The answer to this is no. The AC fan does not run non-stop. It's intended to cycle on and off, depending on the needs of the HVAC unit. That being said, there are some situations where it stops unnecessarily, and that's where you may have an issue.
The condenser unit is the part of your AC system that sits outside your home, and it can collect a lot of dirt over time. When the condenser coils are covered in dirt and grime, the unit has to work harder to do its job, which means that the fan will run constantly in an attempt to keep your home cool.
Ideally, a properly operating air conditioner should cycle for roughly 15 to 20 minutes, two to three times per hour. If the temperature inside your home is very high, is much higher than the temperature that your thermostat is set at, or the outside temperature is very high, the run time will increase.
With no fan pushing air through the HVAC case, the evaporator will cool down very quickly and won't have any warm air to allow the gas in the evaporator core to actually evaporate. This will cause the pressure to remain very low and cause the compressor to cycle off much more rapidly.
They should not be left on all the time. Some of the more advanced thermostats might use the fan to better circulate the air post-AC or heat running or pre-cool the home a little by running the fan. But in normal operation, it only runs with the furnace or AC does.
An air conditioner fan should never run constantly unless you manually switch it to this setting. However, if you do not have your thermostat's fan set to “on” and your air conditioner fan is still running, you may be experiencing a malfunctioning air conditioning unit.
Since the AUTO setting means the fan is only engaged when the system is on, rather than constantly blowing, AUTO is the most energy-efficient option between the two settings.
The outdoor unit of your AC system includes a smallish metal cylinder called a run capacitor that plays a large role in your system's functioning. The run capacitor controls and supplies the electrical charge that starts and continues to operate the unit's fan motor.
Go outside and see if the condenser is turned on.
While the condenser is on, place your hand about a foot above it. There should be air blowing out of it. If there is no air, the condenser is not working.
Why Is My AC Fan Not Spinning? In short, common issues that can cause an air conditioning unit fan to stop spinning are electrical issues, problems with the capacitor, contactor issues, a burnt out air conditioner motor, a broken fan belt, or clogged air filter.
A condenser that won't come on could have a variety of problems, because there are many issues that would prevent activation. The wiring might be wrong, a motor might be faulty, the compressor could have gone bad, or it is completely out of refrigerant. Might even be a problem with the thermostat.
Most systems need Freon replacement anywhere from once every two to five years from a professional HVAC Contractor. The most significant exception to this rule is when there is a leak in the air conditioning system, which decreases the amount of refrigerant in an AC unit over time.
The Short Answer Is: When your air conditioning system keeps running and never seems to shut off, the problem could be linked to a number of malfunctioning components – frozen evaporator coils, a clogged air filter, a bad electrical relay switch that needs to be replaced, the fan blowing constantly, dirty condenser ...
A thermostat is responsible for turning on and off the air conditioner's compressor and fan.
First, If the fan on your outside unit is not spinning, do a visual inspection to ensure it is not jammed. If there is an exceptional amount of dirt or debris around the fan axle it may not be able to move. Cleaning the unit, or removing debris may fix the issue.
Does The AC Fan Outside Always Run? The answer to this is no. The AC fan does not run non-stop. It's intended to cycle on and off, depending on the needs of the HVAC unit.
Dirty Coils
Air is blown over the coils to help transfer the heat, and if the evaporator or condenser coil is too dirty, it will take longer to absorb or release the heat, forcing your air condoning system to run for an extended period.
You may not think it always running is a bad thing. But if you're asking, “Does the outside AC fan always run?” the answer is “No.” It should not run non-stop. If the unit runs continuously, something is preventing the AC from reaching the set temperature. Here are some reasons why this may be happening.
The condenser fan is electrically powered. It initially operates whenever the air conditioning compressor is engaged. After that, it is controlled by the engine or powertrain control module (ECM/PCM) based on monitored airflow temperatures through the interior vents.
Allowing the fan to run uninterrupted, there is a more even distribution of warm or cool air circulating through your home. This will help reduce hot or cold spots within your home. There could be reduced stress on the fan from less frequent starts and stops, which could potentially help extend its lifespan.
First, check your filters and coils for dirt and debris that may be impeding airflow. Once you've cleaned the filters and coils, run the air conditioner with just the fan so that the ice accumulation can melt off. If the AC still doesn't blow cold air, it could be that refrigerant levels are too low.
AUTO is significantly more energy efficient between the two modes since the fan is only running when your AC is going through its cooling cycle. This takes less power, which is more budget-friendly, with some estimates showing you can save as much as $50 per month just by keeping your AC on AUTO.