Air Conditioner or Heating System Blower Fan Testing & Diagnosis InspectAPedia® -
How to diagnose a blower fan that won't start
Testing heating furnace air handler blower fans
Testing cooling system or air conditioner blower fans
Testing heat pump blower fans
Problems when adding retrofit air conditioning to a warm air heating system
How to find and test the blower fan in a furnace, air conditioner, or heat pump
Questions & Answers about heating or cooling system air handler blower fans
This article discusses how to inspect and test a heating or air conditioning indoor air handler blower fan that is not working. We also discuss squirrel cage blower fan squeaks and noises.
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Our page top photo shows an air handler unit located in a building's attic - we removed the cover to show the blower fan assembly just to the left of the red tag) in this image of a Lennox™ horizontal HVAC system. The blower fan is located inside a horizontal air conditioning unit in many home air conditioning systems, especially when the air handler is located in an attic or crawl area. The location of a blower fan in vertical "up flow" or "down flow" heating and cooling systems is illustrated in additional sketches and photographs below.
See AIR HANDLER / BLOWER UNITS for our complete list of indoor air handler inspection diagnosis and repair articles. Also see COOLING COIL or EVAPORATOR COIL for a description of diagnosis and repair of cooling coil problems since this component is normally located within the air handler chassis as well. A cooling coil which is blocked by debris or ice and frost can obstruct air flow and reduce air conditioning system output.
If you need to diagnose and repair the outdoor compressor/condenser unit fan for an air conditioner or heat pump, see FAN, COMPRESSOR/CONDENSER UNIT
Initial, simple diagnostic checks of the air handler system are also described at Ducts & Air Handler diagnosis: Basic checks of the indoor air handler (blower), air ducts, and filter systems.
HEATING or AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER FAN TEST & DIAGNOSIS PROCEDURE
Question: how do I fix my indoor air conditioning or furnace blower fan: the air conditioning (or heat pump or furnace) blower fan just won't run.
My issue is about an air conditioner fan that just won't start. The fan motor is not seized, and we had a recent blower motor starting capacitor change. The blower fan relay appears to pull in okay, the electrical connections reseated and tight.
But the cooling fan will still not start. This is an early 1990's York home air conditioning unit. - R.S.
Our photo (left), shows a modern blower assembly inside of an air handler. In this case the blower is a direct-drive unit - the electric motor that drives the air conditioner blower fan is mounted inside of and at the center of the blower assembly itself.
Other HVAC blower units may mount the motor separately from the squirrel cage fan, connecting the motor to the fan using a set of pulleys and a fan belt.
Reply:
For completeness we have listed some blower fan diagnostic steps that you have already tried, as well as additional things to check. The blower assembly is the green component in this illustration from Carson Dunlop Associates The Illustrated Home.
If your air conditioning or heat pump system has lost its cooling capacity or won't start see REPAIR GUIDE for AIR CONDITIONERS. Make sure that all electrical power switches for the system are "on" and that the thermostat is properly set.
If your heating system or heat pump (warm air heat) won't start, see the links above, or see HEATING LOSS DIAGNOSIS-FURNACES.
If it appears that it is specifically the blower fan for your HVAC system is not working, first be sure that the thermostat is calling for heating or cooling.
For heating systems the set-temperature on the thermostat must be set higher than room temperature.
For cooling or air conditioners the temperature must be set lower than room temperature. See THERMOSTATS.
If the blower fan motor won't turn on or is noisy, there may be a ELECTRIC MOTOR OVERLOAD RESET SWITCH that has tripped off. Don't forget also to look for other switches that could prevent the air conditioner from even starting, such as a condensate overflow pan sensor switch (see DRIP TRAY DEFECTS). If the blower motor is having trouble starting, also see CAPACITORS for HARD STARTING MOTORS. Keep in mind that if the blower motor or fan bearings are shot the wobbling fan can make a horrible noise and can eventually ruin the motor shaft bearings. And if your blower motor misbehaves after checking bearings and the start/run capacitor, consider that the motor itself may be bad. An expert can measure current draw as part of diagnosing a failing electric motor.
