Does your air conditioner keep on running even if it is turned off? The continuous running fan of your air conditioner even if it is turned off indicates that there are problems in your air conditioner unit. The fan of the air conditioner works together with the heating and the cooling system of the air conditioner. But the electrical system of the air conditioner is totally different and separable from the fan.
The air conditioner just cools up and heats up the air inside the air conditioner unit. The fan or the blower just pulls the unwanted air which is circulating in your room. And, then sends it to an internal unit of the system and then circulates it back into your room according to the need. The thermostat tells all the system to work together. In many systems, the fan of the air conditioner turns on before the heating, or the cooling begins. But this isn’t a problem. The problem is when it is running continuously.
The fan of the air conditioner should turn on and off according to the heating and cooling system of the air conditioner. It is possible that it may start some time before the heating starts and does not stop sometime after the cooling stops. This is to maintain the inside temperature of the system. But the fan should not continuously run for hours or longer.
This may not be a bigger issue, it is a minor issue but even after taking troubleshoot problems if it continuously runs then it is a sign of a bigger problem. You should be ready to take immediate actions to either repair your air conditioner unit or replace it. There may be many different reasons why this is happening. Some of them are:
Wrong setting. The fan already set to on
When the fan of your air conditioner is set to on, the fan will continuously keep on running. While, when the fan of your air conditioner is set on auto, the fan will only run when the cooling component of your air conditioner is running.
The cooling component of your air conditioner and the fan always work together. It happens to keep your room cool, but it is not always necessary that they run at the same time. This may be one of the reasons your fan is continuously running.
So check, and if this comes, the issue you should first check your thermostat and make sure that is on auto instead of on. The fan will stop running continuously, and your problem will be solved. But if the issue is not solved even after it is turned to auto, the problem is something different.
Thermostat malfunction
Another reason for the continuous running fan of your air conditioner may be the problem in the thermostat. The thermostat is the part of the air conditioner which tells the whole unit to work together. When your thermostat is not working properly, it may not be able to maintain the temperature which you have set.
It may cause the fan to run continuously even after turning off the air conditioner. In this condition, the temperature of the thermostat may be lower than what you have set. Your thermostat may be either broken or stopped working properly. If this is the issue, you should immediately call for professional help and repair the thermostat of the air conditioner or replace it.
The environment outside too hot
The other reason for a continuous running fan of the air conditioner may be the temperature outside may be very hot. If it is very hot outside your air conditioner may not be able to maintain the inside temperature which you have set to, and the fan runs continuously.
Now if this is the problem, turn your air conditioner to 10 degrees up and see it shuts off. If it goes off, it is the only reason for your continuous running fan, and you should consider taking a comparatively larger air conditioner. It is because your air conditioner is small for maintaining the temperature if the outside temperature becomes too hot.
Relay switch malfunction
Relay switch of your air conditioner may also be the reason for the continuous running fan. Though the electrical system of the air conditioner unit is separable from another unit. But, the relay switches are the one that gives the command to the air conditioner how to work.
When the air conditioner is too old, the relay switches may be damaged or stuck. It is because that the thermostat of your air conditioner is not getting the command that your air conditioner is switched off. Therefore, the fan moves on continuously.
You should immediately call for professional help. It will need proper technicians to solve this problem. You may also check the manual you got and if there are some measures you can take go for it immediately. The technicians will either change or repair the relay switches, and the problem will be solved.
Short circuit
Short circuit may also be the reason for your continuous running fan. If the system of your air conditioner is short-circuited, the commands you are giving to the thermostat is not getting to it. And, even when you switch the air conditioner off the fan will continuously run.
Professional help should be called immediately to solve this technical problem. You should call the technicians to repair the short circuit in your air conditioner unit.
There comes a time when you are stuck and do not know which of these is the actual problem. You are unable to identify the reason behind the continuous running fan and are in a dilemma what to do in such cases. You can troubleshoot the problem in 4 simple steps –
- As discussed earlier, check if the fan is set to on or auto. If it’s on auto, then it’s okay but if not immediately turn is to auto as it will cause the fan to run continuously.
- If this is not working then try turning the fan switch first to off and then to auto. This may be useful in solving your problem.
- Now, after all, this is still, the fan is not turning to off, there is a problem in thermostat, and it should immediately be replaced or repairs. For this, you should call for professional help immediately.
- You always get a manual with your air conditioner system. Open the manual; there may possibly be written some measures to be taken if such a problem occurs. You should follow the steps according to the manual and if it does not work then go for the technicians.
