I cannot afford an HVAC guy rn. How do I get a good look at what I need? Is it the capacitor or the fan motor?
I bet it’s the capacitor but it’s really hard to know.
Thanks- you saved me hundreds of dollars and the waiting for an a/c guy to come out on the first available, which 5 days later.
My pleasure!
OMG, that is amazing. I remember hearing the dreaded word “capacitor” and hearing over $200 from an AC technician and that was about 10 years ago. I can only imagine what the techs are charging nowadays! I’ve already bookmarked this how-to video as my Lennox AC unit will no doubt likely need something before too long. Any idea how long a capacitor should last on a brand new unit? This would be helpful to know.
They don’t really have an estimated lifespan that I am aware of. I’m sure a lot of factors play into it. I’m glad you found the video though!
Thank you so much, this video saved my summer! Easy to understand and easy to execute!
My pleasure!
My ac just went out with this same issue at 12 am at night. Pray my local hardware store will have the part in to fix it.
🤞🏼
so I went outside and heard the humming so I nudged it with a stick and it began spinning again, but was still blowing hot air inside once spinning.. is it still a capacitor issue or is it something else?
Probably still the capacitor. I bet the compressor is still not on and that is what cools the air
This is great. Helped me to understand the capacitor and replace mine. Thank you.
Junliang Hao You are welcome. I’m glad you found it helpful.
It was the capacitor. I ordered a new one on Amazon and I changed out the failed one on the AC Unit in 15 minutes after watching this video. Thanks!!!
Marc Graham That’s great! I’m glad you were able to get it fixed.
My unit stop working yesterday only had it for 3 years the capacitor doesn't look too be damaged the top of the capacitor is not bubbled up or anything looks brand new could it still be the problem my unit want start?
Where can we buy a capacitor? Are they available at places like Home Depot?
Not typically. I get mine from a local plumbing and electrical store.
3:29AM in the morning.
Thank you thank you.
Gave fan nudge & back in business.
Will be replacing part needed today in daylight hours
Great! I just had to repair my other unit this week. Stay cool.
What was making your fan not spin ?
What if you nudge the fan and it started spinning but there is still hot air coming out of the vents?
Your compressor isn’t coming on. Replace the capacitor. It powers the fan and the compressor.
Awesome video
Thanks for the visit
Are air conditioners fan is making a noise it spins but sounds like it's going to take off. Please help
Brenda Leiskau The outside unit or an inside return?
Our Central AC unit is old. Recently, our fan blades stopped working even though the machine itself is still buzzing. We did what our technician did a couple of years ago: took a hose to it. After only a couple of seconds of being doused with water, the fans start spinning again and the house starts cooling decently. The motor gets really hot. Unfortunately, when the house gets to the desired temperature, the fan again stop working until we hose it down again. What do you think the issue is?
I’d still check the capacitor.
@@TightWadDIY Thanks for getting back to me. We did end up calling a pro out, and sure enough, once the capacitor was changed out, it worked great. I am glad I mentioned it to him first so he knew I wasn’t a complete idiot. Still only came to $150 total, and since I was worried we’d have to replace the whole thing, I was geeked. Thanks!!!
Watching your video just help target our issue!!! Thank you for saving our family $$$!!!!
That’s great! Im glad you found it helpful!
My ac come on for 5mins and turn off. So I called sears technician. He came and charged me $400. The problem was the drain was clogged he cleared it less than a minute then want to replace the compacitor. I said hell no. I replaced it myself.
$400? That’s crooked.
The only thing bad about this. Is that you need to be certified to be able to purchase these at the electrical store. Theu won't sell to just anyone
Nice video
Thanks
Compressor comes on but the condenser fan doesn't. Bad capacitor?
Definitely could be.
what if you tap the fan and it starts working and I can hear a buzzing sound like something s trying to kick in but it's not happening...do you still think it's the capacitor?
Yes. It’s very likely.
@@TightWadDIY Allison! that's exactly what it was, it took me about 10 minutes to change the Capacitor out, thank you so much for your post and for responding to my question, you have Blessed so many ❤
MIND. BLOWN. I followed these instructions and it worked perfectly. Thank you very much.
You're welcome!
My heat pump/compressor or outside fan would not run with the condensation pump at the air handler unplugged.
I like the switch better.. mine has that weird pull out bar you flip.
Mine has the pull out one too. I do like the switch better.
@@TightWadDIY mine always has a mini rain forest around it with ants the size of small birds lol
@@jonboll2066 Haha. You need to keep the area around it clear so it can breathe!
I did this same thing and saved about $180 over what the A/C company would have charged me. Doing your research on UA-cam with videos as good as these is a HUGE benefit over calling a pro for something a novice can handle.
