I am curious, how many of these have you been presented with? And what were the specifics? Also, links for everything are down in the description of the video!
@@kazallendesign Or you could just do what I have done for almost 50 yrs. and use a spray bottle with some dish soap (NOT automatic DW detergent) and warm water followed by a thorough rinse with the garden hose. If the coils are clean meaning that you can easily see light through the fins, they are clean enough. I would certainly avoid harsh chemical cleaners.
One of our largest area-HVAC companies (installs and maintenance) charged me a market labor rate, but tried to get about $300 for the compressor and hot-start kit caps (in total). I disputed the parts charge, allowing them 2 x retail for the parts, and they backed down. No guarantee the hot start cap was bad, either - the compressor one was obvious.
Only thing I will say can vary greatly is Condenser cleaning... 1st always Rinse from the inside out. Everything that gets sucked in to the condenser coils get pulled in from the outside in. So when you clean it, you want to push it back out the way it came or it might get stuck in there forever. A fairly new or clean unit can be cleaned with ease, but a old, neglected and nasty unit can take hours to clean thoroughly and well. I just cleaned a unit that hadn't been cleaned in 30 years and had maybe 10% air flow. It took me 6 to 7 straight hrs... Condenser fins were caked with rain splashed sediment and had 5"s of debris piled up inside, clogged to the point it was extremely hot to the touch. When I was done, I had improved the air flow by 80% and the unit was cool to the touch again!! If I had charged them a full contractors rate, service call, parts and labor would have easily been $800 to $1,000. Their AC is colder, electric bill lower and I definitely extended the life of their condenser.
I'd say most of them. But between you and that DIY HVAC guy, I've learned a lot. I no longer hate these machines. They are less intimidating to me. So thanks for these videos, they do help big time.
I have 2 units. Was told both had to be replaced. Because they couldnt even get them to cut on. Called another guy and low and behold within 10 mints both units were up and running.. 75 to make a call and travel and 130 buck later and both ac units were fine. Might I also add I just brought my husband home from a 2 half week hospital stay and we were told he would be going on the heart transplant list..who needs enemies right? also my husband got better. Prayers are truly answered.
Thank you for informing consumers so they can make better decisions about what they are getting into when repairing these items. My capacitor went out last week in 90F temps, unfortunately I didn't have one handy but was able to order and get one in 2 days. Bought 2 for $26, now I have a spare and NO service call needed!
My AC wasn’t blowing out cold air so I contacted a well known company in my area named Lees. There was a melted wire between the capacitor and compressor. He said it melted because the compressor was fried. He also said several other parts need to be replaced and gave me an estimate of over 15k to refurb and over 30k to replace the whole unit. Btw my house is only 7 years old. He specifically said the capacitor was good. Well I got a 2nd opinion and the new guy replaced the wire and capacitor and it worked instantly.
The big Red flag flashing should be the fact that the compressors usually always have a 10 year parts warranty. So, even if the compressor was fried, they should ONLY be charging you labor + refrigerant, as the old one has to be vacuumed out and replaced. $15k to refurb a unit and $30k to replace it is absurd. You can get an entire new top of the line variable speed unit installed for less than $15k.
Yes and go online and buy your brand new Goodman condenser, depending on model and tonnage, for as little as $1600.00. 4 years ago I replaced my entire furnace, coil, and condenser, 14 seer 3 ton for $2500.00. Of course I know what I'm doing but you can find a contractor to do it for you for $1000.00. easy and maybe less if just the condenser.
@@Kevin-mm6xm Finding a contractor can be easier said than done. You usually have to find a very small mom and pop operation or a handyman to do this, as any A/C company with any reputation and business will probably not be interested. The best time to find one would be in the slow season, around DEC or JAN when things tend to be very slow, and as a bonus, your house or attic won't be boiling hot during the installation process.
@@redbaron6805 I agree with you regarding established AC companies not wanting to install. Recently one of the major online sellers has connections to installers who will do the work so that's a possibility for a good installer. Running an ad in Craigslist as an "assistant" to a homeowner install would probably attract a lot of attention from licensed technicians with a weekend off!
