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Question

my air conditioner is not blowing cold. The fan outside the house is blowing but is not as loud as usual and there is a loud electric hum every 15 seconds or so.

Submitted: 250 days and 10 hours ago.

Category: HVAC

Value: $15

Status: CLOSED

Posted by Jim Eastwood 250 days and 10 hours ago.

Answer

XXXXXXXX- It sound like you have either a bad capacitor that would affect your compressor....source of the loud humm and your fan motor running slow. 90% of the time when a capacitor goes bad it bulges out and sometimes leaks liquid if you know how to get to the electrical box in your condensing unit you can take a look turn the breaker off to you outdoor unit 1st for safety sake. Let me know if you need additional help. By the way if your new unit has an expansion valve a start boost or start capacitor kit is normally recomended. If this answers your question please hit accept. If not let's continue.

Posted by Kenton Guidry 250 days and 10 hours ago.

Answer

XXXXXXXX

Is your compressor running?

Jim,

XXXXXXXX might not being hearing his compressor. The electric hum could be the overload to the compressor.

Posted by Jim Eastwood 250 days and 10 hours ago.

Answer

I've got it that's what I said the hum is the compressor either not starting because of bad run capacitor or in need of a start boost XXXXXXXX do you have a meter that check amps or voltage

Posted by Jim Eastwood 250 days and 10 hours ago.

Answer

Mark I want to help is your unit a long way from your computer let me know what's going on how old is this unit?

250 days and 10 hours ago.

Reply

the unit is five years old. I am on wirless so i can go outside

Posted by Jim Eastwood 250 days and 10 hours ago.

Answer

Great your on your laptop are you trying to run unit in heat or cool is your unit a heat pump?Have you gotten the unit open if you tell me the brand and model # I can help with that if necessary

250 days and 10 hours ago.

Reply

ok.. It is a model number ftb3c-036K . I am not sure of maker

250 days and 10 hours ago.

Reply

it says heat pump outdoor use

250 days and 10 hours ago.

Reply

i think it may be a rheem

250 days and 10 hours ago.

Reply

air hander in garage says frigidaire

Posted by Jim Eastwood 250 days and 10 hours ago.

Answer

O k there will be two 1/4 inch scews if it is a newer model or two phillips screws if it is oldet this is a small door that is solid not the fan panel if it is a frigidaire i'm not sure normally the panel closest to where the power coming in to the unit is the one you want to remove to inspect the capacitor

250 days and 10 hours ago.

Reply

ok i took off cover and there is no leakage

Posted by Jim Eastwood 250 days and 10 hours ago.

Answer

Is the capacitor can be round or oval bulged at the top near wires?

250 days and 10 hours ago.

Reply

the shape is round like a car coil. there is not obvious bulgin

Posted by Jim Eastwood 250 days and 10 hours ago.

Answer

O k do you have a volt or amp meter?

250 days and 9 hours ago.

Reply

no i will need to pick one up tomorrow. One more question. I live in Florida and the heat for this unit is by heat strips. The heat went out and I figured the strips just went bad so did not worry about ( it is florida) would this capacitor by symptomatic of this issue for the cooling too.

Posted by Jim Eastwood 250 days and 9 hours ago.

Answer

Since you have a heat pump your 1st stage heat is the heat pump which won't operate if it has a bad capacitor so you were heating on the heat strips only.If you put your t'stat in emergency heat. Bottom line your outdoor unit should work during the cooling and heating operation.We can leave this question open what time tommorow will you be available to complete.Make sure you get a meter that will do volts and amps home depot has available.

250 days and 9 hours ago.

Reply

thanks. I can be available at about 9 pm EST again. I will be grabbing a multi-meter on the way home.

Posted by Jim Eastwood 250 days and 9 hours ago.

Answer

That will work I'll be looking for you online then

Posted by Jim Eastwood 250 days and 9 hours ago.

Answer

I will be available 9 daylight saving time at the latest you can use pm so we don't have any other experts cutting in but you have to select that option from your end thanks Jim

249 days and 10 hours ago.

Reply

I am home with multi-meter in tow.

Posted by Jim Eastwood 249 days and 10 hours ago.

Info Request

Hi Mark, Does the Meter you have do amps as well as volts

Posted by Jim Eastwood 249 days and 9 hours ago.

Answer

We can work with either if it does amps it will have jaws that open and clamp around the wire being tested

249 days and 9 hours ago.

Reply

it has capicitance. the capicitor is rated 50 +/- 5 and i got a reading of 28.6 from both sides (it is three pronged)

249 days and 9 hours ago.

Reply

I checked to make sure if i had the fan and the herm circuit checking the three combinations. one was a nanofarad reading, the other two were 28.6 micorfarads

Posted by Jim Eastwood 249 days and 9 hours ago.

Answer

O k so you have a microfared setting on your meter correct of course you have the power of mark on a sheet of paper and remove your wires from the capacitor the markings are a little hard to read but they are c herm and fan from c to fan you should read 5 mfd from c to herm you should read 55 try this and let me know

Edited by Jim Eastwood on 3/18/2009 at 1:49 AM

Posted by Jim Eastwood 249 days and 9 hours ago.

