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Message
re: Well crap, upstairs AC gave up the ghost
Posted on 8/22/23 at 5:27 pm to Darth_Vader
Posted on 8/22/23 at 5:27 pm to Darth_Vader
quote:
I know nothing about AC
here are things to remember
if fans blowing inside the problem is outside
if nothing is running outside, its a power to the unit problem
if compressor runs but not the fan, its the capacitor or the fan motor is bad
if fan motor runs but unit is quiet, compressor not running, check the capacitor
if you see water dripping from the eve of your house, often somewhere around the outside unit, that is the overflow drain. its dripping tells you your units drain line is clogged.
0
Posted on 8/22/23 at 5:34 pm to keakar
just went through this. came home from a week out of town. Downstairs ac was set on 80. House was not too hot. Walked up the stairs and was hit by the heat. It was 99 fricking degrees upstairs. Same thing - capacitor out. Luckily we have a garage apartment so slept out there until the AC guy could get to us the next day.
So he fixes it and two hours later I have water dripping through my skylights and ceiling. Plumber comes next day (after the AC came back and cannot find the source of the leak - "lines are clear dude"). Main AC drainpipe is clogged way down in the wall. Plumber snakes it and we are good to go. Other than having to replace the sheetwork and repainting.
So he fixes it and two hours later I have water dripping through my skylights and ceiling. Plumber comes next day (after the AC came back and cannot find the source of the leak - "lines are clear dude"). Main AC drainpipe is clogged way down in the wall. Plumber snakes it and we are good to go. Other than having to replace the sheetwork and repainting.
This post was edited on 8/22/23 at 5:36 pm
Posted on 8/22/23 at 6:15 pm to Darth_Vader
Is it a safe assumption that you’re now spending $15k just to get your feet wet? These bids for new SEER2 units are insane.
Posted on 8/22/23 at 6:19 pm to Darth_Vader
Another victim. Just chomping away at our equity. Fml
Posted on 8/22/23 at 6:20 pm to keakar
I replace my capacitors every 5 years as PM.
I use AMRAD, built in the USA and come with a 5 year warranty and each unit has the production date on them.
I replaced my OEM Trane contactor at 10 years also as PM with an upgraded Eaton unit.
Both caps (or one dual cap) and one contactor is less than $100 in parts and probably prevents about 5 modes of failure and associated service calls.
Yes the manufacturers put the cheapest components in to save a buck as their warranty is parts only. They don't have to pay the labor.
Clean your outside coils and indoor coils annually (very few techs do it the right way by taking apart the outside unit, takes a solid hour or two if you do it right). Get a 5" whole house filter in the return in the attic if you can, change every 6 months.
I use AMRAD, built in the USA and come with a 5 year warranty and each unit has the production date on them.
I replaced my OEM Trane contactor at 10 years also as PM with an upgraded Eaton unit.
Both caps (or one dual cap) and one contactor is less than $100 in parts and probably prevents about 5 modes of failure and associated service calls.
Yes the manufacturers put the cheapest components in to save a buck as their warranty is parts only. They don't have to pay the labor.
Clean your outside coils and indoor coils annually (very few techs do it the right way by taking apart the outside unit, takes a solid hour or two if you do it right). Get a 5" whole house filter in the return in the attic if you can, change every 6 months.
Posted on 8/22/23 at 6:26 pm to OysterPoBoy
quote:
How can you tell if the capacitor is the issue? Just swap it and see?
i guess so, but if it doesnt work then the fan or compressor is bad, whichever wasnt running.
when they go, 9 out of 10 times it makes the top swell up
if you know what you are doing and have a good test meter you can check them with 10k ohms, then switch leads, it should read a jump on the needle in one direction. youtube has videos showing how
This post was edited on 8/22/23 at 6:33 pm
Posted on 8/22/23 at 6:26 pm to AndyCBR
Does everybody but me own a two story house? Dang man.
Posted on 8/22/23 at 6:43 pm to Darth_Vader
Capacitor isn’t in a position to freeze from my understanding of the system and how it operates
Posted on 8/22/23 at 7:01 pm to Python
quote:
Does everybody but me own a two story house? Dang man.
I have a one story house with one 4 ton unit.
My one outdoor unit has one capacitor for the fan and one for the compressor. It came stock with a dual run cap.
Living in South LA I would never get a two story house if I could help it. If you plan separate A/C units and insulate the upstairs properly it can be done but more times than not it creates problems.
Posted on 8/22/23 at 7:07 pm to Darth_Vader
Just had the same thing happen to me and got a couple of quotes to replace it for $6k-8k. At those prices I’m seriously considering ordering the outside unit off of Amazon for $1,800 and replacing it myself.
Luckily I don’t currently use the upstairs bedrooms so I’m making do until I can figure something out.
Luckily I don’t currently use the upstairs bedrooms so I’m making do until I can figure something out.
Posted on 8/22/23 at 7:11 pm to Darth_Vader
I raised the thermostats by a degree in solidarity with your struggle.
