Newest Threads

gatorfan · 07-19-2010, 08:43 PM

Just noticed that you flipped the breakers. There's usually a delay on the compressor to keep it from turning on and off too much. If you cycle the power, you'll have to wait for the delay to expire, even if the thermostat is calling for cool. They're usually less than 5 mins, but it can fool you into thinking it's broken if you're impatient.

Matt

handyguys · 07-20-2010, 12:24 PM

Gatorfan has some good tips and if you follow his methodical checking you might be able to avoid calling a service tech.

We discussed a similar set of things to check in a podcast here
Episode #69 – Air-conditioning Troubleshooting checklist

Good luck

**kok328** · 07-20-2010, 04:25 PM

Do you have basic hand tools and a volt meter?
If so, I can walk you through step-by-step troubleshooting procedures.
First one is quiet simple: Do you have a digital thermostat with a LED display and is the display showing temps?

knownothingknowitall · 09-18-2010, 03:36 PM

I know i am 2 months late in replying but just came across this might help some one else in the future.

If everything else is working but the fan outside with the coils is not it could be that it is low on coolant or a capacitor has blown. If a capacitor goes bad the top of it normally gets deformed (mushrooms) pretty easy to tell but looking at it, it's perfect or it's not. It should have like 3 wires going to it and looks like a soda-pop can.

Cut all power and be very careful as this is high voltage. The capacitors act like a battery and store a charge. Cost to DIY is from $5-$50 and you can replace it in about 5 minutes.

**kok328** · 09-19-2010, 06:50 AM

knownothingknowitall, not all capacitors are shaped like a soda pop can. They can deform when they go bad and some will swell up around the sides and possibly leak. Not all capacitors will have three wires, some will only have two wires and in an HVAC system this means that there are two capacitors not one. In all my days, I've never seen a capacitor hold a charge especially if they are bad and/or the power is off however, yes, caution is advised.