Hey AC guys

[asianpersuasion]

So I have an issue and since its 18:00 on a sat good luck finding anyone tonight. I was in my bedroom and hear a loud bang (shooting a gun load) outside my window. A few min alter I notice the house getting warm. Now the outside fan run but I'm guessing the compressor won't kick on. Went up stairs and LAN isn't full of water. Opinions on what it could be


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[edman87k5]

Either a cap blew on the compressor unit or the compressor itself blew a terminal. 1st option cheap and easy, second one not so much.
How handy are you with the tools? easy diagnosis, should be able to tell by sight what is wrong and power disconnected

 

[W1nds0rF0x]

And I'm thinking you should leave NOW and go get a little window unit for your bedroom tonight. Just in case

 

[edman87k5]

And I'm thinking you should leave NOW and go get a little window unit for your bedroom tonight. Just in case

True, 98% it isnt getting fixed tonite.

 

[autogateman]

Maybe someone shot your ac unit?

 

[asianpersuasion]

My skill level with tools isn't so great. I'm a hospital employee. But I ain't afraid to take anything apart.


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[asianpersuasion]

Units only 3 yrs ild


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[W1nds0rF0x]

My skill level with tools isn't so great. I'm a hospital employee. But I ain't afraid to take anything apart.


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You should be able to see if it's a terminal or a blown up capacitor just opening the access panel

 

[dantheman]

Can you take a look at the capacitor and see if it's blown . I may have one. I'm close by .

 

[asianpersuasion]

Sorry guys I'm in Houston. I'm lucky neighbors out of town and I have keys to their house
Ill have to YouTube checking cap

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[stag0608]

Look at where the two copper lines go into the unit. Take the cap off, looks kind of like a car tire valve stem. Push on on the valve stem of the big line, if any freon comes out you didn't blow the compressor terminals. If no freon comes out you will need a new compressor. Being that its only three years old it should be under warranty.

 

[edman87k5]

There is an access panel somewhere on the side, remove it and you should see either 1 or 2 capicitors, look at them, it will be obvious if they are blown. On the compressor, there may be an access panel, may have to remove the top of the unit. There will be 3 wires going to the comp and a plastic cap where they go in secured by a strap or bolt. Pull the plastic cap and it will be obvious if one is blown out.
Note, remove ALL power if you dont know what you are doing. Disconnect the outside unit and turn off the breaker(s) for the inside unit. There is 240v supplied to the outside unit and also 24vdc present in the system (some have the transformer outside, most are on the inside unit, that is why you will still have 24v dc present even though you disconnected the outside unit).
I would say at least 80% chance it is an outside capacitor. Cost to replace it yourself, about $20. Cost for a serviceman to come do it, minumum $100.
If it is a compressor terminal blown, must replace compressor and that wont be cheap.

 

[stag0608]

Usually when they blow the terminals it trips the breaker and nothing runs. So you might be lucky.

 

[edman87k5]

Look at where the two copper lines go into the unit. Take the cap off, looks kind of like a car tire valve stem. Push on on the valve stem of the big line, if any freon comes out you didn't blow the compressor terminals. If no freon comes out you will need a new compressor. Being that its only three years old it should be under warranty.

True, easier way to diagnose

 

[asianpersuasion]

Thanks guys


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[stag0608]

There is an access panel somewhere on the side, remove it and you should see either 1 or 2 capicitors, look at them, it will be obvious if they are blown. On the compressor, there may be an access panel, may have to remove the top of the unit. There will be 3 wires going to the comp and a plastic cap where they go in secured by a strap or bolt. Pull the plastic cap and it will be obvious if one is blown out.
Note, remove ALL power if you dont know what you are doing. Disconnect the outside unit and turn off the breaker(s) for the inside unit. There is 240v supplied to the outside unit and also 24vdc present in the system (some have the transformer outside, most are on the inside unit, that is why you will still have 24v dc present even though you disconnected the outside unit).
I would say at least 80% chance it is an outside capacitor. Cost to replace it yourself, about $20. Cost for a serviceman to come do it, minumum $100.
If it is a compressor terminal blown, must replace compressor and that wont be cheap.

It's 24 volts ac and that's your control power.

 

[edman87k5]

True again, so used to writing vdc behind low votage.

 

[asianpersuasion]

Look at where the two copper lines go into the unit. Take the cap off, looks kind of like a car tire valve stem. Push on on the valve stem of the big line, if any freon comes out you didn't blow the compressor terminals. If no freon comes out you will need a new compressor. Being that its only three years old it should be under warranty.

There's still freon so that's good now for step 2

 

[Blackhawk]

+1 on the capacitor. I've had it happen several times. The first time a lizard had got into the control box and stepped across the capacitor terminals, evidently sparked and blew the wire off. The technician checking it just had to plug it back in, still charged me a service fee, but I was glad to pay, saw how to fix it, and have done so several times on my own since then. Capacitors are relatively inexpensive but it mostly has been the terminal that shorts out.

 

[dantheman]

^^^ At work we call those 20 amp lizards . We blame them for all sorts of things .