Daily Archives: August 13, 2022

What is a Condenser Fan?

The Condenser Fan is located on the top side of most AC units (see picture below).

Its job is to draw air through the AC condenser coils in order to remove heat the refrigerant picked up from inside of your home. In this guide, you will learn about Condenser Fan motors, the cost to replace them, and the differences between a Blower Fan motor and a Condenser motor. (Picture to the top fan on the outdoor unit.)

What are some differences between a Condenser Fan motor and Blower Fan motor?

A Blower Fan motor is located inside your furnace or air handler. The Air Conditioner Condenser Fan motor is located in the outside AC unit.
The Blower Motor fan is used to circulate air through the vents inside your home. The Condenser Motor is used to turn the big fan blades on the top side of most AC units in order to cool the refrigerant. The blower fan looks much more like a big hamster wheel than a typical fan. An AC fan looks more like a traditional in home fan with typical blades to circulate the air.

What’s a typical Condenser Fan motor replacement cost?

If your HVAC Condenser Fan motor is burnt out, a Condenser Fan motor repair will run between $325-$575.

Why such a big range? There are different sizes of fan motor depending on the tonnage of your air conditioner. Higher tonnage units often have bigger, more expensive motors increasing replacement costs. Markets with higher labor rates will also have an affect on the total cost of replacing a condenser fan motor.

Why is my AC Condenser Fan not working?

• Tripped Breaker
• Jammed by Debris
• Capacitor
• Fan Motor Burn Out
• Contactor

Tripped Breaker-Electrical storms can cause breakers to trip as can an overload on the circuit. It is always a good idea to check for the simplest solution first so checking the breaker’s a good place to start.

Jammed by Debris-If your unit sits below a heavily wooded area, another easy fix to consider is whether a small branch or some other debris fell through the AC fan opening and is jamming your unit.

Capacitor-A capacitor stores energy in order to power the AC condenser’s fan. It is best to get the capacitor replaced by an HVAC professional since it stores energy and can be dangerous.

Contactor-A contactor is an electrical switch responsible for controlling the condenser fan motor. Over time these items will go bad. This is another component better left to replacement by a licensed contractor.

What does it mean if my Fan Motor is Burnt Out?

The AC condenser fan motor will burn out or stop working if they get overloaded and overworked. The best way to prevent your fan motor from prematurely warring out is to properly maintain your air conditioner. (See AC Condenser maintenance link for more details).

The Complete Guide to Ductless VS Central Air

This guide is intended to help you determine if installing a ductless vs central air conditioning is right for you.

What is a Ductless AC Unit?

Ductless systems have indoor and outdoor pieces of equipment similar to traditional central air conditioning systems. However, ductless systems don’t require any inside ductwork running through walls, ceilings, or floors to distribute the airflow like traditional central air conditioning systems.

4 Benefits of a Ductless Air Conditioning system

• Rooms can be independently zoned/controlled
• No additional ductwork required
• Efficient to operate
• Relatively simple to install

The benefits of Ductless Air Conditioning systems can be significant in some types of situations like log homes, prefinished basements, sunrooms or new additions.

2 Main Drawbacks of a Ductless Air Conditioner

The biggest drawback to ductless air conditioner systems is they need to be installed through an exterior wall within the space they serve.

Some consumers also feel the large air vents of ductless air conditioning systems are visually less appealing than those used with conventional HVAC systems.
INSERT PICTURE OF EACH TO SHOW DIFFERENCE.

How does a Ductless Central Air Conditioner Actually Work?

Ductless central air conditioners produce cool air the same way as a ducted system.

Warm air is drawn into both systems from inside the home. The warm air runs across an evaporator coil where heat is absorbed by the refrigerant. This captured heat is transferred outside where it is released back into the atmosphere at the AC condensing unit. This process also produces a byproduct of water, which is also transferred outside the home.

How much does it Cost for Ductless Air Conditioning?

The average cost for residential ductless air conditioning is between $3,000 and $13,000 for most homes.

3 Main Factors Affecting the Cost to Install a Ductless mini Split

• Circuit Breaker Capacity
• Tonnage Requirements
• Difficulty of Installation

These can all play a role in the overall cost to install a ductless mini split and should be discussed with your HVAC contractor.