Thanks for the information and keep up the great work, sir!
That’s great! I’m glad you found the video and were able to get it fixed.
@@TightWadDIY me too. That would’ve had to come out of my beer fund otherwise 😂
Thank you brother, you saved me a whole lot of $$$
That’s great! Hit that Thanks button if you want! Hahaha.
I replaced my capacitor today and had to kick start my fan and it did spin for a while then the fan stopped again and the unit still has humming and running inside the house
It’s possible your contacter is had.
Thanks I’ll check that out
Had a professional replace the capacitor before viewing your video but fan randomly still quits turning . Any suggestions? 🤦🏻♀️
It sounds like you have a short. Maybe a loose wire.
You just saved me a lot of money with this fix, thank you!!
So what if it isn't the capacitor? My AC is showing all the same symptoms, but the capacitor looks just fine. No bulging or burnt wires or nothing
I would suggest you still try replacing it.
My fan stopped working mid day and all I had to do was get a small stick to manually spin the fan and it started working. Thank you so much!
That means your capacitor is bad. You should replace it. It’s easy!
the outside fan of my central a/c in one of my rental houses is not spinning. Please help
Jesusa Cabagnot Tripple Banng Oh no! Check your breaker first then follow the steps to check the capacitor. Hopefully that’s all it is. Here is another video I made with A lot more info: ua-cam.com/video/VO7sDl1q8WY/v-deo.html
U can do it !!! B safe
My compressor was making a buzzing noise. Watched a video, it said to turn the fan blades myself. I did. It turned on. Then I hit the sides with some water to clean it. Can I leave my A/C on? Or will it overheat until I get a new capacitor which I assume is the problem.
Daniel Piechowicz I’m not a licensed HVAC repairman but it should be fine. You may have to start it with a stick every time it cuts off though.
It's that time of year again! Don't be caught waiting on a high cost repair man while sitting in the heat. Simple diagnostics can save you time, money, and sweat! Watch this video to see how to fix the most common problem with air conditioning units. This DIY repair can save up to $400!
My compressor makes a humming noise and the fan does not spin but if I turn the fan, it starts to spin for a while and then it stops spinning. I have to go thru the same process to get it going again. What do you think the problem is? Capacitor?
I am so sorry. I just now saw your comment. I think you definitely have a bad capacitor. Hopefully you were able to fix it already.
This was exactly what happened with mine during an 8-day streak of really hot weather.
This saved me some major cash my friend, thank you!
Just used a long knife to start it and it worked 🙌🏾
Thank you thank you! It works!!!
Dexter Ellis Great! I’m glad it worked for you!
I stuck a stick in and the blades started moving! And that was all it took. Thank you so much! Just waiting to see if that's all I need or if I should replace the capacitator.
You will need to replace the capacitor. The line that starts the fan is bad.
Thank you for this!!
My pleasure! Stay cool!
Alleleujah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Saved me just in time, I am soooooooooo exlated, and beyond words and thoughts, I just love this instrument of God. thank you vessel. aka SUNSHINE
Patricia Pine I’m glad you found the video. I hope you are able to get yours fixed. God Bless.
Ours has a bad fan motor. It works you just have to manually give it a push and it starts spinning.
That’s a bad capacitor issue too. The motor is fine if it spins once you start it.
It worked but fan is going backwards
Thank you so much!!! You saved me and my money!!!
That’s great to hear! I’m glad it worked for you too!
Thank you for this video!
You are so welcome!
in this case was the heather turning on?
The heater and air conditioner are totally different units.
I’m having the same problem. Does it matter if my capacitor is oval and switching it out with a round one? ....did exactly what your video said but still no luck! PLEASE HELP!!
Welded Rick That shouldn’t matter. You could have other issues though.
TightWadDIY I fixed it!!!! The capacitor was the problem. Did exactly what the video said and it worked!! Paid $27 after tax for the capacitor saved me plenty of cash! Thanks!!
Thank u for posting.
You bet!
The unit makes a buzzing noise like the fan wants to turn, and if I push the fan it'll spin and gain momentum to were it would be unsafe to stick my hand in there but slower then what it would normally spin. Also at the speed the blades are moving, it's still blowing warm air. Any suggestions? Fan motor gone bad?
Change the capacitor. I’m pretty confident that is the issue.
@@TightWadDIY Thank you!
That cap 🧢 was about to blow its top. Do you subscribe to The Tightwad Gazette?
PickleRix Haha. Definitely. It was crazy bulged.
Best n easy video
Thanks! I’m glad you found it helpful.
