Came home to no AC- any HVAC guys around?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Came home to no AC- any HVAC guys around?

Posted: 6/15/2011 4:58:00 PM EDT

Hey all, just thought I would check in and see if there are any residential HVAC experts around here. I just got home from a 12 hour work day to non-woking AC and a 95 degree house and am looking to see if there is anything I can check on my own before calling out the pros. We may be in for a hot night here unless the wife forces a call to a 24-hour service. Just praying there might be a quick fix.

Symptoms are-air handler is running but outside compressor/fan is inop. Neither one was moving but after I was home for a few minutes there was some loud buzzing coming from the outside unit that reminds me of a locked-up electrical motor or something. This is a Carrier unit that is right at 6 years old- new construction home.

Thanks for any tips!

Posted: 6/15/2011 4:59:07 PM EDT

[#1]

check your breakers

Posted: 6/15/2011 5:01:03 PM EDT

[#2]

breakers, but if the fan is running then you should be ok for starting capacitor.. also check drain, and drain pan for water .. there is a float switch that cuts service if pan is full...

also consider my advice as trivial ,.. I just had all this happen monday :)

Posted: 6/15/2011 5:11:49 PM EDT

[#3]

Start capacitor.

Had this happen last fall.

Just a guess from experience is all though.

Posted: 6/15/2011 5:17:09 PM EDT

[#4]

Quoted:
Start capacitor.
Had this happen last fall.

Just a guess from experience is all though.

This or a bad contactor, maybe something [bugs, mice, ect] got into it and the points are toast. First places to check.

Posted: 6/15/2011 5:30:40 PM EDT

[#5]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Start capacitor.
Had this happen last fall.

Just a guess from experience is all though.

This or a bad contactor, maybe something [bugs, mice, ect] got into it and the points are toast. First places to check.

bad contactor....I've seen this a helluva lot more times than I have seen a bad capacitor........

Posted: 6/15/2011 5:34:23 PM EDT

[#6]

Thanks, guys. The wife insisted that we call a pro out, so one is on the way with an $80 service call fee. Any quick rough estimates on what I should expect for a bad contactor or capacitor so I can avoid getting hosed?

Thanks for the help!

Posted: 6/15/2011 5:36:22 PM EDT

[#7]

Part costs for either are under $20 retail over the counter.

Both are quick and easy to check.

Posted: 6/15/2011 5:41:31 PM EDT

[#8]

125 to 175

Posted: 6/15/2011 6:16:25 PM EDT

[#9]

Guy is at his truck writing up the bill. It was a 5/55 rated capacitor. Let's see what it ends up being....

Posted: 6/15/2011 6:19:43 PM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:
Guy is at his truck writing up the bill. It was a 5/55 rated capacitor. Let's see what it ends up being....

$178... not too bad for a night emergency call, I guess...

Posted: 6/15/2011 6:31:37 PM EDT

[#11]

I missed it by 3 bucks

Posted: 6/16/2011 2:59:53 PM EDT

[#12]

Wow, I am in your shoes right now. I am going to replace the capacitor myself though as we have a couple window units we can hook up for the night.

Posted: 6/19/2011 6:51:56 PM EDT

[#13]

Capacitor crapped out on me couple years ago as well. I called a pro out and it took him all of 10min to replace. Think he charged me about that much. I need to buy a spare capacitor in case this happens again. I think at the time afterwards I looked online to figure out how much a capacitor costs and it was about $45 so I felt a bit ripped off but I guess you pay for their experience.

Also in my case he ended up installing 2 lower rated capacitors as he didn't have the exact 1 that mine took.

Posted: 6/19/2011 6:58:27 PM EDT

[#14]

knowing how not to kill yourself and carrying enough insurance encase something bad happens are just 2 reasons we have to charge so much.

it costs about 67 bucks an hour just to keep a man and truck on the road

Posted: 6/19/2011 7:14:00 PM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:
knowing how not to kill yourself and carrying enough insurance encase something bad happens are just 2 reasons we have to charge so much.
it costs about 67 bucks an hour just to keep a man and truck on the road

Ya, I watched what he did. So now I know and I don't wanna kill myself and I have insurance

He's a good guy and I've used him a few more times for other HVAC related stuff that was much more involved.

Posted: 6/19/2011 7:23:51 PM EDT

[#16]

Check pricing on the cond. unit fan now. It might ne next.

Posted: 6/20/2011 4:20:57 PM EDT

[#17]

Had this happen to me about a month ago. I removed the cover and noticed that the capacitor was bulging on top. I wrote down the numbers on the can and started making phone calls. After one hot night and a 20 min. drive I had a new one in hand. Took about 4 min. to change and I was back in business. Total cost.... $38.00. If any body lives in the DFW area I'll post the name of the place if you want. They were vary helpful.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Came home to no AC- any HVAC guys around?

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