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Your air conditioner works hard to keep your home comfortable, especially during the hot summers we experience in Upstate South Carolina. However, when a key component like the outdoor fan motor fails, your cooling system may struggle to operate properly or stop cooling altogether.
Pavel, one of our HVAC technicians at Waldrop Plumbing Air Electric, recently replaced a failed outdoor fan motor for a homeowner after they noticed their outdoor unit stopped running. In this case, an electrical power surge caused the failure. Fortunately, the damage was limited to the fan motor, and our team was able to replace it and install additional protection for the HVAC system.
1. Dirty Outdoor AC Coils
Your outdoor HVAC unit is constantly exposed to grass clippings, dirt, leaves, pollen, and other debris. Over time, this buildup can restrict airflow through the outdoor coils.
When the coils are dirty, your system has to work harder to release heat from your home. As a result, components such as the outdoor fan motor may experience additional strain.
Keeping the outdoor unit clean and having your HVAC system inspected regularly can help identify potential problems before they lead to an unexpected breakdown. Additionally, homeowners should keep vegetation and debris away from the outdoor unit so it has plenty of room for proper airflow.
2. Electrical Power Surges
Another potential cause of HVAC fan motor failure is an electrical power surge.
Power surges can happen for several reasons, including lightning, utility grid fluctuations, electrical issues, and power being restored after an outage. While some surges are noticeable, smaller surges can occur without homeowners realizing it.
Modern HVAC systems contain several electrical components that can be vulnerable to voltage spikes. Depending on the severity of a surge, it may damage the fan motor, control boards, capacitors, or other components.
In Pavel’s recent service call, a power surge caused the outdoor fan motor to fail. Fortunately, the damage didn’t extend to other major components of the HVAC system.
Can Surge Protection Help Protect Your HVAC System?
After replacing the failed fan motor, our team also installed surge protection to help reduce the risk of similar electrical damage in the future.
Surge protection provides an additional layer of defense between electrical voltage spikes and the sensitive components inside your home’s HVAC system. While no surge protector can guarantee that electrical equipment will never be damaged, it can help reduce the risk caused by unexpected voltage spikes.
Signs Your Outdoor Fan Motor May Be Having Trouble
If something is wrong with your outdoor fan motor, you may notice:
- The outdoor AC fan isn’t spinning
- Your AC is running but your home isn’t cooling properly
- Unusual humming, buzzing, or rattling sounds
- The outdoor unit frequently shuts off
- Your HVAC system struggles during especially hot weather
If you notice these symptoms, avoid trying to repair electrical HVAC components yourself. Instead, have a qualified HVAC technician inspect the system and determine what’s causing the problem.
Protect Your HVAC System Before the Next Breakdown
A failed outdoor fan motor can leave your home uncomfortable when you need your air conditioner most. Keeping your outdoor coils clean, scheduling regular HVAC inspections, and considering surge protection can all help protect your system from unnecessary stress and unexpected damage.
If your AC isn’t cooling properly or you’re concerned about protecting your HVAC equipment from power surges, Waldrop Plumbing Air Electric is here to help homeowners throughout Upstate South Carolina.
Y’all Call Wally!
