Have you had your AC just stop working suddenly and usually
after a thunderstorm? You say it was working fine yesterday and now the
outdoor unit doesn’t operate/come on. The indoor unit works fine though, but no
cold air. Hmmm, call a service guy! We need our AC!
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| Your wires should not be burnt as above. |
Sound familiar? This happens quite a bit and usually after storms and occasionally for no explained reason.
What may have happened is the motor/compressor start assist
device (sometimes called a capacitor) has failed. When the device that looks
like a small silver can has had a power surge delivered to it; it has an
internal short and fails to operate The top of the “can” looks like a
“Jiffy Pop container that has popped up”. It has a noticeable bulge on top where
the terminals are located. This device stores energy and helps the compressor
and the fan motor start. When it fails, the motor and compressor may not have
enough immediate power to start and will just hum. Over a short period of time;
this can be harmful to the compressor and outdoor fan motor and cause them to
overheat and fail permanently. Sometimes there is no visible damage and must be
tested electrically by a professional HVAC technician or electrician. The
capacitors can also weaken after time and become ineffective and need
replacement.
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| This capacitor is showing the signs of being pitted and burnt. |
These devices should last at least five years or more if
they are a high quality part. Unfortunately, most of these devices (capacitors)
that come from the manufacturers are of a low cost and quality variety and fail
frequently.
What to do? If your HVAC professional tells you that the
failed part is a motor starting device/capacitor, ask (if your technician does
not suggest it) for an Amrad Turbo-200 device
and or a surge protector. The Amard capacitors are more expensive, but are of a
very high quality, are made in the 
A word of note: If you have an AC system that
is less than 10 years old, check to see if you have a limited part warranty
that will cover the part or a manufacturer’s part and labor warranty to
cover the cost of the repair. If you just have the limited part warranty only,
you will still be responsible for the dispatch, labor, acquisition, and
processing fees associated with “free” part.
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ReplyDeleteMake sure that you keep a copy of your AC’s warranty. During the warranty period, if your AC breaks down, it will have to be serviced by manufacturer’s air conditioning service. You typically get a warranty of two years. It is important that you know these things, so that you don’t have to spend money for repairs.
ReplyDeleteBrooke Harris
Good news for you if your system is still under the warranty. Fixing it then won’t be your problem because the manufacturer will be the one to cover all the repairs for your AC. Just make sure that your warranty is still valid, because the last time our AC broke, we took it to the manufacturer’s service center, but unfortunately, the warranty had expired a month ago. Well, they still fixed it, but they had to charge us for it.
ReplyDeleteDarryl Iorio
A broken AC after a thunderstorm or a power outage is definitely a familiar scenario for a lot of homeowners. To prevent these unpleasant scenarios, it would be best to take some extra caution on your AC and other appliances at all times. One suggestion is to turn off your unit during thunderstorms. Your air conditioner is only susceptible to power surges when the unit is in operation, so it is a must to put out the power.
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Naoki Dieter
When your AC suddenly stops working, then the best thing that you can do is to call your AC technician. Don’t touch any part or even attempt to make the repairs yourself especially if you know nothing about AC repairs at all. Also, check its warranty. Who knows, maybe the broken part is covered by it. Take advantage of your privileges and save yourself some money.
ReplyDelete-Mechteld Abelli
A sudden stop means something is wrong. You can check it yourself, but it's more advisable to call an AC technician. Don’t use your AC until it is repaired by the technician. Also, ask the technician about the real condition of your AC. Is it old and already beyond repair? Weigh your options, and see if it's going to be more convenient for you to buy a new AC instead of having it repaired.
ReplyDelete-Georgia Fuller
A storm just came through, and knocked out the power for about 2 seconds. Then, when the power came back on, the A/C unit outside became very loud. So, I turned off the thermostat, waited a minute and turned it on. Then, the outside unit was now sounding normal, but no cold air was blowing inside. So, I turned off the thermostat again, and flipped the main a/c breaker off, then back on. This time, when thermostat was turned on, the cold air started again. No idea what happened, just glad it did!
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ReplyDeletewhen compared with purchasing the central air conditioning systems which is likely to set you back over the thousand dollars and you could possibly not even need to air condition every certainly one of the rooms inside the first place, investing in a window unit is definitely very a lot more cost effective. It isn't hard to pick one up unit with a few hundred furnace prices
ReplyDeletedollars in case you just need air conditioning in a bedroom.
efficiency is affected by humidity because an air conditioner's consumption is linked to the relative humidity and outside temperature.bathroom renos
ReplyDeleteNice Explanation about Surge Protection Devices. keep it up.
ReplyDelete