Posted: 6/12/2016 11:56:07 AM EDT
Looks like I've got a problem brewing with the air conditioner. And just when it's starting to get hot out.
Here's what's happening: I hear the outside unit start up. Normally the fan will start blowing in the house a few seconds after the outside unit starts up. Now, after the outside unit starts I hear a humming noise, sometimes for a few seconds, sometimes longer, and then the inside fan starts. Is there a relay getting weak? I don't think the fan bearings are going because it's not making any noise. It always comes on and works fine but it does hesitate when the humming noise starts. It hums probably a third of the time it kicks on. What do I have going on and could it burst into flames? The breaker has not tripped if that matters. |
| A humming electric motor at start up usually indicates that the start circuit is going/has gone bad. The start circuit can be either a capacitor to provide extra energy, or a second set of windings with a switch and centrifugal clutch. Sounds like the blower motor may be having an issue with this circuit. |
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If the indoor fan is not starting or taking too much time to come up to speed I would replace the capacitor. Turn it off and do not run it until the capacitor is replaced. Without any tools or troubleshooting skills that's what I would replace first.
Edit: I'm talking about the capacitor for the indoor fan, not the capacitor for the outdoor unit. |
Start capacitor or the the bearing on the motor going out.Make sure the power is off to the indoor unit and outdoor unit, remove the cover from the indoor unit ( you really should have a voltage tester of some short to verify the power is dead), find the shiny silver or black plastic thing. Stick a screwdriver across the terminals to discharge it. pull the wires off of it, buy a new on at Granger Supply or maybe Home Depot.
It does not matter which terminals the wires connect to, but if more than one wire connects to one side, be sure to keep those wires together on the same side of the new capacitor. |
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Quoted: Start capacitor or the the bearing on the motor going out.Make sure the power is off to the indoor unit and outdoor unit, remove the cover from the indoor unit ( you really should have a voltage tester of some short to verify the power is dead), find the shiny silver or black plastic thing. Stick a screwdriver across the terminals to discharge it. pull the wires off of it, buy a new on at Granger Supply or maybe Home Depot. http://www.mobilehomerepair.com/media/img/nordyne/902993.jpg http://www.winfieldsupply.com/images/HVAC/Coleman%20Parts/3500_6901b.jpg https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gRUkaD-NRYg/maxresdefault.jpg It does not matter which terminals the wires connect to, but if more than one wire connects to one side, be sure to keep those wires together on the same side of the new capacitor.  Amazon Prime, however does.  |
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Quoted:
Neither HD or Lowe's in our area stocks capactiors.
Amazon Prime, however does.
Quoted:
Quoted:
Start capacitor or the the bearing on the motor going out.Make sure the power is off to the indoor unit and outdoor unit, remove the cover from the indoor unit ( you really should have a voltage tester of some short to verify the power is dead), find the shiny silver or black plastic thing. Stick a screwdriver across the terminals to discharge it. pull the wires off of it, buy a new on at Granger Supply or maybe Home Depot. http://www.mobilehomerepair.com/media/img/nordyne/902993.jpg http://www.winfieldsupply.com/images/HVAC/Coleman%20Parts/3500_6901b.jpg https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gRUkaD-NRYg/maxresdefault.jpg It does not matter which terminals the wires connect to, but if more than one wire connects to one side, be sure to keep those wires together on the same side of the new capacitor.
Amazon Prime, however does.
Most excellent advice. I forget about Amazon for this kind of stuff While you are in there, dump a cup of bleach in the condensate drain, then pour a gallon of hot water down it. If you can see the intake side of the coils, carefully clean the coils (take care not to bend the fins...toothbrush or fine hair brush, pulled in the direction of the fins ), then spray it with a liberal amount of warm water to flush away remaining crud. Make sure the drive belt(if you have one) looks ok. Look at the blades in the squirlecage fan. If there is a lot of dust build up on then, you may need to pull the blower and clean the blades...but thanks for advanced students. |