@@Kevin-mm6xm I think trolling Nextdoor or asking some A/C guys if they wanted a little side job would likely work. Especially in my area where it will be pretty dead in November to around February, especially December and January. The problem you could run into would be warranty support, which would probably be out the window, and registering the unit for warranty purposes to cover parts, which could also become a problem. It is definitely an option looking into. But even finding someone to install a mini split, let alone support and service one in my area is a huge headache, and I live in a huge metro area.
Great info. Thanks. A few years ago I had a contract with the company that installed my AC. They cane out twice a year and it was such a rip off. Always needed more freon than was coverd under the contract. Then my unit went out one day. They came out fast and said a capacitor was bad. You could see it was swollen and bad. He didnt have one on his truck so said wouid take 2 days. And capacitors weren't covered in the contract. Woukd cost me $240.00. I went to Grangers and bought one and replaced it myself and it cost me $14.00. I'll never trust an AC tech again.
Just like any profession, there are bad apples in every business. I wouldn't take a bad job and write off the whole trade. They have a purpose, otherwise it wouldn't be an industry. Food for thought.
@@PinnacleSoluti0nsUnderstood and I would agree normally but this was not some fly by night place. They are huge in my area. Been around for years. They advertise on radio and TV. And of course their website has nothing but praise reviews. This happened a long time ago and they are bigger than ever. I've talked with others that have been burned by them since so its their norm. I'll never use a place that advertises now. I'll only use referrals from people i know that have a history with companies that have treated them well and stood behind their work and honored what they said they would do. Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me.
240 might be a little steep to replace a capacitor, but I always stuck just about every size on my truck and try to have them on hand when doing maintenance and service calls so I can replace on site and I charge a reasonable fee and what comes with that is the homeowner not having to mess with 240 V Components
@@lorettauppercue6400this guy is doing a lot of fear mongering! Do your research and find a company that you can trust, not everyone is trying to scam you. Also showing how cheap it is when you do it yourself is great, and no big surprise, I can order a pizza for $15 bucks or I can make my own for 1/4 that price. When you pay someone else to do it they take on some responsibility, if they make a mistake or your unit gets damaged in the process, they will be paying to make it right, if you do it yourself and damage your equipment then you are sh1t out of luck.
Thanks. Very good tips. Another possible tip: Keep copper lines away from AC metal frame. I had a loud squealing noise coming from the outdoor AC compressor. The AC tech said it was from a bad compressor and needed to be replaced. I wanted to first get another repair quote and while waiting for the second tech, I opened the side cover to see where the noise was coming from. It was because one of the compressor copper lines was touching against the AC metal frame and the line vibration was amplified against the metal frame causing the loud squealing noise. I carefully moved/bent the line away from the metal frame using a screw driver and noise stopped.
AC Tech wanted $1200 with no guarantee so the lady had me install 3 mini splits. Had to buy a vacuum pump and guage set to evacuate the lines and they work fantastic! 😊
With the help of this and other wonderful videos like it, I changed my capacitor myself. I couldn't help but wonder how much they are charging locally. Made three calls with prices ranging from $360 to $450....absolutely ridiculous. Did it myself for $15 and 15 minutes. Thank you sir!
Great video for people that have no clue about A/C units. It goes into to a lot of detail that might go over their heads but it's still good information. When it's hot outside and your A/C isn't working, you will pay just about any amount to get it repaired quickly. I subbed up to the DIY HVAC Guy's channel, thank you for that since I like to make my own repairs when I can.
HVAC companies all came out and replaced bad capacitors with Chinese capacitors. They last 1 maybe 2 years then go bad again. I went out and bought my own MADE IN USA capacitor for $20 and replaced it myself. It has lasted 6 years so far and keeps on running without failing.
@@-What-are-your-thoughtsMars, Capdog, and Titan HD capacitors are USA made. Titan Pro is Chinese made, stay away from it. I had one that lasted 1 year.
@@FallGirlNot Mars, Capdog, and Titan HD are American made caps Do not bother with Titan Pro; they are made in China. My HVAC tech replaced our bad cap with a Titan Pro cap and lasted 1 year and went out.
