Home AC compressor won't kick on. What to expect $$ wise?

[lokiju]

So I heard a electrical sounding shorting out sound today but couldnt place the orgin at the time.

Then I noticed that my usually under powered AC seemed worse than usual.

I went up to a few vents in my house and it feels like its blowing probably 80f air out if there.

So I called up my Dad who used to work on and sell AC's back in the day and he walked me through opening up the panel on the outside unit and checking a few things.

At this point its pretty clear its either the capacitor or (gulp) the compressor.

I know it'd probably run me $100-200 for the average local AC company to come out and look it over and install a new capacitor if that really is the only issue.

But I have no clue what to expect if its the compressor.

Anyone recently get their compressor replaced and feel like sharing the rough cost of having that done?

I have a feeling its in the thousands but really am hoping for less.



EDIT Update: AC guy came out at around 10PM last night.

It was the capacitor. They charged me $207 total (that was with a 10% discount I found online) for the night time call and parts.

It's a rip off versus what I could of bought the capacitor for myself but the house reached a peak internal temp of 85F with a spot cooler running and was unbearable to try and sleep in.

Price I pay I guess for comfort, more for my 2 year old son and wife. If it was just me, I'd rough the heat for the night and get the capacitor the following day locally if possible.

Think I might get a capacitor anyway to just have on hand as a spare in the event this happens again down the road.

 

[iGas]

Capacitor is not that expensive, but compressor is expensive and the refrigerant line must be evacuate and refill that add to the cost.

Cost of compressor is depend on the make and model. It is possible to search the net on the make and model of your outside unit and find out the cost (ID plate on the unit will give you the information).

IMHO, the cost of replacing the compressor may warrant replacing the outside unit.

PS. Run a lead test on the capacitor.

How To Test The Capacitor on Your Heating/AC System

 

[mattpegher]

Did you say that the compressor is not running?

First check to see if their is a GFI button on the compressor itself. I had the same problem, checked the breakers, and the blower. Went out to the unit and found a rubberized button near the pipes, pressing it turned the compressor on.

I hope its something that simple, I hate to think what a new compressor would cost.

 

[iGas]

Did you say that the compressor is not running?

First check to see if their is a GFI button on the compressor itself. I had the same problem, checked the breakers, and the blower. Went out to the unit and found a rubberized button near the pipes, pressing it turned the compressor on.

I hope its something that simple, I hate to think what a new compressor would cost.

It could be a high head shut off and simply need to be reset (no power to AC unit, no noise, nothing work), but it seems as if his dad took a look at it already.

 

[MixMasterTang]

I have had quite the experience this summer with my A/C unit and the compressor not kicking on. It ended up being a relay switch that was messing up and then later fried. The repairman suggested I get an 80 dollar part at the store that cuts down on the initial 'spike' of electricity when the A/C kicks on which he said is what probably fried it. Total cost was $200 (80 for the part I had to go to the store to get, and then 120 for his labor and the new relay switch).

 

[BarkingGhostar]

About five years ago one of my outdoor compressors would kick on. Turned out to be a $75 capacitor that stores enough charge to get the compressor to move.

 

[olds]

About five years ago one of my outdoor compressors would kick on. Turned out to be a $75 capacitor that stores enough charge to get the compressor to move.

Seems like when I replaced the start capacitor for my AC unit is was closer to $20.

 

[lokiju]

Well I'm out at least $109 for the service call.

Plus parts.

Just been one of those weeks...

 

[weadjust]

Look at the start capacitor. It's about the size of a beer can. When they go bad the top usually bulges out. Looks like a can of beer or soda left in the freezer too long. There is a picture of a bad capacitor in the link along with directions how to test it and replace it. Last on I bought cost around $20-25.

http://diyhvacrepair.com/RepairScripts/capacitor.php

 

[Kwatt]

Is it a package unit or a split?
For either is the outside fan running?

From your description it appears the inside fan is running.
From your fathers diagnoses it sounds like the outside fan is running.

If the outside fan is running your father is probably correct although the compressor leads may have corroded or have broken from vibration. This is NOT the most likely case but it can make a person crazy looking for it. And I believe a lot of compressors and entire units have been replaced when the fix is not too difficult.

If it is the capacitor a replacement will run from ~10 USD to ~50 USD .(mine cost me 35)

If it is the compressor the cost can be HIGH. If the unit is not under warranty and you can't replace it with some help from a friend you may be better off replacing the whole unit. Sometimes it is too close to call. When a compressor fails an acid can form and that must be neutralized and the whole system should be flushed. The dryer will need to be replaced and the system vacuumed.


