Your HVAC unit is the backbone of your home. In the winter, it guards your home against frigid temperatures. During the summer months, your air conditioner keeps your home a cool oasis against the dog days of summer.

Whether it’s summer or winter, homeowners are accustomed to the sounds of their HVAC system powering on and off. But sometimes, weird noises will catch your attention and make you wonder if something is amiss with your air conditioning unit.

If the fan on your AC is running and running with no end in sight, it may be trying to tell you that something is wrong.

When working correctly, the HVAC fan turns on and off automatically as the heating and cooling cycle on and off. An air conditioner fan that runs continuously is a red flag that you have an issue with your system.

Let’s take a look at why your AC fan keeps running and what you can do to get to the root cause of the problem.

What Are The Reasons The Fan On Your Air Conditioner Keeps Running?

When your air conditioner fan is continuously running, it’s time to figure out what’s going on. If you’ve never dealt with a malfunctioning HVAC unit, it may seem overwhelming to pinpoint the cause.

Here are the most common reasons why your AC unit fan is continuously blowing.

The Fan Is Switched To “On”

If your fan is switched to the “on” position, it will continuously run. You should set it to the auto position, so it only runs when the HVAC unit is running. Once you fix this setting, your ac unit fan will shut off when it recognizes the desired room temperature.

AC Unit Is Too Small Or Unable To Match Settings

If your air conditioner is undersized for your property, it will not run optimally. A too-small HVAC system will often run to keep up with the thermostat setting, leading the fan and blower to run consistently.

Additionally, if your area is facing extreme temperatures, your HVAC unit may not reach the desired temperature. This means that the entire system, including the fan, will run longer than usual to attain the set temperature.

Faulty Thermostat

If your thermostat cannot recognize your home’s interior temperature, the fan, and cooling system will run when they shouldn’t. This means you will need to replace the thermostat.

Short Circuit Or Broken Relay Switch

If the fan is the only thing running when the AC unit isn’t, there may be a faulty relay switch prohibiting the settings on the thermostat from being communicated to the fan.

Another cause could be a wiring issue or a short circuit preventing the system from recognizing the on and off signals.

Troubleshooting Your AC Fan In Three Easy Steps

Even the most common problems with your HVAC system can balloon into major headaches. To avoid costly repairs and an uncomfortable home, you’ll need to call in professionals to pinpoint the cause for the fan’s overuse.

Before the HVAC professional arrives, homeowners should do some investigating to guide the technician towards the potential problem.

Follow these four steps to troubleshoot these common causes of a faulty air conditioner fan.

1. Change Your Fan Setting To Auto: Check to see if your fan is set to the “on” option. Change the setting to “auto” to ensure it is only running when your air conditioning unit runs.
2. Turn The Fan Switch To “Off” And Back To “Auto”: If the fan doesn’t turn off, it may indicate your thermostat needs replacement. An experienced HVAC repair technician can replace your thermostat.
3. Schedule HVAC Maintenance: If you’ve completed the above steps and ruled out fan or thermostat issues, your HVAC unit may not be able to keep up with the thermostat. Regular maintenance may be enough to keep the system back to its best functionality.

An HVAC specialist will check for and solve the following issues:

• Dirty Air Filter
• Blocked Airflow
• Low Refrigerant
• Electrical Issues
• Thermostat Functionality

1. Consider A Replacement: Sometimes, the cost of repairing your existing HVAC unit isn’t worth it. It may be time to consider an HVAC replacement from a licensed service professional to ensure your unit is appropriate for your home and comes with the latest energy-saving technology.

Once you follow the above steps, you will guide your HVAC technician to the root cause.

Troubleshooting Your Air Conditioner Fan Issues

Let R & T Services Solve Your HVAC Fan Issues

Don’t DIY your air conditioning repair. Trust R & T Services, an expert HVAC company with over 30 years of experience helping the residents of Billings, Montana with their heating and cooling needs.

At R & T Services, we take pride in our expert technicians by investing in continuous training on the latest HVAC technology and repair methods. We deliver the highest quality workmanship for all installs, repairs, and maintenance calls.

Contact us today for a free estimate and expert HVAC services.