Unbelievable!! We have a unit that is less than 2 years old. The temp was not getting down even close to the thermostat setting and the inside humidity was almost 50% higher than its setting. I thought your first suggestion of nudging the fan blades with a stick was WAY too simple but it was bedtime so I figured "Why not?". I nudged a blade clockwise with a paint stick and guess what? It started spinning and, in less than 15 minutes, our house was comfortable again and the humidity had gone down 10%.....I'm still calling the pros tomorrow to see why this happened but THANK YOU so much for the tip!!! I never would've thought to do that. I realize that people deal with much worse but your video saved this family from a pretty uncomfortable July night in south Louisiana.
Sounds like your capacitor is bad. You should change it yourself! I’m glad you found temporary relief!
@@TightWadDIY You're exactly right - the capacitor apparently wasn't supplying enough power to the fan on start-up. I let the company I bought the unit from do it b/c, luckily, it's still under warranty. But your handy tip gave us temporary relief until they could come out. The info is very much appreciated.
@@JD-lk7yp I’m glad they fixed it for no charge. That’s a blessing.
just changed capacitor and it still is not turning on. just buzzes
See if anything in this video helps.
I realized today I am an EXTREME tightwad. I got so excited about my current savings...
Could I find this at a Lowes or Home Depot?
I doubt they will have capacitors. Your best bet is to find where the local HVAC guys buy their parts.
@@TightWadDIY yo the fact that you’re still replying to comments is crazy 😂😂
@@dopeboyz9955 I do my best to keep up. Managing two channels is a challenge sometimes. I appreciate you.
TightWadRepairs Hi my aircon is not turning ON and the Fan on the outdoor unit does not run. I saw it rotating a bit with little bit of wind. When i turn it On, it just makes a noice which it normally did whenever i turned it ON or OFF. If i change the AC mode to Fan only instead of Auto, it blows out air in the ducted vents. helppppp
James Pouncey yeah i took the start capacitor, motor run, fan run capacitor for replacement and they tested all. They were all fine. The aircon works intermittently. Sometimes it would work fine for hours and other times it would not run at all or stop while running
What if the compressor only runs for a minite but doesn't cool to set temperature?
Are both the compressor and the fan running?
Best video ever ❤️❤️❤️
Thanks! Hit that Thanks button if you want!
GOD BLESS YOUR SOUL
You’re welcome.
At 4:05 you said the ac is turned on inside and fan not moving, then you turned the power back on? if the ac is on inside, meaning inside the house, did that have separate power to it already on?
Makinja The air handler inside the house and the thermostat inside the house are on a different power circuit than the outside unit. The outside unit always has it’s own breaker and it’s typically outside of the home next to the unit.
Got it. Thanks for the clarification. Good info.
Ok so I turned the blade and it started running so what the problem might be going forward
reco castro You need a new capacitor. The fan won’t spin at top speed without a new capacitor. Replace it ASAP so it doesn’t mess other things up.
@@TightWadDIY Ok thanks will do asap
Nice job!
SnapperKC Thanks!
Good lord you just saved me $100 to have a guy come out to put a stick in the fan blades to get them going. 😂
So now you just need to replace the capacitor!
@TightWadDIY do I? It seems to be running fine. We had a big storm last night and there were big ole Magnolia leaves stuck in the fan blades.
@@erikwick Keep an eye on the fan. I bet it will end up stopping again.
@GrillThisSmokeThat ok. I'm bookmarking this vid for when it craps out for real. Lol.
Thank you very helpful
Lupe Vazquez I’m glad you found it helpful. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Thank You 😁
Mark Silva You are welcome. Did you get it fixed?
@@TightWadDIY got fan to spin but once a/c turns off , fan won't stay on ? Needs a push
That is correct. The capacitor is what makes the fan and compressor start each time the AC turns on. You would have to spin the fan manually every time the AC turns back on which isn’t sustainable and actually puts stress on your system so you shouldn’t use this long term. You still need to replace the capacitor to fix the issue.
Thanks alot! Great video!
Munchi3s864 You are welcome. Check out this video for a better description of the problem. It’s likely the capacitor. ua-cam.com/video/VO7sDl1q8WY/v-deo.html
No
excellent summary and tips
Mike Mclean Thanks!
Hey I got the same problem lol
The ac unit outside won’t do anything, no humming noise the fan is not spinning like if their was no power to it
Tripple Banng Oh no! Check your breaker first then follow the steps to check the capacitor. Hopefully that’s all it is. Here is another video I made with A lot more info: ua-cam.com/video/VO7sDl1q8WY/v-deo.html
What if it is humming? Mine will only spin after pushing with a stick but it has a humming sound when trying to kick on