Check to see if voltage is present at the fan motor wires. If voltage is present and if none of these steps will turn the blower fan on, and if you are certain that the motor starting capacitor is good (see CAPACITORS for HARD STARTING MOTORS), then we suspect that the motor may be seized.
Sometimes if we have to replace a starter capacitor that gets things going again for a while, but ultimately we discover that the motor itself was increasingly hard to start as it was moving towards seizing.
ping the fireplace flue closed (if you have one) when not in use will improve both heating and cooling efficiency.
This photo shows a blower fan assembly with a motor starter capacitor installed on the upper right side of the squirrel cage fan.
Blower Fan No Start / No Stop - weird blower behavior can also be diagnosed and fixed - this article provides a detailed list of things to check.
Thanks to reader Randy Shaffer for suggesting this topic.
Air Conditioner or Heater Wall Convector Unit Blower Fans
Our photo (left) illustrates dual squirrel cage blower fans typically found in the bottom of a fan/convector heating or cooling unit such as this one found in a New York City apartment.
If the convector fan motors run and the squirrel cage fans spin but not enough air is coming out of your convector unit, turn off power and take a closer look at the fan blades themselves - you may need a flashlight and a mirror to make this check without disassembling the unit further than shown here (we removed the convector unit cover). Dirt on the fan blades can significantly reduce airflow through the unit.
Also check the cooling or heating coil fins for blockage by dust and debris - a more common source of air flow blockage at heating and cooling convector units like the one shown.
Our photo (left) illustrates a condensate handling problem in the cooling convector unit for the same apartment unit introduced above.
Air conditioning condensate was leaking inside of the convector unit due to a clogged condensate drain line. The condensate leak exited the bottom of the convector, ran through a raised floor cavity, entered apartment building walls, and ran around the wall interiors in a metal stud-framed wall sill plate where it led to major toxic mold contamination over a wide area, floor damage, and the need for costly cleanup and repair work.
Also see CONDENSATE HANDLING, A/C for more about air conditioner or heat pump condensate drainage handling.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about heating or cooling system air handler blower fans
Which air conditioner, heat pump, or furnace fan is located where?
In our simple air conditioning (or heat pump) system sketch shown at left, the light blue fan shown at left in the sketch (above the red compressor box) is the outdoor compressor/condenser fan discussed at FAN, COMPRESSOR/CONDENSER UNIT.
The dark blue fan shown at right in the sketch is the indoor air handler or blower compartment or cooling coil fan found inside the building. This fan blows building air across the evaporator coil (or cooling coil) to cool and dehumidify indoor building air. We discuss this indoor fan at FAN, AIR HANDLER BLOWER UNIT.
In a warm air heating system that does not include air conditioning as well, the indoor fan is still located in the indoor air handler and is discussed at FAN, AIR HANDLER BLOWER UNIT.
Squeaky Squirrel Cage Blower Fan Noises: Diagnosis, Cure
Question: What do I do about a squeaking, squalling squirrel cage? It doesn't do it every time the A/C comes on but more frequently than not. Not alot of room to see in there. WD-40? Any suggestions? - Erma
Reply: Check for Loose Blower Fan Parts, Lubricate with the proper oil or grease
The squirrel cage fan to which Erma refers is found inside the indoor air handler unit. This fan moves building air through the duct system and across heating and/or cooling elements to condition the air as it is then supplied to the building through supply ducts and registers. In an air conditioning system this is the dark blue fan shown in the right side of our sketch above. For combined heating/cooling systems the same fan assembly can blow heated air into the building and an additional FAN LIMIT SWITCH will be found inside the furnace cabinet.
More about HVAC blower fans including squirrel cage fans is in this article, above beginning at BLOWER FAN OPERATION & TESTING but to start addressing a squeaky blower fan, note that your fan may be repairable by tightening one or more allen screws that secure the fan cage assembly (or the bearings that carry the fan) to its housing through which passes the fan motor drive shaft.
With power OFF for safety, if the fan and all components appear to have no loose screws or mounts, but you can still wiggle the fan from side to side, then the bearings are worn and need replacement.