Ductless VS Central Air, which one’s right for you?

This is not a simple answer and depends on what your specific home can accommodate, your personal preference, and overall budget.
Adding new ductwork to many homes can be a daunting task and, in some cases, isn’t even possible. For more help with this and all your HVAC related questions, it’s always a good idea to consult with a licensed heating and cooling professional.

If you own a home in the greater Atlanta, Georgia area and/or would like helpful info regarding your residential HVAC project, give us a call at: (678)HVAC BEE | That’s, (678)482-2233.

Generally the cost to install central air will run from $4,500 on the low end to $20,000 or more on the upper end but there are several factors that will impact the overall cost.

The time of year you choose to install the system will definitely impact the price you’ll pay. Like it or not, if you wait until demand is at its peak, during those hot summer months, you’re going to pay more for the exact same job. If you’re able to plan the work and get the job done in the off season, it will often end up saving you a bundle.

Another thing which can greatly impact the price you’ll pay is the area of the country you live. For example, if your home’s in New York City as opposed to Huntsville, Alabama, you’re going to pay more for the exact same work and equipment because the cost of warehouse space and labor in each of those markets varies dramatically.

3 Main Factors Impacting the Average Cost to Replace Heating and Air conditioning

Older homes can present a variety of challenges when installing a Central Air Conditioning will require different approaches to achieve proper functionality.system and depending on the area of the country, type of construction, or style of home, the system installation

• Tonnage of AC system-The bigger the space needing to be cooled the more tonnage the AC unit you’ll need to condition that space. Bigger systems simply cost more. However, tonnage is not the only thing which can impact the price you’ll pay. Older homes with poor insulation or inadequate windows will all play into what size equipment is required to keep the space comfortable and able to maintain a consistent temperature. Other things which can have a big impact are the amount of tree cover or direct sunlight on your home.
• Time of Year- Just like most seasonally heavy types of work, installers of air conditioning systems are busier during the peak time of year, which is summer in this case. It is simply uncomfortable to live in a hot, humid environment when there’s no AC and demand for their servicing shoots up. Like any other product or service, when demand goes up, so will the price because the supply of people available to perform the work is harder to find. Therefore, getting this work done in the winter, fall, or spring can result in a 30-40% savings!
• What work needs to be done- The largest percentage of the cost to install a new central air conditioner is undoubtedly the labor. Materials typically range from 25-35% of the total cost so jobs requiring a lot of man hours to complete will drive up the overall cost of the project. For example, if your existing ductwork is substandard and needs replacing, this will require many man hours compared to the actual cost of the materials needed to complete the job.

It’s always a great idea to become well informed and educated prior to taking on any home improvement project. With prices ranging between $4,500 on the low end to $20,000 on the upper, it can literally save you thousands just by simply waiting until the off season to purchase your new AC system.

Can you install Central Air in any house?

The simple answer is yes. However, that does not mean all central air options are created equal and there are a few questions you’ll need to ask around ductwork to figure it out.

• Does my home have existing ductwork?
• Are my ducts in good shape?
• Do I need additional ductwork?

Some pre-existing ductwork can easily be modified to fit the new equipment. If the ductwork is in good shape and doesn’t need substantial repair work, your job will be at the lower end of the cost spectrum.

As opposed to retrofitting existing ductwork, if no ductwork currently exists, you may want to consider a ductless cooling system.

How much does it cost to install Central Air with existing ductwork?

A typical central air conditioning system installation in a home that already has good, well sized ductwork will cost between $5,000-$15,000 depending on the efficiency, features and tonnage of the system being replaced.

How much does it cost to install Central Air and ductwork?

The cost to install central air and ductwork will range between $8,500-$20,000 or more.

Keep in mind, it is not always solely about the price, as doing the project incorrectly can be extremely costly and may ultimately lead to a much more expensive total investment to properly condition your residential space.

If you live in the greater Atlanta Georgia area and have any questions about the direction of your next HVAC project, give our team a buzz at (678)HVAC BEE or visit www.havcbee.com.