It is a big deal when the air conditioning goes out on a hot summer day, but there is no need to wait for help to come to you.  Many air conditioning malfunctions are not difficult to identify and repair.  The following test procedure will help you identify if the problem with your outdoor unit is the fan motor, the capacitor, or the contactor.Troubleshooting the “outdoor air conditioner unit not running” starts with some easy commonsense steps:Section A; you can hear the a/c compressor running and the fan motor is not turning.Because the compressor is running you know there is 220 volts power to the outdoor unit and you know the contactor is doing its job of delivering that 220 volts to the compressor and to the motor.  The malfunction will be a bad capacitor and/or a bad motor. Capacitors can be tested with multi-meters that have the ability to read microfarads or you can take your capacitor (and your motor) to your nearest U-FIX-IT store for a free bench test.  If the capacitor tests good then your motor is bad.

Caution – Capacitors can store an electric charge (like a battery).  The shock hazard is non-lethal, but it is no fun.   Check the 220 volt power is off and discharge the capacitor by shorting between capacitor terminals (with insulated screwdriver) before removing the wires from the terminals.uv filter for ac unityou cannot hear the a/c compressor running and the fan motor is not turning.  air conditioner multi split priceYour next troubleshooting step will be checking the 220 volt power because it is highly unlikely both the compressor and the fan motor would fail at the same time.  how to determine the age of a carrier ac unitFailure of the contactor (see picture above) most often produces this symptom.  You can prove the contactor is the problem by using a multi-meter or you can take your contactor to your nearest U-FIX-IT store for a free bench test.

Testing the contactor on air conditioner outdoor unitCaution: use care when measuring live voltages not to touch bare connections or short them to the cabinet or to other terminals with the meter probes.Part Request Part Number or Description*Email* More From Jim PlummerJim is an ex-Air Force pilot and a business school graduate of University of Texas at Austin. He has been in the appliance parts business since 1975.Your Heating & Air Conditioning Contractor How Comfortable Do You Want To Be? You Have Problems, We Have Answers Commonly Reported HVAC Problems: Copyright © 1997 Hannabery HVAC. Outdoor unit won't come on, Outdoor unit not running: This is a very common problem, whether it's an air conditioner or a heat pump. And there are many things that can prevent the outdoor unit from starting, some of which can be quite serious. Unfortunately, many times a service technician is dispatched only to find a simple problem that could have been addressed, even fixed by the homeowner.

Below is a list of possible causes. Items in red usually require a service call. Items in blue however can be addressed, some even fixed by the homeowner. Red = Professional fix | Blue = Homeowner fix Faulty contactor or capacitor Faulty thermostat cable or burnt wires Unit off due to an open safety device (low pressure, low temp, high pressure, high temp...) Thermostat not set properly Emergency or shut-off switch turned off Blown fuse in panel box Circuit breaker tripped or off Condensate pump unplugged and/or safety switch open Outdoor reset button tripped And before you place a Service Call... Please keep in mind that the information found on our website is provided free of charge and Hannabery HVAC does not assume any liability resulting from the information we provide. We hope this information helps, but please note that these are just rough guidelines, and not all possible situations are covered. Your HVAC system should be inspected and repaired by a trained technician.

Call us at 1-800-544-4328 [Must be in our service area] We look forward to having the opportunity to serve you. If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact us. OUR CREDENTIALS AND AFFILIATIONS... Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads. 756 posts, read 3,184,116 times 14,097 posts, read 19,232,707 times 3,020 posts, read 20,412,057 times More than likely it is the capacitor.............. 27,825 posts, read 27,796,107 times Yeah, if you don't know the basics about electrics 1 posts, read 234,496 times 2 posts, read 160,216 times 108,154 posts, read 40,891,666 times Originally Posted by basselghassani It's a good possibility the capacitor is bad and the compressor is attempting to start.

If the compressor and fan share a combination capacitor it could be bad and affecting both.Staying on top of your central air conditioner can save you big money on repair bills. Any number of small items can render your air conditioner inoperable. Before calling a repair service, troubleshoot some of the common air conditioning issues that cause a unit to fail. You can fix many of these items on your own, without the help of an HVAC professional. Check the Thermostat Check your thermostat to begin your central air conditioning troubleshooting. Make sure the thermostat switch is in the "on" position, and it's set to "cool." If the thermostat is a digital model, replace the batteries if applicable. Verify the temperature setting on the thermostat is lower than your room’s current temperature. Many times, thermostat settings cause the trouble. If the inside unit fails to come on once you've checked the thermostat setting, check the fan switch. The fan switch should be set to "auto" and not "off."

If the switch is set to "auto," move the switch to the "on" position. If the fan does not come on, check the circuit breakers. Replace the Air Filters Check the air filter inside your unit if it still doesn’t produce cool air. Pull out the filter and inspect both sides. If the filter appears dirty and clogged, you must replace it. You should clean or replace your air filter once a month to keep the unit working properly. A clogged air filter will cause the unit to work harder, overheat and not cool as efficiently. Check the Circuit Breakers Your air conditioning unit has two breakers; one operates the outside unit while the other operates the inside. If the breakers appear tripped, turn the breakers off and then back on to reset them. If the unit comes on briefly once you reset the breakers, but they trip once again, call an air conditioning service provider to check the electrical wiring. Check the Condensate Drain If resetting the breakers turns the unit back on, but the unit still won’t cool, check the condensate drain line.

A float-switch safety device sits inside the drain. Should the line clog, the float-switch turns off the unit. This stops the creation of condensate that could overflow, damaging the unit and your home. Attach a wet/dry vacuum to the condensate drain line outside your home to ensure it is free from clogs. Check the condensate drain line inside your home while running the vacuum. You should hear air rushing through the line. This means the vacuum has removed all excess water and gunk built up inside the drain. Once you've completed the inside central air conditioning troubleshooting, check the outside unit. Check the Outside Safety Disconnect If the inside unit is operating, but the outside unit is not, check the disconnect switch on the exterior wall. This separate safety shut-off switch allows an air conditioning service provider to interrupt the power to the unit when making repairs. If the disconnect switch is in the "off" position, turn it on to see if the outside unit starts. If it doesn't start, check the switch fuses.