AC Condenser Fan Motor Replacement Cost

Air conditioners are considered essential appliances by many households as they supply comforting cooling on demand. The idea of an air conditioner breaking down in the middle of the summer is a nightmarish proposition for many households. Unfortunately, your air conditioner breaking down is possible especially if you don’t take good care of components like the condenser fan motor.

That condenser fan motor inside your air conditioner may break down for different reasons. Unless you want to just continue wallowing in the sweltering heat, you must do something about that busted fan motor. Replacing your air conditioner’s condenser fan motor is an option, but how much will that cost?

The average cost to replace an air conditioner condenser fan motor is $590. You’re paying $140 for the replacement condenser fan motor and the remaining $450 will go toward labor expenses. Replacing the blower motor or run capacitor may also be necessary and that will cost $500 and $55 respectively. You may also need a new compressor and that costs $2,000.

Your air conditioner’s condenser fan motor has an important role to play so replace it as soon as it breaks down. Learn more about the cost of a replacement condenser fan motor and other important AC components after you go through this article.

The air conditioner is a remarkably complex machine and it utilizes numerous components to provide the cooling you need. One of the components responsible for keeping your air conditioner humming is the condenser fan motor. So, what does the condenser fan motor do exactly?

Before we discuss the importance of the condenser fan motor, we first have to highlight why the compressor matters. The compressor is regarded as the heart of the air conditioner. It is tasked with pushing the refrigerant between the condenser and evaporator coils.

Because of how hard the compressor has to work, it has this tendency to overheat. Manufacturers are aware of that and that’s why they’ve included the condenser fan motor.

The condenser fan motor’s job is to stop the compressor from overheating. It cools the compressor with the help of some large fan blades. You need that condenser fan motor to keep your air conditioning unit running smoothly.

Take action right away if something’s wrong with your unit’s condenser fan motor. Ignore that problem and you could end up doing more damage to your air conditioning system.

Your AC condenser fan motor can break down over time. Once it does, you need to secure a replacement unit immediately. On average, you should expect to spend around $140 to acquire the replacement condenser fan motor.

Don’t be surprised if you look online and find different prices for that aforementioned component. Some retailers have replacement condenser fan motors priced closer to $60. Then again, you will find retailers that have it for around $230.

Pricing can change based on what unit you have. Scarcity may also affect pricing so you can expect to pay more for hard-to-find replacement units.

Before you go and buy a new AC condenser fan motor, you should also take a moment to check your warranty. Your warranty may still be active and it may offer coverage for the condenser fan motor. Some warranties remain usable for up to 10 years so don’t assume the one you have will no longer be helpful.

After getting your hands on the new AC condenser fan motor, you now need to get it installed. You must hire an HVAC technician to handle that job. HVAC technicians typically charge around $450 to handle condenser fan motor replacement.

You may be tempted to attempt the replacement yourself, but that may not turn out well. Tinker around with an AC unit without knowing what you’re doing and you could permanently damage it. This is a job that’s best left to the professionals.

Also, you should know that your warranty could save you money again here. This time around, you want to look for the warranty given to you by the HVAC technician who installed the unit. There may be a provision in there indicating that they will repair a unit for free if it has any issues.

Labor warranties have shorter durations than product warranties. The one for your AC unit may only be good for a year so act quickly if an issue arises.

The condenser fan motor is not the only motor component that could malfunction as you’re using your AC unit. Blower motors also have to work continuously and they are not impervious to issues. Getting the replacement blower motor that’s compatible with your AC unit may cost about $500.

You can thank the blower motor for getting the temperature for your home interior just right. Its main job is to move the fan inside your air conditioner. With the fan in motion, the cold air can now enter your home.

Certain things may happen if your AC’s blower motor is malfunctioning. Getting no air at all after you turn on the air conditioner is the clearest sign that the blower motor is broken. Weird smells are also indicators that you need to either repair or replace that part of your air conditioner.

Another component related to the condenser motor fan that could break down is the run capacitor. Thankfully, a replacement run capacitor is significantly more affordable than the other parts we’ve already mentioned. The average cost of a replacement run capacitor is around $55.

Without a functioning run capacitor, your air conditioner will simply not turn on. After all, the unit relies on that component to power up the condenser fan motor, the blower motor, and the compressor.

It’s worth pointing out that air conditioners can vary in terms of their run capacitor setup. Some units only use one run capacitor, but others use more. Double-check how many capacitors you need to replace before you buy anything.

Last but not least, we need to talk about the compressor. As we mentioned above, the compressor is the component that the condenser fan motor has to keep from overheating. You want no part of the compressor overheating because a replacement component will cost you approximately $2,000.

Air conditioner compressors can run into problems because of poor maintenance. If you do a poor job of maintaining your AC unit, it may end up covered in dirt. The abundance of dirt inside the air conditioner can lead to faster-than-expected overheating.

The issues affecting your air conditioner’s compressor could also be related to the refrigerant. Clogs and leaks in the refrigerant lines can hamper the performance of the compressor. Using the wrong refrigerant inside the AC unit can also be a big problem.

Failing air conditioner compressors also give out clear signs that they need to be checked. Leaking is a possible sign that your compressor is failing so check the unit’s surrounding for any unusual puddles.

You may also notice that your air conditioner is either providing warmer air than normal or no air at all. Those problems could be traced back to a bad compressor. Go ahead and check because replacing that component may already be required.

Related Questions

How Much Do AC Condenser Fan Motors Cost by Brand?

The cost of replacing the condenser fan motor can change based on the brand of your air conditioner. Replacement condenser fan motors for Trane units are the most expensive. You will likely have to pay about $200 for that replacement part.

How Much Will Repairing an AC Condenser Fan Motor Cost?

Some problems that affect condenser fan motors take longer to repair than others so they end up costing more. The average hourly rate for an HVAC technician is around $40 to $50. Refer to that as you’re trying to figure out how much the repairs will cost.

How Much Does Replacing an AC Fan Motor Cost?

The AC fan motor is just a different name for the condenser fan motor. Replacing it will still cost approximately $590, with labor included.