My central ac outside condenser is getting power but just making a humming sound. The fan is not turning so I'm really guessing the fan motor is out. Hot air is blowing out of the unit. I can't afford to hire someone to come out and fix it so I need help trying to figure things out. Is replacing the motor something a novice can do? Thank you for any input.

I guess the real answer is.. how much you can afford to pay if you really mess it up?

Novice can be at many levels. We have no idea of your skills. Do you know anyone that could help?

More info would help,when you say all you hear is a humming sound this tell me that neither the fan nor the compressor is running.so the humming you hear might be the contactor . If so this tell us that you have low voltage (24 volts) going to contactor. Have you a meter that you`ve checked for sure that you do or don`t have high voltage (230 volts) going into the contactor. You could have a capicitor bad. Take a look see with the power turned off and see if the capicitor is swelled up on top like a frozen can of soda. Sometime when they go bad the capicitor will feel oily when you touch it bot look OK. You could remove it after you tag the wires before you remove them and take it to an electric shop and have it tested.do all this before you give up