If your fan is pulley-driven, check also that the pulley is secure on the shaft and that the fan belt is not so loose as to be squeaking.
I would not use WD40 on or near electric motor parts nor on greased bearings as it's not intended for a motor or bearing lubricant, though to be honest, I've sprayed WD40 on almost every problem that has ever arisen at one time or another. Better would be a lubricant intended for motors and motor shafts.
Some HVAC blower fan assemblies use a grease fitting not oil. In that case your service tech may need to re-pack the bearing with grease; often on older units there is a grease cap over the fitting that, if tightened, forces more grease into the bearing, so if you see one of those, try first giving the cap a turn. .
The cause of a backwards-running fan (and some other electric motors) could be a bad start-run capacitor (see CAPACITORS for HARD STARTING MOTORS) or a bad control board. More rare, incorrect wiring or internal damage to the fan motor windings.
My Heating Furnace Blower Fan Won't Start & Furnace Burner Shuts Off - what do I do?
Question: the furnace burners go on but the blower fan does not and then the flame shuts off what's wrong?
I have a american standard furnace freedom 80 the burnners go on but the blower fan does not and then the flame shuts off what's wrong? - Robert.
Reply: the fan limit switch is turning off your heating furnace burner because the fan is not starting. Diagnose and fix the blower problem.
Robert, if the furnace blower fan will not start, the limit switch on your furnace will turn off the burner in order to avoid overheating and damaging the heat exchanger. You'll need to inspect and fix the blower fan problem. If your furnace blower uses a drive belt to connect the fan to the driving motor check that the belt is in place and not slipping. Other blower fans use a direct drive motor whose shaft spins the fan assembly. IN either case check that the motor is starting;
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Thanks to reader Randy Shaffer, Manchester, PA for suggesting additional diagnostics for blower fan operation testing May 2010
How to diagnose and fix an air conditioning system that is not working
Since the failure of an air conditioner to turn on, loss of air conditioner cooling capacity, reduced air conditioning output temperatures, loss of cool air supply,
or even loss of air flow entirely can be due to a variety of problems with one or more components of an air conditioner or
air conditioning system, after reviewing the lost air conditioner cooling diagnosis procedures described in this article, be sure to also review the diagnostic procedures at each of the individual air conditioning diagnosis and repair major topics listed just below. To return to our air conditioning and refrigeration home page go to AIR CONDITIONING & HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS.
If your air conditioning or heat pump system has lost its cooling capacity or won't start select one or more of the diagnostic articles listed below.
A/C - HEAT PUMP CONTROLS & SWITCHES: air conditioner controls and switches - begin here if your A/C won't start. Here's an important tip: most refrigeration problems, in air conditioners, refrigerators, or freezers, are electrical, not mechanical. In air conditioning school, we used to drive out and collect abandoned refrigerators that people were tossing out during our community's spring cleanup week. Taking these appliances back into the shop we found that almost always the problem that had caused the owner to dispose of their air conditioner or freezer was in an electrical connection or electrical control. So it's worth checking out switches and controls on an air conditioner before replacing more costly components.
OPERATING DEFECTS: major air conditioning problem symptoms and how to get the air conditioning system working again,e.g. compressor or fan noises, failure to start, and inadequate cool air volume
A/C DIAGNOSTIC FAQs: air conditioning system diagnostic FAQs: Q&A about air conditioner repair - a detailed air conditioning system diagnostic checklist
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 2010, $69.00 U.S., is available from Carson Dunlop. The Home Reference Book is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. InspectAPedia.com ® author/editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume.
"Air Conditioning & Refrigeration I & II", BOCES Education, Warren Hilliard (instructor), Poughkeepsie, New York, May - July 1982, [classroom notes from air conditioning and refrigeration maintenance and repair course attended by the website author]
Carson Dunlop, Associates, Toronto, have provided us with (and we recommend)
Carson Dunlop Weldon & Associates' Technical Reference Guide to manufacturer's model and serial number information for heating and cooling equipment ($69.00 U.S.).
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