The one reason I stopped having my AC system checked every year is that every time they put gauges on it a little refrigerant will escape. I just make sure to clean the coils and check the capacitor in the Spring. I also keep a spare capacitor and contactor.
I've had the same Carrier unit for 21 years. Last year, I had to replace the fan and figured I would replace the capacitor as preventive maintenance. My cost was under $300. I clean the coils every year and place a cover on the unit in the Fall to prevent leaves from getting inside the unit. I've also installed a hard start capacitor kit. Unit is a lot quieter at start up, even after installing the new fan motor. I cleaned the contacts on the contactor relay.
I'm in the trade. It's not a good idea to put anything over the top of the unit. Your going to get older and when the cooling season starts up you will go to the thermostat and turn it on. You will forget to remove the leaf cover. Then get out your check book because your now going to buy a new condensing unit. I've sold many units to folks who have done that exact thing. Move forward in life with knowledge. Be wise. see the future. Save some money .
I live in Texas and one of the biggest things we have is ants getting in the contactor. Easy fix for a homeowner, but unfortunately many do not know anything about it. Might be another video. Thanks and I loved the video on the capacitor.
NEW SUBSCRIBER HERE!! Where has this channel been all my life? All of your videos are very informative. I appreciate your expertise and I'm sure this will save me money, time and headaches. I can't put my phone down lol. Thx for sharing dude✌️
You are spot on with everything you covered in this video. I clean my coils every year. Super easy. I also wash and wax the outside of my AC units just to help reduce the chance of rust. Filters are replaced every month no matter how they look. I buy them in bulk. Having a good reputable HVAC is very important as well. Do your homework and ask around.
Good info! This world is full of scammers in every field. Automotive being another one where a lot of good folks are cheated every day. One thing though, the compressor test only tells you the status of compressor motor, not the actual mechanical part of the compressor. Still a good test, but with limited scope. On the other hand amperage test will identify if mechanical part is putting additional load.
You are very welcome! I am extremely happy to hear you are liking and finding so much value in the channel. Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know as it really does mean a lot to me! Thanks a lot Mike!
A note to add about the topping off of refrigerant. Absolutely correct on being a closed system, and you shouldn't require topping off. However In my experience, if it's not them lying, or there isn't anything wrong with your lines leaking, your coil could be slowly leaking, thus the topping off. If your home has a bad sulfur issue in your water, this can lead to coil issues, along with ruining appliances, televisions etc. Even if you don't have sulfur, testing the coil for a leak can help troubleshoot the need for refrigerant periodically. Also, thank you very much for your videos! Very informative and helpful!! And I'm not an HVAC tech, or plumber. I've just unfortunately been through these issues over the years.
I was always taught to add clean water back into condensate line after vacuuming so the AC unit it does not suck air from the outside through the condensate line back into the air handler. Also without water in the line, bugs can enter through the line. Another area of failure is the relay switch.
True story. My neighbor called me to come to her house. An A/C tech was there charging her $326.00 to replace a 6 inch jumper wire from the capacitor to the contactor. I very calmly told him that was not going to happen. He tore up the bill and left. Now, here's the kicker. Why did the wire need to be replaced in the first place? Well two days later same problem. She called me again and I looked and sure enough the wire he installed was burned into. Again. Why? I looked at the contactor and it was absolutely burned up. I always keep a contactor and capacitor for spare for my house. My brother ran the QC lab in a scroll compressor factory and told me to always keep one of each on hand. I installed my spare contactor, capacitor and fabricated a new wire, all total my cost to replace my spares was less than $50.00, which is what I charged her.
@@draperbourgeois702 Is that what you would call good business practice? Would you want this to happen to a vulnerable family member, friend or neighbor?
@Watchyn_Yarwood ...no,not to that extent, but in order to stay in business, your prices are geauxing to have to be higher than a neighbor,relative,or good friend, that has money already, that knows a little about a few things.
