Air Conditioning - A/C Problems
Doityourself.com community forum was created to provide answers to all questions related to home improvement and home repair. Doityourself community can help you find information about how-to topics on small fixes to large remodeling projects. With comprehensive how-to content and expertly moderated community forums DoItYourself.com makes it easy to tackle even the most complex home improvement projects.View Full Version : A/C Problems
jadedone
05-06-09, 04:21 PM
Hope someone can give me a heads up here to what may be wrong.
When I turn my a/c on it starts normal, although the air is not as cool as it should be. After 5-10 minutes, my fan on the outside stops running, although air is still flowing inside the house through the vent.
When I turn my a/c on it starts normal, although the air is not as cool as it should be. After 5-10 minutes, my fan on the outside stops running, although air is still flowing inside the house through the vent.
ecman51`
05-06-09, 05:41 PM
Is the compressor still running out there when the fan out there quits?
Do you have any type of (pressure)switch(s), that have electrical wires on them, that are hooked up to the copper line(s) out there.
Once that fan quits, do you know if it will start up again by itself? And if it does, does it do it in a systematic timely fashion?
Other causes could be the capacitor may not be quite right (seems odd it would start tho, but who knows) - or the motor bearings are going out and get hot and shut the fan off on thermal overload.
What are your capabilities to being able to test things out? Got a volt meter?
If you turn the outside unit off, so you don't get hurt by having it unexpectedly start up -what happens if you try to spin the fanblade? Does it spin freely? REAL freely, as it should, so that one push allows the blade to spin around in many circles before stopping? But it already must be spinning at least somewhat freely in order for it to run in the first place.
Do you have any type of (pressure)switch(s), that have electrical wires on them, that are hooked up to the copper line(s) out there.
Once that fan quits, do you know if it will start up again by itself? And if it does, does it do it in a systematic timely fashion?
Other causes could be the capacitor may not be quite right (seems odd it would start tho, but who knows) - or the motor bearings are going out and get hot and shut the fan off on thermal overload.
What are your capabilities to being able to test things out? Got a volt meter?
If you turn the outside unit off, so you don't get hurt by having it unexpectedly start up -what happens if you try to spin the fanblade? Does it spin freely? REAL freely, as it should, so that one push allows the blade to spin around in many circles before stopping? But it already must be spinning at least somewhat freely in order for it to run in the first place.
jadedone
05-06-09, 06:08 PM
Thanks for answering:)
Yes the compressor is still running when the fan stops.
I shut it off when the fan stopped, waited a few minutes and then turned the a/c back on and it started normal again, with the fan running and shutting off again after 5 or so minutes.
Yes, it does spin freely. I don't have any way to test things out.
I was just wanting an idea of what it could be and appreciate your answering :) My husband is in Iraq and I don't know anyone here that knows anything at all about a/c and will have to call the repair people in the morning. Just am worried about a very high bill with me not knowing anything at all of what may be the problem, so am trying to get a handle on the situation at least a little bit.
Again, thank you
Yes the compressor is still running when the fan stops.
I shut it off when the fan stopped, waited a few minutes and then turned the a/c back on and it started normal again, with the fan running and shutting off again after 5 or so minutes.
Yes, it does spin freely. I don't have any way to test things out.
I was just wanting an idea of what it could be and appreciate your answering :) My husband is in Iraq and I don't know anyone here that knows anything at all about a/c and will have to call the repair people in the morning. Just am worried about a very high bill with me not knowing anything at all of what may be the problem, so am trying to get a handle on the situation at least a little bit.
Again, thank you
sminker
05-06-09, 06:36 PM
if your out on the condenser during a start wait till the fan shuts down shut the main power on the disconnect for the condenser pop the access panel and touch the motor housing if it is hot to the touch the motor is overheating and needs changing.if it is just warm a capacitor change might be in the works there.local Granger supply carries them and welcome home owners.easy change out for you ,and won't cost to nothing..good luck