How Much Does It Cost to Repair or Replace an Air Conditioner Fan Motor?

The air conditioner fan motor is a crucial part of an HVAC system. The fan blows cold air through the air conditioner's condenser to cool the superheated refrigerant coming from the AC compressor.

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It's located in the outside AC unit and is often referred to as the condenser fan. Apart from this fan, central air conditioners have a blower fan inside the air handler in the home that feeds air into the home ventilation air ducts. Failure of these fans is a common reason for poor air conditioning performance.

What Are the Signs of a Failing Air Conditioner Fan Motor?

If your air conditioner isn't working properly, a possible reason could be a failing AC condenser fan motor. The fan is usually mounted on top of the outside unit on central air conditioners and on the side of the external unit behind a guard for window and split air conditioners. Symptoms of a failing fan motor include:

• Poor cooling: The AC works fine initially, but after a while, it stops working or the air is no longer cool.

• Fan not running: The fan isn't turning or is running very slowly when the compressor is on.

• Clanking noise: A rattling or clanking noise is usually due to damaged fan blades.

• Screeching noise: The fan emits a screeching noise that indicates bearing failure.

• Buzzing noise: A loud buzzing sound is coming from the fan.

• Intermittent operation: The fan runs erratically even though the compressor is running.

Is It Possible to Repair a Malfunctioning Air Conditioner Fan Motor?

It may be possible to repair the fan motor, depending on the fault. If the fan is buzzing or turning slowly, it's possible the motor condenser needs to be replaced. You can also repair or tighten loose fan blades, replace worn bearings and, in theory, rewind burnt-out fan motors.

How Much Does It Cost?

It's more than likely that the cost to repair a fan motor is more than the replacement cost. Electrical motor repair services cost between $50 and $65 (CAD 69 and CAD 89). Even a minor repair will take two to three hours. A rewind could cost up to $1,000 (CAD 1,373). Few electrical repair shops will repair small motors, preferring to replace them.

How Do You Replace an Air Conditioner Fan Motor?

Working on electrical equipment should only be done by a qualified person. Before working on the air conditioner, isolate the electrical supply by opening the breakers. The condenser fan motor replacement is a relatively straightforward operation. The fan is usually mounted on the top cover, which can be removed by loosening the securing screws. Remove the motor from the cover and disconnect the electrical wires, taking note of their colors and position. Remove the fan and fit this to the replacement motor. Reinstall the fan and the electrical connections, taking note of the wiring.

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• Should You Repair or Replace Your Air Conditioner?

How Much Does AC Fan Motor Replacement Cost?

According to HomeGuide, the average cost of an OEM AC fan motor varies between $90 and $700 (CAD 123 and CAD 960). The wide discrepancy in these prices is because some high-end models use variable-speed electronically commutated condenser motors. Generic fan motors for AC units are slightly cheaper, costing between $70 and $300 (CAD 96 and CAD 412), but using them may void the manufacturer's warranty.

It takes between one and two hours to replace the fan motor. AC service technicians charge between $75 and $150 (CAD 102 and CAD 206) per hour, depending on location. Expect the average cost to replace the fan motor for an AC unit to be between $200 and $700 (CAD 274 and CAD 960).

How Much Does the Type of Air Conditioner Affect the Cost of Fan Motor Replacement?

Provided the air conditioner has an outside unit where access to the fan motor is through an easily removed cover, labor costs should be similar to the above numbers. This also applies to a window AC unit unless the technician needs to remove the unit for access. Replacing the air blower fan in the air handling unit may be slightly more costly, especially if it's a variable-speed motor.