Cancel that $150 a year service contract! There is nothing to check on your AC. It's a sealed system and unless you have a leak, the refrigerant stays in the system. The refrigerant being checked 2x a year is WORSE for your system as it releases refrigerant each time it's checked and could introduce contaminates into the system. There are no "health systems and components" to check. They either work or fail completely. Whether it's a capacitor, compressor, contactor or fan motor, when they fail, you will pay for the repair and service call at that time. BUT they will tell you it's failing and should be replaced, and this will happen every couple of years on your service contract. My last system lasted 18 years no maintenance or issues ($150.00 x 18 = $2700.00) and only failed while pressure washing my house. I stupidly decided to hit the AC condenser and caused a leak that wasn't repairable. Bottom line is, you're throwing away $150.00 a year for nothing.
Thank you so much! I’m 37 and just bought my first home, built in 2019. Everything is newer from the initial build, but as my luck goes, the AC went out yesterday in the middle of an AZ summer! Last night the house was 91 degrees inside. 🥵 But, thanks to your video, I was able to check the compressor and verify it was fine, as well as the capacitor which was showing 71.8, and 1.03. I am the hero of the house tonight as after a quick few hours, the house is now down to 75 degrees again, and the girlfriend is happy again! I would have paid $300+ and had no choice. Instead for $20 I had everything up and running without having to call anyone! THANK YOU SO MUCH! Money is tight, and I was not looking forward to using a credit card to get the air back on! You are amazing!
All true. I replaced my last systems after they had served well for 47 yrs. I replaced one contactor (probably the last of its type in the USA) and a relay during that time. They were still functioning. I maintained them myself. The first rule I followed, and still do, is that, if the system is functioning properly, i.e. interior air supply and return temps. are correct, the refrigerant in the sight glass is liquid and the moisture sensor is negative, NO ONE touches it. This means that gauges are never connected. Filters do not exceed MERV 8. The most important thing is that the initial installation is done correctly and many aren't. There's only one way to do it right. It makes very little difference which brand of AC you choose. If you really need service, do not choose a company that has a lot of trucks running all over your town or one that advertises on TV. We have a big company in our city that actually has acting classes to teach techs. how to convince reluctant people to buy new systems! I have no service contract.
They don’t build a/c systems that robust anymore. Cheaper parts and metals are used and ALL major system brands build obsolescence into HVAC systems. 15 yrs is what you’re looking at on average. And that’s not just HVAC home systems, home appliances are the same if not worse in service life expectancy.
I wish I would have fell on your video about 2 years ago! It would have saved me a lot of money! Several of the scams you mentioned I fell victim to and they replaced parts and then I ended up having to pay for a whole new unit in the end! I have subscribed!
I am a DIYer and am working overseas and do have a company that handles my A/C and plumbing since I am not home a lot, good service but they try and tell my wife this and that is bad not knowing I am on FaceTime the they are talking to her. Last year they said I had 2 bad capacitors and quoted over 200.00 for the capacitors + labor would be over 300.00 so before I went home I ordered 2 capacitors for about 20.00 each but when Ii went home I tested them and they were both good.. Eveytime they come out they allays find something different and what gets me they are always trying to charge outrages prices for the parts, I'm talking 300-500 percent
After watching this very helpful video, Just bought 3 cans of Frost King AC coil foaming cleaners and a Compressor testing Supco M500 the same time. Thank you!!!
8:42 - I think it is important to stress to the DIYer, that the rinse should be a gentle spray, not a hard stream - and absolutely never a power washer.
God bless your soul. I’m a small business Contracter for in house fixtures. The amount of knowledge I just got from you in 10 minutes is mind blowing. Call HVAC Contracters must hate you right now. But this is how you gain trust of home owners and increase your business awareness. Thank you I will click and subscribe.
Thank you for the video! I always learn a lot watching any of your videos. Is the maintenance for a heat pump air conditioner the same as a regular air conditioner?
You are very welcome! Really glad to hear you have found so much value in the channel! Really means a lot to me. Thanks a lot for taking the time to let me know!
I appreciate your videos so much and I’ve watched enough of them that I trust you to give me good information. You’re the first place I go to for info. I’m going to start with cleaning my coils.
As a part of my business I used to install and repair intercom systems in SF. Like capacitors in HVAC systems, the most common problem was usually an inexpensive front door entry speaker.
Thank you for the tip. My mom called AC tech because we had overflow on drain tub. He charged $200 to take out water with snake. After watching this vid, I changed bad capacitor myself for $55. Saved a bunch of money.