.

 

[sao123]

Well I'm out at least $109 for the service call.

Plus parts.

Just been one of those weeks...

DIY...$20?

http://www.americanhvacparts.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=C

 

[Blitzvogel]

Make sure your variable geometry inlet is working correctly when you've passed Mach.

 

[Kwatt]

DIY...$20?

http://www.americanhvacparts.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=C

If i was in a bind I would order from them but they charge $76 for a cap. for my AC that amazon has for $30 + free shipping.

But, I know I will probably never need a cap, a contactor, a time out relay, freon or gauges because I have all that already. Which means something bad is going to break when mine fails.


.

 

[lokiju]

Was the capacitor.

Son of a bitch.

Sucks you can't buy them from local stores.

But worth paying out the rip off money just to get it fixed and done tonight so we can all sleep good and my 2 year old son can stop waking up crying and sweaty.

 

[weadjust]

You can buy them local. Just go to the local HVAC supplier. I have three suppliers within 2 miles of my house. They are only open M-F 8-5 and Sat 9-12 where I'm located.

How much did they charge you?

 

[CPA]

About five years ago one of my outdoor compressors would kick on. Turned out to be a $75 capacitor that stores enough charge to get the compressor to move.

Had the same thing happen last year. You can usually tell if it's the capacitor because the top will mushroom up.

 

[Slacker]

my 20 year old ac unit did something similar, cap that provides the boost to get the compressor goin burned out, b-inlaw replaced it and 2 weeks later it blew again, that time he found a burnt wire that was probably the reason the cap died in the first place.

 

[BUTCH1]

You can buy them local. Just go to the local HVAC supplier. I have three suppliers within 2 miles of my house. They are only open M-F 8-5 and Sat 9-12 where I'm located.

How much did they charge you?

I had to replace mine last summer, it was like $8 at the HVAC parts house, when it went it literally exploded, sounded like a shot gun going off in my backyard. Guy at parts house said a lot of cheap Chinese caps around these days with high failure rates..

 

[BarkingGhostar]

Seems like when I replaced the start capacitor for my AC unit is was closer to $20.

That included the weekend service call.

 

[BUTCH1]

That included the weekend service call.

$20 for a service call and replace cap?, prices around here are $75 just to roll the truck to the house not including extra labor, freon, or parts needed.

 

[TXHokie]

ATOT rocks. My AC went out Thursday night and I couldn't get anyone to come before the weekend without paying thru the nose or wait til Monday. Found this thread and after doing some research I yanked both the motor and capacitor just in case and took it to a local motor shop to test it out. One look at the puffy top cap and the shop knew it was the issue but tested the motor just to be sure. Got the last capacitor in their shop and I put it all back and now am chilling. Cost me all a total of $18 and a bit of sweat since we're on a roll with 105+ degrees here in Dallas. If you can replace a motherboard, you can fix this unless it's an issue with the compressor (just make sure you cut the power to the unit for safety).

 

[lokiju]

ATOT rocks. My AC went out Thursday night and I couldn't get anyone to come before the weekend without paying thru the nose or wait til Monday. Found this thread and after doing some research I yanked both the motor and capacitor just in case and took it to a local motor shop to test it out. One look at the puffy top cap and the shop knew it was the issue but tested the motor just to be sure. Got the last capacitor in their shop and I put it all back and now am chilling. Cost me all a total of $18 and a bit of sweat since we're on a roll with 105+ degrees here in Dallas. If you can replace a motherboard, you can fix this unless it's an issue with the compressor (just make sure you cut the power to the unit for safety).

Man great for you! Glad this thread helped someone else.

I got bent over on the cost but it was all about getting it fixed last night.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Should have taken family to hotel for night

 

[lokiju]

Oh a weird thing also, my outside units fan was spinning backwards with the blown capacitor.

The tech thought at first that some cables were crossed, but when he put the new capacitor in, it spun the correct way.

I can't help but wonder how long it's been doing that.

I'd guess probably only after the capacitor blew yesterday but if it's been doing that for awhile, it's no wonder my AC hasn't been as efficient as it could be this summer. It was pulling heat INTO the outside unit instead of expelling it like it should of.

Kind of crazy that a blown capacitor could of caused it to reverse direction like that. Seems illogical but saw it with my own eyes.

 

[lokiju]

Should have taken family to hotel for night

2 year old was already asleep (mostly, kept waking up from being so hot).

It sucks to drop the money like that but it won't break me.

If it'd of been a situation where I'd have to get a whole new AC, that'd be a different story.