Stay strong.
Stay strong.
This post was edited on 8/22/23 at 7:12 pm
Posted on 8/22/23 at 7:17 pm to Morpheus
quote:
Capacitor isn’t in a position to freeze from my understanding of the system and how it operates
mostly common assumption, but no, if the inside fan capacitor goes out, the coil will freeze over solid pretty fast with no airflow
Posted on 8/22/23 at 7:25 pm to Darth_Vader
quote:
That’s good info. Tells me I’ll still call my AC guy next time.
the only thing to worry you is if there is a wasp nest behind the cover. slap the cover with your hand and step back and watch, if they there they come out.
replacing capacitors or the contactor (main power relay), is super easy as long as the power is turned off and you take pictures where all the wires go.
This post was edited on 8/22/23 at 7:26 pm
Posted on 8/22/23 at 7:31 pm to MyRockstarComplex
quote:
Is it a safe assumption that you’re now spending $15k just to get your feet wet? These bids for new SEER2 units are insane.
No. I spent $100 to have my AC guy check everything out and replace the capacitor. She’s running like a champ now.
Posted on 8/22/23 at 7:34 pm to keakar
quote:
replacing capacitors or the contactor (main power relay), is super easy as long as the power is turned off and you take pictures where all the wires go.
After discharging the stored potential voltage.
Posted on 8/22/23 at 7:46 pm to Darth_Vader
3 things to check.
Overflow pan shut it off.
Coils are dirty.
Capacitor went out. Just did mine, charged me under $200.
If the outside fan is not starting but its blowing inside, its possibly capacitor. If not the first two.
Good luck!
Overflow pan shut it off.
Coils are dirty.
Capacitor went out. Just did mine, charged me under $200.
If the outside fan is not starting but its blowing inside, its possibly capacitor. If not the first two.
Good luck!
Posted on 8/22/23 at 7:52 pm to Darth_Vader
My condenser fan motor died last week. $650 later life is good again.
Posted on 8/22/23 at 8:25 pm to Darth_Vader
That's why I have spares. It should also be why I write down where I put the spares. Not sure, but when the time comes I'll enlist everyone to help search.
Posted on 8/22/23 at 8:43 pm to SquatchDawg
Most of ones having issues around us didn’t have issues when hitting over 100 late afternoon for an hour or two every day for a month, but the issues started with temps hitting 100 by noon, continuing to rise, and staying above 100 for 8 or 9 hours (and mid to upper 90s for several more hours). Throw in old insulation and some having outside units directly in the sun all day or at least during those 8 to 9 hours in above 100 degree temps while running nonstop it has all been a perfect storm for causing or exposing various AC issues.
People in or around our neighborhood who like OT low thermostat settings and don’t normally raise thermostat when temps hit 100 have started to notch it up a degree or two (depending on starting point) several times during the afternoon until outside temps start to decrease and AC stops struggling to keep setting while still able to cycle on & off. Programmed or done manually when AC running without stopping to keep it at set temp (at a minimum are increasing it well before AC starts losing the battle and multiple times). They then reverse it after sunset. Maybe not as gradual with the decreasing as with the increasing of the thermostat setting, but they are not knocking it down to preferred setting immediately to run for a long time. They are allowing it cycle on & off on its on once or twice at each decrease before continuing.
Some have also been giving a quick rinse to outside coils either early in day or close to sunset since this has started (not sure if time is a coincidence or avoiding hottest part of day).
Outlier 7 to 10 day set of temperatures requires an outlier set of AC thermostat settings. I started to raise my thermostat this weekend similar to the above just like I lowered mine during some of the weeks of extreme freezes the past couple of winters to give system a break then as well.
People in or around our neighborhood who like OT low thermostat settings and don’t normally raise thermostat when temps hit 100 have started to notch it up a degree or two (depending on starting point) several times during the afternoon until outside temps start to decrease and AC stops struggling to keep setting while still able to cycle on & off. Programmed or done manually when AC running without stopping to keep it at set temp (at a minimum are increasing it well before AC starts losing the battle and multiple times). They then reverse it after sunset. Maybe not as gradual with the decreasing as with the increasing of the thermostat setting, but they are not knocking it down to preferred setting immediately to run for a long time. They are allowing it cycle on & off on its on once or twice at each decrease before continuing.
Some have also been giving a quick rinse to outside coils either early in day or close to sunset since this has started (not sure if time is a coincidence or avoiding hottest part of day).
Outlier 7 to 10 day set of temperatures requires an outlier set of AC thermostat settings. I started to raise my thermostat this weekend similar to the above just like I lowered mine during some of the weeks of extreme freezes the past couple of winters to give system a break then as well.
Posted on 8/22/23 at 8:56 pm to SlapahoeTribe
If you buy any residential split ac equipment on line there is no parts warranty given from manufacturers. Supply houses know where the systems or components are purchased when serial numbers are given for parts.
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