Hey, just wanted to add some clarity to those techs that are saying your compressor is on its way out. What I have always found with compressor with a rusted top shell is this; the compressor at some point in time has either been running high discharge or high superheat. Either one will cause your compressor to run hot which will therefore chip and degrade the paint and expose the metal causing rust. High superheat could be due to numerous reasons but essentially you are not providing enough refrigerant back to your compressor which helps cool it down, this in turn will cause the overall temp of your compressor to be higher than normal operating conditions. High discharge pressure could be from a time when the condenser fan when out and the compressor short cycled on thermal overload, dirty condenser coils, a restriction, ect. Not saying any of this applies to what you are dealing with or have dealt with. But typically that is what I notice when I see a compressor in this type of condition. I believe this is what my fellow technicians are saying. Does this mean there was permanent winding damage that could be picked up from a megger? I suppose it would depend on how long that particular compressor ran under those conditions. But what it should tell good technician is not that the compressor is “on its way out” but to look more deeply into the system performance and check for some of the issues I stated above. Just my two cents.
I have a Whole House Contract through a reputable local company for my built home. Same thing. Checks twice a year. Expedited service. Discounts on repairs. Great video.
You forgot to add "Earwig in the contactor" I have had it happen twice. An earwig gets smashed between the contacts and the compressor won't start. Most contactors can be taken apart and cleaned rather than replaced.
I had approx 6 companies come out, telling each that i was doing rate comparison. They each said compressor without me telling them. This was the only way i was convinced maybe my compressor was actually out. Its still hard to trust. I went ahead and got a brand new system $4000 lennox. 2 months later with a short circuit board now i am back without ac. To have them come out to trouble shoot the installation they charged me 89$.
I understand your point and I also feel a lot of residential HVAC guys can be dishonest and companies overcharge. At the same time the prices are based off of not only labor but overhead cost (rent, vans, tools, etc)
I used to change a lot of Compressors out. Here’s the problem, if you can afford a new unit people for goodness sake do it. A compressor has a 1 year warranty. A new unit should have a 10 year if your installer registers it like they are supposed to. Compressor are so expensive now not like they were a few years back. Not to mention the refrigerant and all the other parts if it’s done properly. If you spend a fortune on a compressor and something else goes, you’ll wish you would have just bit the bullet and replaced it. There are exceptions if you have a unit not very old then yeah maybe take a chance. But I’ve been in situations where I change a compressor only to discover the reversing valve is bad. So, there you go.
Hvac tech here in arizona, and I agree with everything but the ez flow filters. I don't use pleated air filters in my home because they restrict Airflow. I don't want to restrict Airflow to my Coil. Serviced a guy about a month ago. All I did was remove his filter and got my split, it made a whistling type of noise by return like it was struggling to get air. I use ez flow in my house, the more expensive ones ain't bad I just rather not use them.
Best thing home owners can do: pan tabs, no rinse evaporator cleaner, annual condenser cleaning. $75 a year, and keeps you from overpaying unless there is a real issue. Also, no pleated filter, go cheap and change it monthly. Airflow is a huge, and often overlooked.
I recently busted a technician from a very reputable company who went to my 85 year old mother's home for their "annual inspection". They were not aware i was there inside and as i was watching tv all of a sudden hot air was blowing from ac. I went outside and tech turned white as a ghost. He had my mom outside with him trying to show her the refrigerant was low (because he was actually releasing it!) Long story short, not to upset my mother i had to walk away before knocking this jerk out and now my mom was kinda forced into adding like 3lbs of refrigerant. Getting upset at me because these jerks have a name on there shirt saying ac tech and wanting to believe and have faith that a reputable company would never do such a thing. Before this he told her as well she needed to replace a working uv light bulb inside the handler which would of been only $375 just for a uv bulb! BS! Found the same one for $80 online and i feel having to replace that yearly (even if still works) and tried to scare my mother into bringing up covid and bacteria, ect. I must say this entire ac system was replaced 5 years ago including all the lines under the house, ect. Another BS scam on the elderly just because she may have a nice home, taken care of and may appear to have money, so she wouldn't Even tell me what they charged for that. However close to $10k that being said next time I'm setting up a hidden camera because even this reputable company didn't refund my mom for anything as she is too passive and didn't really press the issue as i would and made me promise not to say or do anything as it is her house. Her money. Which is true. However these punk technicians pray on the elderly and they know exactly who they are and all i can hope for is Karma on these crooks!! Buyer Beware and look out for the elderly!!!