Answer

Should read 50 I meant

249 days and 9 hours ago.

Reply

i get a steady readin on the herm to common of 28.6 microfarad

249 days and 9 hours ago.

Reply

so does that sound like the problem.

Accepted Answer

That is your problem should read 50 that is why your compressor won't start. You can order a capacitor online or might be able to pick one up locally though many hvac supply houses have a wholesale only policy If I have answered your question please hit accept.

Accepts:
Expert:	Jim Eastwood
Pos. Feedback:	100.0 %
Answered:	3/18/2009

HVAC Mechanic

I HAVE OVER 35 YEARS EXPERIENCE INSTALLING ,SERVICING, SELLING AND TROUBLESHOOTING RESIDENTIAL HVAC

Posted by Jim Eastwood 249 days and 9 hours ago.

Answer

Mark make sure you get an exact replacement from what you said you have a 50/5/370 capacitor

Edited by Jim Eastwood on 3/18/2009 at 2:04 AM

248 days and 11 hours ago.

Reply

I replaced the capacitor and now the fan does not even start to spin (on the heatpump) airexchanger blows.

is there a certain amount of time I need to wait for the unit to engage

Posted by Jim Eastwood 248 days and 10 hours ago.

Info Request

Hi Mark I just got home from Church what's going on now did it start has your contactor pulled in?

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Question

my air conditioner is not blowing cold. The fan outside the house is blowing but is not as loud as usual and there is a loud electric hum every 15 seconds or so.

Answer

Answer

XXXXXXXX Is your compressor running? Jim, XXXXXXXX might not being hearing his compressor. The electric hum could be the overload to the compressor.

Answer

I've got it that's what I said the hum is the compressor either not starting because of bad run capacitor or in need of a start boost XXXXXXXX do you have a meter that check amps or voltage

Answer

Mark I want to help is your unit a long way from your computer let me know what's going on how old is this unit?

Reply

the unit is five years old. I am on wirless so i can go outside

Answer

Great your on your laptop are you trying to run unit in heat or cool is your unit a heat pump?Have you gotten the unit open if you tell me the brand and model # I can help with that if necessary

Reply

ok.. It is a model number ftb3c-036K . I am not sure of maker

Reply

it says heat pump outdoor use

Reply

i think it may be a rheem

Reply

air hander in garage says frigidaire

Answer

Reply

ok i took off cover and there is no leakage

Answer

Is the capacitor can be round or oval bulged at the top near wires?

Reply

the shape is round like a car coil. there is not obvious bulgin

Answer

O k do you have a volt or amp meter?

Reply

no i will need to pick one up tomorrow. One more question. I live in Florida and the heat for this unit is by heat strips. The heat went out and I figured the strips just went bad so did not worry about ( it is florida) would this capacitor by symptomatic of this issue for the cooling too.

Answer

Reply

thanks. I can be available at about 9 pm EST again. I will be grabbing a multi-meter on the way home.

Answer

That will work I'll be looking for you online then

Answer

I will be available 9 daylight saving time at the latest you can use pm so we don't have any other experts cutting in but you have to select that option from your end thanks Jim

Reply

I am home with multi-meter in tow.

Info Request

Hi Mark, Does the Meter you have do amps as well as volts

Answer

We can work with either if it does amps it will have jaws that open and clamp around the wire being tested

Reply

it has capicitance. the capicitor is rated 50 +/- 5 and i got a reading of 28.6 from both sides (it is three pronged)

Reply

I checked to make sure if i had the fan and the herm circuit checking the three combinations. one was a nanofarad reading, the other two were 28.6 micorfarads

Answer

Answer

Should read 50 I meant

Reply

i get a steady readin on the herm to common of 28.6 microfarad

Reply

so does that sound like the problem.

Accepted Answer

That is your problem should read 50 that is why your compressor won't start. You can order a capacitor online or might be able to pick one up locally though many hvac supply houses have a wholesale only policy If I have answered your question please hit accept.

Answer

Mark make sure you get an exact replacement from what you said you have a 50/5/370 capacitorEdited by Jim Eastwood on 3/18/2009 at 2:04 AM

Reply

I replaced the capacitor and now the fan does not even start to spin (on the heatpump) airexchanger blows. is there a certain amount of time I need to wait for the unit to engage

Info Request

Hi Mark I just got home from Church what's going on now did it start has your contactor pulled in?

Related HVAC Questions

XXXXXXXX

Is your compressor running?

Jim,

XXXXXXXX might not being hearing his compressor. The electric hum could be the overload to the compressor.

Mark make sure you get an exact replacement from what you said you have a 50/5/370 capacitor

Edited by Jim Eastwood on 3/18/2009 at 2:04 AM

I replaced the capacitor and now the fan does not even start to spin (on the heatpump) airexchanger blows.

is there a certain amount of time I need to wait for the unit to engage