Condenser Fan Motor – Air Conditioners & Heat Pumps

Condenser - Air Conditioner - Heat Pump Fan Motor

Condenser Fan Motor Inside the Condenser

The condenser fan motor is responsible for pulling air through coils of the condenser. The are also call air conditioner fan motor or heat pump fan motor but they all serve the same purpose. They pull air through the condenser coils. The condenser fan motor runs the gamut in horsepower ratings from low fractional horsepower in small residential units all the way up to 1 horsepower (and larger) 3 phase motors in large commercial HVAC units. The condenser fan motor is usually direct drive to a propeller blade which creates the air flow.

In straight air conditioners the air conditioner fan motor is used mainly in the summer or when the air conditioner is running. During the winter this motor sits idle until the air conditioner is turned back on in the spring when temperatures begin to rise.This can be a problem for the air conditioner fan motor. Sitting all winter without any motion the bearings and shaft in the air conditioner fan motor can seize up or rust. It is important that the air conditioner motor be checked to ensure it is running especially when it is first turned on after sitting idle all winter. This is a good reason to have air conditioning spring maintenance performed by a professional. Continue reading “Condenser Fan Motor – Air Conditioners & Heat Pumps” »

Air Conditioning Maintenance & Repair – Motors

Bad Air Conditioner Blower Motor or Condenser Fan Motor

Labor (troubleshooting and repair of the air conditioner system) time (approximate): 1 1/2 to 3 hours depending on unit location and part availability

Air Conditioning Maintenance & Repair - MotorsThis is common in the summer. High heat and constant use causes old (and some new) air conditioner blower motors or condenser fan motors to burn up. There are several different types of air conditioner motors and when dealing with anything electrical the best replacement is an exact replacement. There is a contradiction to that phrase. If you have a shaded pole air conditioner blower motor in your air handler I recommend that it be replaced with a PSC motor. If you don’t know what that terminology means, the air conditioner technician should know. PSC motors are far more efficient for air handler blower motor applications than shaded pole motors. Shaded pole air conditioner motors are a rare find (at least for me) but when they are found in blowers they should be replaced with PSC motors. Additionally, when replacing any PSC motor I recommend replacing the capacitor. Continue reading “Air Conditioning Maintenance & Repair – Motors” »