@@radbronson7018 As an elderly female I agree, and it is not limited to HVAC companies/technicians. I am afraid to hire anybody for anything, and that’s a shame.
I had an hvac repair man tell me that my Goodman unit was using and was only good for an older type re-frigerant that isn't being used any more. He said it was very difficult to get and that not many servicers have it.
This is why I learned the trade myself. I have all of the equipment which more than paid for itself after one service call. HVAC is pretty easy, but it’s a process and equipment intensive.
I have to assume the Megohmeter is basically a Meg-ohm resistance meter. I'm guessing since the measurement is from the case of the compressor to each winding that it measures whatever leakage is occurring between the windings & the case. Interesting to me that this is a common failure with theses compressors since there is no other electrical connection between the compressor windings and the case/ground to make it function. I also have to think that these compressors can also fail if a winding just goes bad without electrically leaking or flat out shorting to the case. Very cool information.
Ide rather use a cheap filter that’s not choking down my system. I’ve actually seen units freezing up over one of those fancy junk filters. Better to use a cheaper filter it will work.
Used to use cheap ones but found out they will let a lot of dust pass through and it over time will collect on the damp evaporator coils, then when I went to fire up gas furnace in the fall, as the evaporator coils heated up, I got the usual smell and sometimes visible smoke from registers. Switched to #5 pleated filters & no more nasty smell or smoke on 1st fall furnace startup.
I'm an H.V.A.C tech of 40 years. Never buy or use an air filter you can see through. Capacitors are a big issue and has a lot to do on how they are installed. Because they feel the same heat load that the motor they are connected to, they have be installed in a way so they can shed heat. I don't like selling maintenance contracts , but take extra time training the customer on how they can do it. It's all about keeping it clean , and possibly having it serviced every other year if needed.
Great video! Where did you get (what's it called?) that UV cover wrap for the outside HVAC suction line starting @6:13?? I want to apply the same to my outside line. They get beat pretty bad here FL, thanks.
I’ve had my system American Standard, checked twice a year for $300.00 (Spring and Fall) since it was installed. I’ve had this system for 15 years with only a blower motor failing under warranty. I change the filters every 3 months.
Yes he does and it is just for looks. It is 100% unnecessary!! Insulation is to keep the condensation from damaging any material it might drip on. Only time it MIGHT be an efficiency thing is if the lines run in a space that is extremely hot. That is a very low % loss in those situations. In those cases, both lines should be insulated.
I don't begrudge techs charging $150+ to do a good cleaning. I do my units myself, but it takes me at least an hour each to do a good clean. We get a lot of cottonwood, so it really tends to pack in the coils.
Thanks for the video! I called to have an A/C tech tune and clean my A/C. He told me he couldn't clean it because I had a hail guard on it and it would cost $400. I told him I didn't want to pay for that. He gave me an estimate to replace problem parts for $6500. I told him it was still working so I didn't do anything else. I felt like I was ripped off because he didn't clean the coils. He did show me I had 2 capacitors that were out of spec. Should I replace the capacitors right away or wait for problems? Right now it's working fine. I bought replacement capacitors and plan to DIY.
@@GNXClone You're right, I meant capacitors. Do you know if the old capacitors are harming the A/C unit if I don't replace them right away? My 28 year old air conditioner has never needed them to be replaced. I live in MN and it doesn't get the amount of use as A/C units in southern states.
@@gregs250 No, they won’t hurt anything. When they go, usually either the fan or the compressor won’t start. I did have one cap which had exploded its guts out. Usually they just swell.
