Air Conditioning - Outdoor fan continues running while system is off

I have a Rheem 10 Seer Air Conditioner. The problem is with the outdoor fan. When I have the system at auto or when I turn the system off the outside fan continues running. I have turn the system off by pulling the circuit breaker. What do I have to check or what may be the problem?

I had the same problem; for me, the capacitor was bad and neede to be changed. That was the pice that "clicks"the outside unit on and off to coincide with the onside unit. Have that piece checked out.

I have a Rheem 10 Seer Air Conditioner. The problem is with the outdoor fan. When I have the system at auto or when I turn the system off the outside fan continues running. I have turn the system off by pulling the circuit breaker. What do I have to check or what may be the problem?

i think he may have meant contactor, sometimes they can stick

But if the whole contactor is sticking, the compressor would also be running wouldn't it? There must be a stuck FAN RELAY in there, but I thought the fan and compressor were powered up by the contactor at the same time. Not much of an answer for you. I'm just musing.
Do the big contactors ever get stuck closed so that the system stays on indefinately?

Many a/c units only switch one leg of 220 volt power.
If the fan motor windings were shorted the fan motor would run but usually at a noticeably slower speed.

I have a Rheem 10 Seer Air Conditioner. The problem is with the outdoor fan. When I have the system at auto or when I turn the system off the outside fan continues running. I have turn the system off by pulling the circuit breaker. What do I have to check or what may be the problem?


Well somehow you have a circuit thru the motor windings. Does the motor seem to be running at full speed or slower? Most Rheem units use a single pole contactor so there is always power to one side of the motor windings even if the unit is off. My first guess is that the motor or capacitor may be grounded but the unit isn't. If you have a voltmeter, test for voltage from the cabinet to a known good ground when the unit is off. Are you sure that only the fan motor is running? If both the compressor and the fan motor are running you would probably have a bad contactor which is the large relay inside the outdoor unit. If you feel comfortable working around electricity then see what you can find, otherwise, call a professional to check it out. Let us know what you find. Thanks.