Your air conditioning system relies on three different motors to function. Inside your home is a motor that powers the blower fan and draws hot air into the system and blows cold air back out. There are also two separate motors in the outdoor condenser unit. One runs the condenser fan and helps to release heat and cool down the refrigerant. The other is the compressor motor, which circulates refrigerant and also compresses it to reduce its temperature. Should any of these motors give out and need to be replaced, it is vital that you call a certified HVAC technician to perform the work for these important reasons.
Warranty Considerations
If your AC system is less than 10 years old, it is most likely still under warranty. In this case, you absolutely have to hire a certified, licensed HVAC professional to replace your AC motor or perform any other work. For starters, hiring a certified technician means that you will only have to pay for labor and not for the new motor or any other replacement parts if the system is still under warranty.
You will also automatically void your warranty should you attempt to replace the motor by yourself. All HVAC warranties explicitly state that any repair or maintenance work must be done by a certified technician. If anyone without the proper certifications performs any work on the system, the warranty will no longer be valid.
This means you will end up paying far more for the motor replacement since you will now have to pay out of pocket for all associated costs. You also won’t be covered in case any future repairs are needed while the unit is still under warranty.
Safety Issues
Replacing any of the three AC motors involves disconnecting and reconnecting the electrical wiring. Even if you make sure to shut off the power first, you could get a major electrical shock as the unit’s capacitor will still carry a strong charge. Nonetheless, the bigger issue is that you could create dangerous operating conditions if you don’t wire the new motor correctly. Loose wiring has the potential to short circuit, and this could lead to a dangerous electrical fire. The easiest way to avoid these problems is to always have a certified technician replace your AC motor or perform any other necessary repairs.
Higher Repair Costs
It takes highly specialized knowledge and years of training to be able to safely and properly work on an HVAC system. Without this knowledge and training, you are likely to end up causing more damage should you attempt to replace an AC motor on your own.
Replacing the condenser fan motor or the blower fan motor is a fairly easy task if you know what you’re doing. If not, the chances are high that you’ll only make things worse and end up facing a much higher repair bill than if you had hired a certified technician in the first place.
If the blower fan motor isn’t wired and installed properly, you could ruin the unit and have to replace the entire fan instead of just the motor. The issue is even worse when it comes to the condenser fan motor or compressor motor. In this case, you could end up having to spend a few thousand dollars for a new AC condenser.
Signs That You Need to Have an AC Motor Replaced
If any of your AC motors burn out, the signs will be quite obvious as the motor won’t work at all. If the blower fan motor dies, you won’t hear the fan turn on and no air will come out of your vents. You also won’t hear the condenser fan run if its motor dies. If you’re not sure, you can go outside and check to see if the fan blades are spinning. A failed compressor motor is even more obvious. In this situation, your AC system will fail to turn on altogether.
It is important to note that these signs can also be caused by various other problems. This is yet another reason why you should always call AC technicians as they will be able to inspect your system and determine if the motor is bad or if the signs are a result of some other issue.
Each of the three AC motors will typically also produce tell-tale signs that indicate they are beginning to fail and will soon need to be replaced. For the blower fan and condenser fan motors, the first sign is usually loud noises whenever the fan is running. Most often, you will hear a squealing or squeaking noise, which occurs when the ball bearings that allow the motor to spin begin to wear out. In some situations, either of the fans can also fail to turn off and will continue to run even after the rest of the system shuts down.
A failing blower fan motor will not be able to circulate air throughout your house as efficiently anymore. When this happens, your AC system will begin to run for much longer and there will be far less cool air coming out of your vents. The blower fan also works for your heating system, which means you will have less hot air blowing from the vents during the winter.
In both situations, your HVAC system will struggle to maintain a consistent temperature. You may also experience more issues with some parts of the home staying far colder or hotter than other areas. This issue will typically be especially pronounced in those rooms or areas at the furthest ends of your ductwork system.
A failing compressor motor is a far more serious problem that will drastically reduce the system’s cooling capacity. This means your AC will end up running much more often and for much longer each time. This problem can also cause the evaporator coil in your air handler to constantly freeze up and be covered in ice.
Another common issue that results from a failing compressor motor is short cycling. This is when your AC condenser basically gets stuck in start-up mode. When this happens, the condenser will continually turn on and then shut off again within a few seconds. This results in the system failing to cool your home at all.
Your Local AC Repair Experts
If you notice any signs that one of your AC motors needs to be replaced, the experts at Polar Air & Heating, Inc. are always here to help. We offer 24/7 repair services for any emergencies, and our certified technicians repair all brands of AC equipment. When you contact us for any AC repairs, we will first perform a full inspection to pinpoint the cause of whatever issue you’re experiencing. Our technicians will then determine the best, most efficient way to repair the problem.
We can also help you decide when it is better to replace the entire unit instead of attempting to repair it. Polar Air & Heating, Inc. is a Lennox Premier Dealer and a Mitsubishi Diamond Contractor, and we offer a large selection of highly efficient AC condensers and other equipment. We have been serving residents of Las Vegas for more than 20 years, and we would love to show you why we’re the most trusted HVAC company in the area. If you need to have your AC inspected or any other HVAC service, give us a call today.