@@gregs250 You really want to replace them if they are out of tolerance. The capacitors are responsible for the phase shift which runs the compressor and motors. When they are out of tolerance, you stress the motors and compressor and will shorten their lifespan. On my own A/C unit, my compressor was overheating and shutting down, and I found the capacitor was 50% out of tolerance, vs +/- 6% is the actual spec. Once I replaced the capacitor, the compressor worked flawlessly with no overheating. Get Made in USA capacitors like Amrad, Mars or similar, which will last far longer.
This message is for the host: how to home. Can you please do a video on this exact same topic for a mini split with hoses coming out of the left or right side. Thank you
I don't call big HVAC companies, to take care if my unit. They have too many overhead expenses that why charge charge too much. I have my HVAC contract, he's Licensed, honest & experience. An honest individual contractor charges half of what big Companies charge.
No one will clean the coils and drain lines. Any time the drain stops up, it's an indication that the unit is dirty. Just cleaning the drain out does not really fix the main problem.
Using those cheap EZ flow green filters allows a lot of dust to pass through & stick to damp evaporator coil. This is especially true if one tries to get more than a months use from cheap filters.
There are videos of it on youtube. Make sure to disconnect power to unit first. If you add the ohms of common and run terminals to the ohms of common and start terminals, it should equal the run and start ohms. For example, if common and run is .5 ohms and common and start is 2.3, then your run and start ohms should be 2.8.
Change your capacitor(s) and especially the contactor every 3 years in the off-season as a preventative measure that costs less than $40. An intermittent worn contactor can damage your system due to low voltage and transients. Bad capacitors can overheat and damage wires, etc. Change these components before they fail, typically during the hottest time of the year. It is cheap insurance for an expensive system. It's also a good idea to keep a cap and contactor on hand, as Murphy would agree with!
11 years with no service contract. At 150 dollars a year that means I have saved $1,650 dollars. I have replace one bad capacitor, cleaned the blower motor squirrel cage once and cleaned the outside coils.
I have a very good furnace, no problem. My a/c has a microscopic leak. The A/C unit uses R22. I won’t be able to have it serviced because they won’t sell R22 after this season so I’ll have to replace a great furnace with a crappy new one that won’t last half as long as the one I have now. Where can I get R22?
@@rogerhoffstetter2807 My HVAC guy told me this is the last time he can refill the R22, they aren’t making it anymore which is know is incorrect because most of the world still uses it as their primary refrigerant. The last time he refilled it he charged me $800.00 for two pounds. I have since found it online (unavailable to me) for $850.00 for a thirty pound tank. I hate all these restrictions.
Yeah he’s full of it. Can still easily get a 30 pound tank of r22 for $800-850. But 410a is like $300-400. So it is more expensive but there is no reason to say it’s the last time because they aren’t making it. Just isn’t true.
Question - we have a newer Trane unit and it has the "fluffy" coils rather than the "typical" radiator coil fins. Someone did tell me that you only rinse them off since if you put coil cleaner on them, it degrades or destroys the fragile aluminum... 1. is this true? 2. Ho would you suggest cleaning the coils on a Trane?
I have the same unit, and most the A/C guys appear to just dilute their coil cleaner way down when using it to clean the Spine Fins coils Trane uses. People appear to use the shower or spray function to wash them, pointing the spray down at a 45 degree angle and not using too much pressure appears to work fine. The cleaner they appear to use is the Nu Brite Foaming Coil Cleaner diluted way down. The normal dilution ratio in a low pressure sprayer like a bug sprayer is around 4:1. I would figure 10:1 should be pretty safe. To apply the cleaner to the coils and let it foam up, you can either use a hand pump sprayer, or a battery operated one like Lowes sells for around $100 or so, which is the Kobalt 2.11 gallon Plastic Pump Sprayer. I don't like disassembling the cabinet, so I just rinse it first with the shower function, from the inside out. Use the sprayer to spray upwards towards the coil all around. Let it foam for about 10 minutes. Then wash the cleaner out from the inside out again. My condenser unit sits between the house and a wall with no vegetation, so it mostly just gets dusty over time.
Yes, you can. Google corrosion protection. I have one on my unit, it's a sacrificial piece of Zinc that attracts rust and corrosion. Fun fact: They put them on our military's battle ships for the same purpose 😊
The proper coil cleaner is liquid sodium hydroxide, and is sold in 1 gallon jugs for about $35.00. The inside coil also needs cleaning, and almost no one will do it.
