AC repair

[Chuckman]

We have dual zone AC. The compressor for upstairs is belly up, it's 85° tonight.

A capacitor is $16. I think I'm going to try it first before calling for a service repair.

Anything else I might be missing?

 

[1858 Remington]

Make sure all of your wires are clean & tight. Make sure your fan turns on b/c the compressor will shut off, if it gets too hot.

 

[Walkabout Dan]

Father did heat and ac after retiring from the Army. That was the first thing he always checked.

 

[LeeMajors]

Compressor Capacitor fan motor and Capacitor contactor control board freon charge

 

[Diablos]

Set the temp really low, then try pushing the fan over by hand. If its just the capacitor, you just acted as the manual capacitor and at least have some a/c until you get the replacement.

 

[Button Pusher]

We have two two ton systems, up and down, the down was not cooling as it should, I went outside to run them, the lower fan turned off, but I could hear the compressor running, moved my hand over the fan motor and it was very hot, used the temp scanner and it was 140F vs 85 for the up unit.
Bad motor, replaced it with a new capacitor. Was under warranty but my guy was backed up and I would have spent labor and trip charge so DIY was cheaper.

 

[Mirac]

When you call for cooling, Does the condenser fan come on outside? And/Or the indoor air handler come on ?
There’s a capacitor inside and outside.
There’s a fan motor inside and outside.
Capacitor and/or fan motor outside usually go bad first.
If both of those are running when calling for cooling, then a Freon charge check is needed.
While you’re there, check all wiring connections as said.

 

[Chuckman]

When you call for cooling, Does the condenser fan come on outside? And/Or the indoor air handler come on ?
There’s a capacitor inside and outside.
There’s a fan motor inside and outside.
Capacitor and/or fan motor outside usually go bad first.
If both of those are running when calling for cooling, then a Freon charge check is needed.
While you’re there, check all wiring connections as said.

I first suspected something Sunday, when I was at the faucet by the two units (one for up, one for down). Downstairs fan running like a champ, upstairs, nothing. Fan was dead.

 

[Cucamonga]

In addition to a spare capacitor I also keep a spare set of contacts on hand. They get old, bugs get in them, start arc and cause problems.