HVAC - Need Help, AC stopped working, it's HOT

[bargetrav]

I live in the DFW, TX area, AC just quit on us tonight. Already over 80 in the house and considering it's 95 out right now, it's not gonna get better.

My outside unit's fan seems to of stopped spinning, yet I still hear a very loud buzzing coming from the unit, so I guess the compressor is still getting power, but really don't know much about these, this is our first house, 2 years in...


Any obvious suggestions?

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Not much you can do but call an HVAC repair guy. If it is just the outside fan motor you might be able to replace it yourself, and it might solve the problem. If the outside unit is buzzing it sounds like the compressor is locked up, you should turn off the A/C as it may be damaging itself further.

Check the copper lines going to the outside unit, frozen up? the copper line should also have a sight glass on it, if it appears milky or you see bubbles in the sight glass it means the system is low on refrigerant.

Call a repair guy

 

[iGas]

Check the condensate pump and line if you have one to make sure that it is not block. Check filter, and check wiring to make sure that is is not broken or there is a short circuit.

Air Conditioning Troubleshooting

It could also be a failed contractor, or fail capacitor.

How to Replace an Air Conditioning Contactor

Air Conditioning Capacitor Check



It is a bit late to call an AC repair person in at the moment, hence it make sense to take the family to a hotel with AC if you can't handle the heat. Make sure that you turn off the power to the AC unit before you leave the house.

Call the HVAC people for service first thing in the morning.

 

[bargetrav]

I almost certainly will tomorrow morning... just don't want to get "taken" as I don't know much about these and don't want listen to the guy say I need a new outside unit for 2K+ when it could be something simple.


where would the sight glass be? definitely did not notice that, when working, the line going to the AC feels cold, now it just feels mild/room temp.

any idea on average repair prices for a compressor, fan motor, capacitor? i tried googling but they vary so much it's hard to get a real idea..

 

[iGas]

Not much you can do but call an HVAC repair guy. If it is just the outside fan motor you might be able to replace it yourself, and it might solve the problem. If the outside unit is buzzing it sounds like the compressor is locked up, you should turn off the A/C as it may be damaging itself further.

Check the copper lines going to the outside unit, frozen up? the copper line should also have a sight glass on it, if it appears milky or you see bubbles in the sight glass it means the system is low on refrigerant.

Call a repair guy

Not all AC line have sight glass on it. It could be that the compressor locked up from icing, but you can tell if the refrigerant line is covered with ice so as the compressor housing. And, it could also be that the fan motor has failed as well.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

If its just the exhaust fan probably less than $250, same ballpark if just a freon refill and cleaning. If the outdoor unit is bad your looking at $1000+ depending on the size of the unit.

What is the tonage/btus of the unit? What is the age of the unit?

 

[iGas]

I almost certainly will tomorrow morning... just don't want to get "taken" as I don't know much about these and don't want listen to the guy say I need a new outside unit for 2K+ when it could be something simple.


where would the sight glass be? definitely did not notice that, when working, the line going to the AC feels cold, now it just feels mild/room temp.

any idea on average repair prices for a compressor, fan motor, capacitor? i tried googling but they vary so much it's hard to get a real idea..

Repair price is varied from local to local, and so as make/model. Compressor is the most expensive component to replace/repair.

It could be that your compressor is not working hence the line is not cold, or it could be that you are low on refrigerant.

 

[bargetrav]

found the sight glass, appeared clear, no bubbles/milk.

the compressor definitely runs, just no fan, tried the "jump start" trick with a metal rod, had the AC kick on, heard the compressor kick on, then tried to push the blade forward to start it, no luck.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Could be the start capacitor, and since the fan is not running the compressor is running way too hot. Does it still cool a bit? Like when you say buzzing, is it just the normal compressor sound or something different?

Either way, I'd get it checked. With those kind of outside temps, that's pretty much your life line to staying sane. If we got temps like that here I'd probably get a N+1 redundant system.

 

[BUTCH1]

found the sight glass, appeared clear, no bubbles/milk.

the compressor definitely runs, just no fan, tried the "jump start" trick with a metal rod, had the AC kick on, heard the compressor kick on, then tried to push the blade forward to start it, no luck.

Since the compressor runs and most of the time IF the fan uses a run/start cap it's the same one as the compressor it's probably the fan motor, I bought one for about $65 when mine died and fixed it myself, expect around $200 for a tech to fix it..

 

[boomerang]

Any obvious suggestions?

Open the windows. Humans have survived for countless centuries without air conditiong.

/kidding

 

[squirrel dog]

sounds like something minor,such as a switch or relay.Call for a hvac man,he should clean the unit while he is there.Best bet would be to call/ask around for references . If the unit is two years old("this is our first house, 2 years in...) it's under manufactures warranty on the big stuff,labor not included.If you are two years in on an older home,no telling.Good luck .

 

[spacejamz]

I live in N Dallas and my A/C went out last week...just like you, my attic unit was working but no juice outside...

Turned out to be the capacitor...$160 later ($80 part and $80 labor), my A/C was back in business...

A few years back, they had to to replace a light switch in the attic that controlled the attic unit when my A/C wasnt working...

Good luck in this freakin heat...

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Sounds like the fan motor, which should be a relatively cheap fix.