Air Conditioning - Central A/C Unit Help!!
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evolutions
08-15-08, 07:27 AM
My central A/c unit has been going crazy and I wanted to get some advice before I make it worse!
Today it ran and blew cold air for around 25 minutes then the air became warm. I went outside when it was blowing cold air and everything was working normally. When it started blowing the warm air, I went outside again and noticed a hum, but the fan was seemingly not blowing.
Before I call an expensive technician, could this point to a capacitor, or could the motor be burnt out? If it was running normally I wouldn't think it was the motor. It was a normal temperature I had it set to, so I don't think it would have been frozen either. I felt the tubes and they were cold but not frosty or frozen.
any help??
Today it ran and blew cold air for around 25 minutes then the air became warm. I went outside when it was blowing cold air and everything was working normally. When it started blowing the warm air, I went outside again and noticed a hum, but the fan was seemingly not blowing.
Before I call an expensive technician, could this point to a capacitor, or could the motor be burnt out? If it was running normally I wouldn't think it was the motor. It was a normal temperature I had it set to, so I don't think it would have been frozen either. I felt the tubes and they were cold but not frosty or frozen.
any help??
Codyy
08-15-08, 09:19 AM
With the unit off, push the fan blades. Do they move freely or are they locked up? If they move, turn the unit on and give the blades a push with a stick or something, sometimes the fan will then power up and point to the capacitor.
evolutions
08-16-08, 07:52 PM
It runs normally for about 20 minutes, then the fan just kind of slows down and stops. THe motor is really hot when this happens. Everything else of course gets hot and then I shut it off b ecause I don't want to burn anything out. The condenser sounds normal when the fan shuts off. If I let it go for about an hour, then its fine, then the process starts all over. When the fan shuts down, it still moves freely, but pushing it with a stick does not turn it back on.
Gunguy45
08-17-08, 08:43 AM
Not an A/C pro, but....
The fan is probably kicking off due to overheating. It won't start after it kicks off, till it cools down. In the meantime your ruining the compressor by letting it run w/o the fan. DO NOT run your A/C til this is fixed or you could be in for major repair.
Might be the capacitor from the sounds of it. Poss the motor. $20 or so to find out. These kinds of problems have been very common last month or so on here.
Turn off power by pulling disconnect or throwing breakers, wait a few minutes, discharge cap by touching across terminals with a screwdriver. Make note of where wires are attached. Go to HVAC supply, get replacement cap.
Of course it's Sunday, so prob nothing open. I've seen some carried in good Hardware stores(not Big Box stores), but no guarantee if its the kind you'll need.
If it still does it with the new cap, then the fan motor itself may be shot. Replacements normally run $60-90 from my experience. Yer not out any money, just time, it's always recommended to replace the cap when you replace the motor anyway.
The fan is probably kicking off due to overheating. It won't start after it kicks off, till it cools down. In the meantime your ruining the compressor by letting it run w/o the fan. DO NOT run your A/C til this is fixed or you could be in for major repair.
Might be the capacitor from the sounds of it. Poss the motor. $20 or so to find out. These kinds of problems have been very common last month or so on here.
Turn off power by pulling disconnect or throwing breakers, wait a few minutes, discharge cap by touching across terminals with a screwdriver. Make note of where wires are attached. Go to HVAC supply, get replacement cap.
Of course it's Sunday, so prob nothing open. I've seen some carried in good Hardware stores(not Big Box stores), but no guarantee if its the kind you'll need.
If it still does it with the new cap, then the fan motor itself may be shot. Replacements normally run $60-90 from my experience. Yer not out any money, just time, it's always recommended to replace the cap when you replace the motor anyway.