WHY YOU SHOULD LEAVE AN AC MOTOR REPLACEMENT TO THE PROS
No matter what type of central HVAC system your home has, it relies on motors to circulate air. So, if your AC motor breaks down, the whole system is out of commission until you replace it. At first glance, replacing an AC motor might look like a job you can do yourself. The reality is, however, that it’s something you should leave to the professionals. Here’s why.
THE PROBLEM REQUIRES CAREFUL DIAGNOSIS
When your AC motor stops turning, your first instinct may be to assume the motor’s gone bad. That’s not always the case, though. Sometimes, the motor itself isn’t the issue at all. Without the right tools and knowledge, however, you won’t be able to tell.
There are multiple reasons that an AC motor can stop working even when the motor itself is fine.
- Power supply problems
- Faulty capacitors
- A faulty relay
- A blown fuse
- A control module malfunction
A professional HVAC technician can diagnose the problem with your AC motor, so you won’t have to play guessing games to get your system working again.
IT’S NOT EASY TO FIND THE RIGHT REPLACEMENT PART
If you’ve ever gone looking for replacement parts for an HVAC system, you’ve probably noticed that there are always multiple options for the same part. In some situations, you may not even be able to find a genuine OEM replacement part for your HVAC system. That’s especially common when you’re dealing with an aging HVAC system.
When you replace a fan in an HVAC system, it’s critical to do so with a compatible part that meets its performance needs. If you use an incorrect part, however, you may not know it right away. An incompatible part could appear to work but be putting additional strain on other parts of your HVAC system. Then, you’d end up with other components failing prematurely, compounding your original issue.
AC FAN POWER WIRING ISN’T ALWAYS STRAIGHTFORWARD
Assuming your AC motor is faulty, replacing it isn’t always a straightforward task. To do the job right, you need to understand how to disconnect the power from your AC, as well as how to handle the fan’s wiring. Many HVAC systems include fans that can operate at multiple set speeds. In many cases, you set the speed of the fan by selecting different sets of wires coming from the motor. If you don’t understand the wire color coding of the fan you’re replacing, you might cripple your HVAC system’s performance — if you manage to get the new fan installed and running at all.
DISASSEMBLING AND REASSEMBLING YOUR HVAC ISN’T EASY
Another reason that you should never try to replace an AC motor on your own is the complexity involved in disassembling and reassembling the required parts. Although AC fans aren’t designed to last forever, that doesn’t mean they’re built for easy replacement. In most cases, replacing an AC fan requires substantial disassembly of the surrounding parts just to reach the faulty fan. As you do this, it’s very easy to damage other parts of your HVAC system. That can turn a relatively inexpensive DIY repair into a costly catastrophe in a hurry.
Then, even if you’re able to disassemble your HVAC to replace the broken fan, you still have to contend with putting it back together. This means you’ll need to have documented the location of every screw, wire, and panel you removed. Then, you must reassemble everything without leaving anything out and without reconnecting any wires improperly. There’s quite a bit that can go wrong, even for an experienced HVAC technician. The difference is that if you’re the one making a mistake, you’ll also be the one paying to fix it.
LEAVE THE WORK TO AN EXPERT
The bottom line here is that you can replace an AC fan yourself. It’s just that in doing so, you’re taking a substantial risk. For one thing, you could be replacing a part that’s not broken. Or, you could do more damage as you work to swap out the motor itself. There is, after all, a reason that HVAC technicians exist. It’s because most HVAC repairs — including motor replacements — aren’t something the average DIYer should attempt.
So, if your Colorado Springs, CO home has a central HVAC system with what appears to be a faulty fan, don’t go it alone. Leave it up to the experienced pros at Home Heating Service, Inc.. We offer a range of AC installation, repair, and maintenance options to help you keep your home comfortable all year round. Our team also assists with water heaters, indoor air quality and water quality solutions, insulation, and home energy audits. And we’ve served the area since the 1980s, so you won’t find a more experienced crew anywhere in Colorado Springs.
Contact Home Heating Service, Inc. today for help replacing a faulty AC fan or addressing any other issue you’re having with your home’s HVAC system today!
