From time to time, air conditioner units need maintenance. Air conditioner units contain a number of parts that work together to create the cool air that keeps your room at a comfortable temperature. While large central air units require a licensed technician to repair, window-mounted units are more tolerant of a do-it-yourselfer. Troubleshooting why the fan isn’t working can help you keep your room temperature maintained and your wallet intact. Worn Out Belt The fan in an air conditioner unit is usually attached to a motor that directly turns the fan, but sometimes the interior workings include a belt that connects the fan and the motor. If you have a unit with a belt, check to see if the belt has worn out, frayed or slipped out of place, making it impossible for the fan to turn properly. Order a replacement belt from the manufacturer and replace the belt to fix the problem. Power to the Unit While it might be the most obvious solution, check to ensure that the unit is plugged into the wall.

If the connection has come loose and the power won’t turn on, your fan won’t turn. Another power problem might be a tripped switch on the circuit that supplies power to the unit. If the plug is connected and the circuit is working, unplug the unit and check the internal wiring that connects the fan motor to the circuit board. Ensure that all connectors are tightly plugged in, plug the unit back in and try it again. Circuit Board The circuit board, or control board, is what directs the fan to turn and the coolant to circulate. It also controls any timers your unit might have. Once you've verified that power is going to the unit, and the air conditioner responds when you push other buttons, you know that the problem rests somewhere in the control board or the thermostat. These parts are replaceable, but the wiring is so complex and the part so expensive that the better option is to replace the unit if it's no longer covered by warranty. Blockage A blockage in the unit could keep the fan from working.

While filters keep most dust and debris out, damage to the exterior of the unit might expose its insides to outside elements through the window and debris might become lodged in the unit. Check the interior of the unit to make sure nothing is blocking the fan from turning. Remove any blockage to restore function. Condensation Pump Not all air conditioner units have condensation pumps, but the ones that do can quit working. If the pump fills up, a trigger switch flips on inside the unit that stops the fan (and sometimes the whole unit, depending on the kill switch) from functioning until the reservoir is emptied and repaired. Normally they function on their own, but if it isn’t emptying on its own, replace or repair the pump so it dispenses condensation properly. Window air conditioners are heavy, so get some help removing it from the window. Repairing the fan in a window air conditioner can be as simple as giving its bearings a generous shot of a penetrating oil-lubricant, or it may require replacing the motor assembly.

The fan motors used in window air conditioners are inexpensive and designed with welded cases and therefore cheaper to replace than to repair. Remove From Window Unplug the unit from the wall outlet and remove the screws holding the side accordion panels and the window unit in place. Air conditioners are heavy, so have a helper hold the unit securely while you remove the mounting screws. raising ac unitThis ensures that the unit does not fall out the window. hvac home unitsWith your helper, slide the unit from the window and set it on the floor where you can work on it comfortably. 20 ton ac unit for saleRemove the screws holding the case in place and slide it off the unit. Be careful when handling the case because the razor-sharp edges of the sheet metal can cut you. Clean and Check Fan Movement Before you begin working on the air conditioner, clean the unit with a shop vacuum.

Your household vacuum will also do the job if it has a wand attachment. Make sure that you vacuum out the inside of the fan motor housing by placing the mouth of the wand against the holes in the ends of the motor's case. Dirt, dust bunnies and pet hair can accumulate inside the motor and keep the motor's rotor from turning freely. Next, check to see if the fan blade turns easily by hand. Check to see if the blades have become bent and are rubbing against the fan's shroud. These motors produce very little torque when starting and almost any dirt in the bearings or the slightest contact with the shroud around the blade will keep them from running properly. Check the Motor's Bearings If the fan blades were bent and the shroud around the blade has not come loose, chances are the motor has bad bearings that will need to be replaced. To check the bearings, grasp the blade in your hand and try moving the shaft from side to side. Any appreciable movement confirms bad bearings, and the motor will need to be replaced.

If the blades were not bent but do not turn freely, give the bearings a generous shot of penetrating oil. If that frees up the shaft and the blade turns freely, you have probably saved yourself the cost of replacing the motor. Plug the unit in and see if the fan now runs as it should. Unplug the unit again before replacing the case. Replacing Fan Motor Unplug the motor's wiring harness from the control board. Then remove the screws holding the motor in place. Take the old motor with you to the appliance supply store to make sure you get an exact replacement. You can buy universal fan replacement motors based on their fractional horsepower rating and voltage, but you're better off spending a few extra dollars to get an exact replacement motor. Replace the motor, reassemble the case, reinstall the unit in the window and plug the unit in. How much does it typically cost to paint a 2100 square foot house on the exterior? That's very difficult to answer without seeing the house. As one poster said, the prep is the most important part.

On newer homes that don't have a lot of peeling paint, the prep can be very minimal even as low as a couple or a few hundred dollars for the prep labor. On a 100 year old home with 12 coats of peeling paint on it, then the prep costs can be very high and can easily exceed 50% of the job's labor cost.A 2100 sq ft two story home could easily cost $1000 just for the labor to prep for the paint job. That number could climb too. Throw in lots of caullking  or window glazing, and you could be talking a couple or a few hundred dollars more for labor. Painting that home with one coat of paint and a different color on the trim could run roughly $1000 or more just for labor. Add a second coat  and that could cost close to another $1000 for labor. For paint, you may need 20 gallons of paint. You can pay from $30-$70 for a gallon of good quality exterior paint. The manufacturer of the paint should be specified in any painting contract. Otherwise, the contractor could bid at a Sherwin-Williams $60 per gallon paint and then paint the house with $35 Valspar and pocket the difference.