The Fan on My Central Air Unit Stopped

Power

• When power to the central air conditioner goes out, there are a couple of things you can check to determine the source. Sometimes, the power lines leading to the unit can be damaged by accidental outside or inside activity. If the power line is frayed, dented, cut or damaged in any way, it needs to be replaced. A recent storm might have knocked out the power, causing the central AC circuit breaker to trip upon reinstatement. Once the circuit breaker is located, you can observe the state of the switch. A switch in the middle or “Off” position means that power is not flowing to the unit. Once the switch is flipped to the “On” position, power is restored.

Ice

• If a central air conditioner freezes over, then the ice buildup from within might block the condenser fan from blowing. You’ll hear the internal compressor working, which is further helping ice to form, but not the fan, or you might hear the fan motor trying to operate to no avail, which produces a humming noise. The unit should be turned off immediately to prevent the fan motor from burning up and to allow the unit to thaw. If the weather outside is very cold, the unit might have frozen during operation as a result.

Reversed Fan

• The fan component might be working but blowing in the wrong direction, which prevents air from emitting through the vents within the home. You can remove the fan housing panels on the unit to access the fan motor. Some fan motors feature a fan reversal switch. If such a switch exists on your fan motor, flip the switch to the opposite direction to set the fan to blow in the correct direction. If there is no switch on the motor, you can uninstall the fan, turn it around and remount it to the fan motor.

Debris

• Foreign objects, such as a stick or plastic bag, might have been sucked or inserted into the fan housing, blocking the fan from turning. The plastic bag might have wrapped around the fan gears, causing it to stop. After the fan housing panels are removed, the debris can be removed from around the fan area, so that the fan blows properly again.