Your condenser fan is one of the hardest parts of your air conditioning system to miss. If you've ever looked at your outdoor unit (also known as the condenser unit), the condenser fan is the large fan sitting on top. This fan pulls air through the condenser coils, helping them to release heat. However, this fan is also vulnerable to many problems, partly because it's one of the most exposed parts of your system.
Issues with the condenser fan may not immediately stop your system from working, but they can produce a few noticeable symptoms. You may hear grinding or squealing as the fan runs or notice it struggling to start with your compressor. If you see any of these issues, here are three reasons to call for a repair instead of putting the problem off for another day.
1. Poor Condenser Fan Performance Reduces Efficiency
Your air conditioner's primary job is to move heat from inside your house to the outside world. Air conditioning systems accomplish this feat by using refrigerant as a transport medium. The refrigerant absorbs heat energy at the evaporator coil and transports it outside, where the condenser coils release it, and the cycle repeats.
The quicker the system can release heat at the condenser, the more efficient and effective your air conditioner will be. If your condenser fan struggles to operate, it can greatly reduce airflow across the condenser coils. This reduction in airflow will reduce system efficiency, causing your home to remain warmer and costing you more money on utility bills.
2. A Faulty Fan Can Damage Your Compressor
Your compressor is unquestionably the most expensive part of your system. This component is so important that a failed compressor will often be the final straw that condemns an older system, forcing a replacement. As with many mechanical systems, the primary threats to your compressor are a lack of lubrication and heat.
Since your compressor sits inside your condenser unit, it relies on the condenser fan for cooling. The condenser coils release large amounts of heat into the interior of your condenser unit, and this heat can damage your compressor. Without a properly functioning fan, your compressor can overheat, causing your system to shut down and potentially causing damage.
3. Insufficient Cooling Can Lead to Evaporator Freezing
Correct refrigerant pressure is necessary to keep your system running efficiently, but refrigerant pressure problems can also have more severe impacts. Inadequate cooling at the condenser can prevent your refrigerant from condensing back to a liquid, resulting in adequate pressure at the evaporator coil. Insufficient pressure reduces evaporator temperatures, leading to freezing.
Frozen coils will stop your system from working, but they can also lead to slugging and other issues that can stress your system or damage your compressor. While a condenser fan with intermittent issues may not cause your evaporator to freeze, a more severe failure might. Once you notice your evaporator coils freezing, the problem is severe enough to require immediate attention.
Reach out to an AC repair service to learn more.
Share9 December 2022
Does your air conditioner smell, make loads of extra noise, or fail to cool your home? If you have noticed any of these problems, there might be issues with your air conditioning unit. Fortunately, you don't have to let a bum system make your home stuffy and uncomfortable. Professional heating ventilation and air conditioning contractors can snap your AC unit into shape in no time. By carefully checking your condenser and evaluating your refrigerant levels, the experts might be able to dramatically improve the cooling capacity of your home unit. Read here to find out how to spot problems before they make your space uncomfortable.