When The Heat Index is 106 And Your AC Dies

[pharmer]

You got off easy 714. Absolutely have at least 1 capacitor on hand. My capacitor was good, unfortunately. $3700 later and it's cool enough to hang meat in my living room. Be sure to keep that window unit handy, A/C loves to quit at the hottest time. Last quit 2 houses ago, was the night of July 3, 1994, 3 days of sleeping on the tile. Joe

 

[pharmer]

.....It also looks like one of the screws for the hold down bracket is missing.

Good eye. Joe

 

[MRB1]

It's only 5 years old and all the parts are still under warranty.

Got a little storm heading my way now, if they don't show up I'll be heading to Home Depot to buy a small window unit for my spare bedroom. It's about half the size of my master bedroom and will be nice and cool tonight.

The "proper term is now "Primary Bedroom" The other is a no-no.

 

[Steve912]

You got off easy 714. Absolutely have at least 1 capacitor on hand.

I've got spare caps for well pump and garage door opener.
Comes in handy...

Another nice spare for central air is the compresser "contacter".
It's basically a high-current relay. Mine went out in winter
(heat pump time). Air handler responded to thermostat,
but compresser, nada. Found a local commercial parts place
and was pleasantly surprised at the price--about $7.

 

[tlawler]

I've got spare caps for well pump and garage door opener.
Comes in handy...

Another nice spare for central air is the compresser "contacter".
It's basically a high-current relay. Mine went out in winter
(heat pump time). Air handler responded to thermostat,
but compresser, nada. Found a local commercial parts place
and was pleasantly surprised at the price--about $7.

It really isn't rocket science, but safety is paramount. You're dealing with voltage that can easily kill. Your first investment should be a halfway decent multimeter. Harbor Freight has some pretty good and inexpensive ones for under $50. Never trust a non-contact voltage tester, and always check the continuity of your test leads in resistance mode (ohms) to make sure it goes to zero before you test for voltage. Set to AC voltage and test from both sides of incoming power to ground, then across the power (L1 to L2) and make sure it's close to zero. A few tenths to a couple of volts is normal bleed through for most breakers. Google can be your friend for how-to help.

 

[JJEH]

Had this issue too. Compressor stopped working, 92 degree in the house with kids, fans don't do much, contractor said takes a week to order and install it, I made a big scene, contractor didn't care, neither did property management so I bought 2 portable units ($500/ea) to be able to live in the house. We put one in the bedroom and one in the living room (kids slept on the couch).

They took $200 off that months rent, 5 days no a/c. What the hell... that's ridiculous.

But I can recommend the portable units, bought at Lowe's. The cool down the room pretty good and fast.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Hisense-40...rtable-Air-Conditioner-with-Heater/1000731822

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

The "proper term is now "Primary Bedroom" The other is a no-no.

When I sleep in it, it IS the "MASTER" bedroom and don't anyone forget it!!!

 

[Bugkiller99]

A capacitor can give you a pretty good bite even after power is off. You need to bleed the voltage off and that's a quick way to do it. The operative words here are "with power off" (and verified with a meter).

Oh, I know. But that takes away all the fun that occurs for those who don't know.

Ask me how I know.

 

[Steve912]

It really isn't rocket science, but safety is paramount. You're dealing with voltage that can easily kill.

Yeppers. Used to twiddle around in the guts of tube
amplifiers as a hobby, a few years back. Somethings
have to be done with energized circuit (measuring
bias on tubes is one). B+ at 450 volts will remind you,
if you mess up!

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Oh, I know. But that takes away all the fun that occurs for those who don't know.

Ask me how I know.

One of life's "only need it taught one time" lessons

 

[pittpa]

I paid $150 on a Saturday to have a service push the reset button first time it got hot. Did it myself once every year after that


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[LVSteve]

capacitor just died on mine a few minutes ago. House was up to 76.

UP to 76°F? I run the house down to 76°F for sleeping, but no lower. Must be a humidity thing.

 

[wood714]

UP to 76°F? I run the house down to 76°F for sleeping, but no lower. Must be a humidity thing.

I keep mine on 76 in the summer, and 72 in the winter.

 

[sceva]

My 5 year old Trane stopped last evening ( 96 Degrees ). Sounded like an air compressor or water pump and fan wouldn't turn - shut off and back on and it just hummed. Under warranty and I made the call - Luckily I was able to get service this AM.

Yep; it was the Capacitor. Replaced under warranty, coils cleaned and furnace filter replaced.

Had to pay the service call charge only and and I'm back up and running

 

[LVSteve]

Going to get a good test of the A/C and the new insulation this weekend. Forecast says three days on the bounce of 111°F and above.

 

[Steve912]

Going to get a good test of the A/C and the new insulation this weekend. Forecast says three days on the bounce of 111°F and above.

Anybody run swamp coolers in Vegas?

 

[LVSteve]

Anybody run swamp coolers in Vegas?

I have a coworker whose house is plumbed for a swamp cooler and A/C. Right now with the humidity at about 3% (complete with wrinkled corneas) the swamper probably works great. Trouble is Miss Weather girl promised us extra humidity as a side to our heat this weekend. Yippee.

 

[Chief Wiggums]

I was watching Yellowstone last night

Thoughts and prayers for Jimmy !

Best of luck on the AC predicament!

 

[crazyphil]

Bought a new Buick LeSabre in 1972. Took the wife and daughter and
headed for New Orleans to an important conference. Just before El Paso
the A/C quit. It was 112. Stopped at several service stations. Couldn't
find anyone speaking English. Went on down the road with 4/80 AC.
Got it fixed at the dealership in New Orleans.
Must be a couple of Murphy's Laws. AC always quits at the hottest time.
Furnace always quits on the coldest night.

 

[Steve912]

I have a coworker whose house is plumbed for a swamp cooler and A/C. Right now with the humidity at about 3% (complete with wrinkled corneas) the swamper probably works great.

Barracks at El Paso (Fort Bliss) had swamp coolers. Spent most
of a summer there, and they about froze you out.