Uploaded June 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
It happened again, the AC broke in the middle of the summer. I don't feel like being taken to the cleaner by the AC guy so it looks like i'm going to have to do some old fashioned troubleshooting. That the blower at the compressor was working fine threw me off for a bit, Id quickly realized that the issue was localized to the inside blower fan itself.
After pulling the covers and taping the dummy switch I could hear the hum in the fan that tells me that there is a good chance that the fan capacitor has given up. With all power shut down, the fan is tested for mechanical binding, then the capacitor is removed, and tested on the bench confirming it to be a doorstop.
While waiting for a replacement, the windings are all tested from the fan, including the fuse, all of them have a measurable low resistance, no shorts , no opens. Once the new caps arrives, it is tested on the beck to confirm that it is operating fine before installation.
I prep my unit for diagnostic mode before applying power. checking for codes and operation of the diag procedure. Also cleaning some connectors that need some maintenance. Once the diagnostic cleared, power is shut down to remove the diag setup and reapply power for full operation.
Measurements within the house show good temperature and de humidification. less than ten dollars for a complete AC repair.
#DIY #HVAC #repair
It happened again, the AC broke in the middle of the summer. I don't feel like being taken to the cleaner by the AC guy so it looks like i'm going to have to do some old fashioned troubleshooting. That the blower at the compressor was working fine threw me off for a bit, Id quickly realized that the issue was localized to the inside blower fan itself.
After pulling the covers and taping the dummy switch I could hear the hum in the fan that tells me that there is a good chance that the fan capacitor has given up. With all power shut down, the fan is tested for mechanical binding, then the capacitor is removed, and tested on the bench confirming it to be a doorstop.
While waiting for a replacement, the windings are all tested from the fan, including the fuse, all of them have a measurable low resistance, no shorts , no opens. Once the new caps arrives, it is tested on the beck to confirm that it is operating fine before installation.
I prep my unit for diagnostic mode before applying power. checking for codes and operation of the diag procedure. Also cleaning some connectors that need some maintenance. Once the diagnostic cleared, power is shut down to remove the diag setup and reapply power for full operation.
Measurements within the house show good temperature and de humidification. less than ten dollars for a complete AC repair.
#DIY #HVAC #repair
