Why does the air blower fan or furnace fan run only if the thermostat is set to FAN-ON and your system is in HEAT mode? Why won't the fan work if the thermostat is set to FAN AUTO?
We describe at least 17 different possible causes of "Fan Wont' Run on AUTO", some more-likely and most quite easy to test.
This article series explains the use, setting, and adjustment of the FAN ON- AUTO button or switch or the FAN ON-MAN switch on room thermostats.
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2020/01/21 Anonymous asked:
Fan will work only when thermostat set to fan on.
Fan won’t work when thermostat set to fan auto
This Q&A were posted originally at FAN ON AUTO MAN Thermostat Switch FAQs
Thank you for the question, Anon, as it's a common A/C, or heating fan operating problem that needs to be understood:
I put it as "The blower fan runs only in the MAN-ON switch but won't run on AUTO".
We will begin with a few very basic and simple things to check that can explain why the indoor air handler blower fan won't run when the thermostat fan control is set to AUTO - these pertain to both heating mode and cooling or air conditioning mode.
Then on this page we'll continue with diagnosis and repair steps for the heating-mode problem, while sending you to a separate page for cooling-mode problems with the FAN AUTO function.
If your HVAC blower fan won't run in AUTO for either cooling or heating modes, step through the diagnostics on this page.
Below we continue with diagnostics for why the indoor air handler blower fan won't run in AUTO for two different cases: Air Conditioning or Heating mode (set at the thermostat).
In our photos above that white switch found on some Honeywell fan limit controls can be used to turn the fan on continuously - another way to confirm that the fan can be forced to run.
Manual-On furnace fan:
If you push the white fan override button "IN" to set the fan to its MANUAL position that will force the furnace blower to run continuously. If your fan was set to run continuously at either the thermostat or at the limit switch you'll need to turn that feature off.
Below we continue with diagnostics for why the indoor air handler blower fan won't run in AUTO for two different cases: Air Conditioning or Heating
If the limit control is not working to turn the fan on when the plenum is warm, the plenum will continue to get hotter; as the burner remains on the plenum temperature will reach the HI LIMIT and a safety circuit in the limit control will turn the burner OFF.
Watch out: If this happens don't keep trying to run your heater as you could seriously damage the heat exchanger and even cause it to crack, risking fatal carbon monoxide poisoning of building occupants. Leave the heater off and call for repair.
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You can eliminate that chance by the following step to remove the thermostat and its wiring from the equation and run the furnace directly.
Watch out: if you are not trained in safe and proper electrical and control wiring, don't touch wiring or control boards inside your HVAC system: you could be shocked or killed or you could damage the equipment. Ask your trained HVAC service technician for help.
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This topic has moved to
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Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.
I have the old AC outdoor 567G and furnace 394G system.. It started working when thermostat was on "cool" and stopped immediately when its fan blades separated from the hub , that is the fan malfunctioned..
The above expert didn't consider this case. What made the blower to stop ( it worked on AUTO).
But when new blades were installed and the fan started working properly the cool air come in house only under "fan on." The above expert didn't consider this case.
I think that the above 2 cases are interconnected. It is possible to assume a short circuit when the blades separated from the hub which was eliminated later.
Please share information raftc1@yahoo.com
On 2023-07-15 by InspectApedia Publisher (mod) - after repairing outdoor condenser fan indoor fan won't come on in AUTO
@Rafael,
Thank you so much for adding this HVAC fan diagnostic tip - we'll be sure to keep it with the article.
I'd summarize for other readers as follows:
Fan ON vs Fan AUTO: control failure following mechanical damage
A mechanical failure such as the blower fan itself coming apart might not only stop the blower from working, it may cause damage to the blower unit control board, perhaps due to an over-current when the broken fan components jam the blower fan motor.
Let me know if you think I've got this right - or not.
DF
On 2023-07-16 by Rafael Yanushevsky - fan works on FAN-ON but not on AUTO MODE
To have a cool air in my house I use "cool" on my thermostat. But nothing happens in the house although the condensing unit fan (outdoors) works well. Since the outdoor AC works properly, I decided to use FAN ON instead of AUTO on the thermostat.
Then a cool air comes to the house but this is not a normal mode for the cooling system. That is why I asked your help to understand what happened with the system.
Today I checked the control board fuses, made some measurement but didn't find anything explaining the situation. After that I tried the system with " "cool" and "auto" on the thermostat.
The system started sending a cool air bur only 5-10 sec (maybe this was also yesterday but I didn't notice that). After that I was forced to change AUTO" to "FAN ON".
Maybe this new information is useful. As to the Fan Limit Control, I don't know where it is to use. First I want to understand what happened to the system and how to fix the problem. Thanks in advance.
Thank you for your fast response. You classified my problem as "Fan ON vs Fan AUTO: control failure following mechanical damage." It looks like I haven't explained all properly.
Fan On and Fan Auto relates to the furnace blower. But damage relates to the outdoor fan of the condensing unit. As I indicated the colling system started when its thermostat was on "cool" and the blower on AUTO.
But when damage of outdoor fan happened, the blower, which was under AUTO stopped sending air. When the outdoor fan system had been fixed, the indoor blower still doesn't turn on when the thermostat is on "cool" and the blower on AUTO.
But when I change AUTO to "Fan On" cool air comes . It is not clear what happened and why the blower doesn't work in its normal mode AUTO.
On 2023-07-17 by InspectApedia Publisher (mod) - Blower Fan in air handler fan runs in "FAN-ON" but not in "AUTO"
@Rafael Yanushevsky,
Thank you for clarifying, your question.
Because of the way I read your question and also because we're posting on a page that has to do with the indoor blower unit or air handler fan, that's the fan damage that I thought you were talking about.
Let's first be sure we're discussing the same equipment: outdoor compressor/condenser fan or indoor air handler blower fan.
The fact that the indoor air handler fan will run when you turn the fan ON manually tells us that the fan and fan motor themselves are not damaged.
So we are probably left with either a control board, relay failure, or wiring error.
On 2023-07-18 by Rafael Yanushevsky - why does an outdoor compressor/condenser unit problem turn the indoor air handler fan OFF?
I have the old AC outdoor 567G and furnace 394G system. Several days ago it started working when thermostat was on "cool" and “AUTO.” But after several minutes the blower inside the furnace stopped sending any air in the house.
I approached the AC outdoor unit and found out that its fan blades became separated from its hub so that the fan doesn’t cool the condenser, The unit was damaged.
However, it is not clear what made the furnace blower stop working. The furnace and AC systems are connected only by the thermostat terminal. So that the blower should have continue working (of course, it will not be a cooled air).
But the blower is not damaged; it works on the thermostat “Fan ON.”
I would be thankful if someone explains what made the blower stop when the AC outdoor unit became damaged.
On 2023-07-18 by InspectApedia Publisher (mod) - diagnostic checks for fan AUTO stops working after outdoor compressor/condenser failure
@Rafael Yanushevsky,
Thanks for a helpful question that I'd put (for others) as
I've split out and added some diagnostic steps for this question where we'll also include all of our discussion, now
at BLOWER FAN RUNS ONLY ON FAN-ON / MAN - COOL
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