Tuesday, August 2, 2016

HVAC: Effects of a Bad Air Conditioning Capacitor

An air conditioning has several essential components, one of which is the capacitor. This component, which is attached to three main motors, is responsible for regulating voltage and kick starting the unit. It is attached to the compressor, blower, and outdoor fan motors to start and keep the system running.

While capacitors are crucial, they’re also prone to malfunction. When they are damaged, expect these effects on your air conditioning:

Failure to Start

If you find it difficult to start your air conditioning, there’s probably a problem with the capacitors. This occurs when the compressor couldn’t rev up properly, making it shut off shortly after starting up. It’s possible that the start capacitor is leaking oil, splitting, or bulging. An HVAC expert near Los Angeles, CA can check your unit and diagnose the problem for you.

Funny Sounds

An air conditioning unit shouldn’t be emitting unusual sounds. If one or two of the capacitors are experiencing problems, the unit will make humming sounds as the start capacitor tries to get it working. If you continue using the unit despite the sound, you’re putting the motor at risk of overheating and burning out.

You can also tell if a capacitor is about to fail when the unit starts making a clicking noise. When you hear this, turn the unit off before the compressor or the fans start malfunctioning as well.

These are only some of the effects of bad capacitors on your air conditioning. Once you spot any of these, it’s time to call an HVAC repair professional because the problem could only get worse.

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