Air Conditioning - A/C not working...
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messinaldo
08-24-07, 11:29 AM
I have a central a/c system.
Outside fan is Ruud (10 sheer)
Last week, we turned on the a/c for about an hour. It was blowing cool air for about an hour and it suddenly stopped.
I turned the heater, and it seems to work. As for the a/c, the outside fan (Ruud) does not turn.
So, where could be the problem?
- Outside unit?
- anything inside the house?
I'm totally new to this a/c thing. Please help.
Thanks.
Outside fan is Ruud (10 sheer)
Last week, we turned on the a/c for about an hour. It was blowing cool air for about an hour and it suddenly stopped.
I turned the heater, and it seems to work. As for the a/c, the outside fan (Ruud) does not turn.
So, where could be the problem?
- Outside unit?
- anything inside the house?
I'm totally new to this a/c thing. Please help.
Thanks.
mattison
08-24-07, 02:55 PM
1st check the circuit breakers. If they are ok you will need to check the outside disconnect and see if it has fuses in it.
ecman51`
08-24-07, 06:59 PM
Outside compressor was running without the fan above it spinning?
Integrator97
08-25-07, 06:26 AM
If the outside unit isn't running, and the breakers are on, turn the ac off for 10 minutes to a half hour. Then go outside by the unit and have someone turn the ac on. Does it come on, the compressor, etc, but the fan not turn?
If this is the case, the fan motor is out or the bearings are bad in it. Can you "jump start" the fan with a little push? If so, it's the bearings. Either way, the fan needs replacing. But here's the temporary, "you are definitely a redneck" fix for this problem. Take an ordinary portable box fan, the 30" inch or so square ones you buy at Walmart or Lowes, etc. Lay it on top of the outside unit, blowing up. Seal with duct tape or something over any of the top that the fan doesn't cover. The box fan will do the same thing as the original fan, which is suck air through to pull the heat out of your refrigerant. You might want to pull the top grill and clip the wires to the fan first. Make sure the power is off, and tape or wirenut the leads off for safety. Then put the grill back on, and the box fan.
I did this for a week once, when my fan quit. The whole system was old and undersized, so rather than replace the fan, I replaced the system, which doesn't happen overnight. And it works. Jeff Foxworthy would be proud.
Of course, if nothing runs outside, the fan isn't going to help.
If this is the case, the fan motor is out or the bearings are bad in it. Can you "jump start" the fan with a little push? If so, it's the bearings. Either way, the fan needs replacing. But here's the temporary, "you are definitely a redneck" fix for this problem. Take an ordinary portable box fan, the 30" inch or so square ones you buy at Walmart or Lowes, etc. Lay it on top of the outside unit, blowing up. Seal with duct tape or something over any of the top that the fan doesn't cover. The box fan will do the same thing as the original fan, which is suck air through to pull the heat out of your refrigerant. You might want to pull the top grill and clip the wires to the fan first. Make sure the power is off, and tape or wirenut the leads off for safety. Then put the grill back on, and the box fan.
I did this for a week once, when my fan quit. The whole system was old and undersized, so rather than replace the fan, I replaced the system, which doesn't happen overnight. And it works. Jeff Foxworthy would be proud.
Of course, if nothing runs outside, the fan isn't going to help.