You are very welcome. I would say that they are not quite created equal. Can usually get around 2-3 more years out of a USA made capacitor. Then it becomes about the price and is it worth the extra money. AmRad and Titan HD are 2 reputable made in the USA brands. Make sure it isn't Titan Pro, they are made in China. AmRads are usually more expensive than the titans but are a great cap.
I am curious, how many of these have you been presented with? And what were the specifics? Also, links for everything are down in the description of the video!
Hmmm, the coil cleaner on Amazon is $10 more than anywhere else, I searched because it seemed expensive and it was.
@@kazallendesign Or you could just do what I have done for almost 50 yrs. and use a spray bottle with some dish soap (NOT automatic DW detergent) and warm water followed by a thorough rinse with the garden hose. If the coils are clean meaning that you can easily see light through the fins, they are clean enough. I would certainly avoid harsh chemical cleaners.
One of our largest area-HVAC companies (installs and maintenance) charged me a market labor rate, but tried to get about $300 for the compressor and hot-start kit caps (in total). I disputed the parts charge, allowing them 2 x retail for the parts, and they backed down. No guarantee the hot start cap was bad, either - the compressor one was obvious.
Only thing I will say can vary greatly is Condenser cleaning...
1st always Rinse from the inside out. Everything that gets sucked in to the condenser coils get pulled in from the outside in. So when you clean it, you want to push it back out the way it came or it might get stuck in there forever.
A fairly new or clean unit can be cleaned with ease, but a old, neglected and nasty unit can take hours to clean thoroughly and well.
I just cleaned a unit that hadn't been cleaned in 30 years and had maybe 10% air flow. It took me 6 to 7 straight hrs... Condenser fins were caked with rain splashed sediment and had 5"s of debris piled up inside, clogged to the point it was extremely hot to the touch. When I was done, I had improved the air flow by 80% and the unit was cool to the touch again!!
If I had charged them a full contractors rate, service call, parts and labor would have easily been $800 to $1,000.
Their AC is colder, electric bill lower and I definitely extended the life of their condenser.
I'd say most of them. But between you and that DIY HVAC guy, I've learned a lot. I no longer hate these machines. They are less intimidating to me. So thanks for these videos, they do help big time.
Legend, this is why RUclips is so Valuable. Guy giving you the knowledge and skills to possibly save hundreds or thousands from dishonest AC Techs.
I have 2 units. Was told both had to be replaced. Because they couldnt even get them to cut on. Called another guy and low and behold within 10 mints both units were up and running.. 75 to make a call and travel and 130 buck later and both ac units were fine. Might I also add I just brought my husband home from a 2 half week hospital stay and we were told he would be going on the heart transplant list..who needs enemies right? also my husband got better. Prayers are truly answered.
Thank you for informing consumers so they can make better decisions about what they are getting into when repairing these items. My capacitor went out last week in 90F temps, unfortunately I didn't have one handy but was able to order and get one in 2 days. Bought 2 for $26, now I have a spare and NO service call needed!
Where did you buy the caps from?
@@dannydaw59 Amazon, just got the info off the old one and found the exact replacement.
My AC wasn’t blowing out cold air so I contacted a well known company in my area named Lees. There was a melted wire between the capacitor and compressor. He said it melted because the compressor was fried. He also said several other parts need to be replaced and gave me an estimate of over 15k to refurb and over 30k to replace the whole unit. Btw my house is only 7 years old. He specifically said the capacitor was good. Well I got a 2nd opinion and the new guy replaced the wire and capacitor and it worked instantly.
The big Red flag flashing should be the fact that the compressors usually always have a 10 year parts warranty. So, even if the compressor was fried, they should ONLY be charging you labor + refrigerant, as the old one has to be vacuumed out and replaced.
$15k to refurb a unit and $30k to replace it is absurd. You can get an entire new top of the line variable speed unit installed for less than $15k.
Yes and go online and buy your brand new Goodman condenser, depending on model and tonnage, for as little as $1600.00. 4 years ago I replaced my entire furnace, coil, and condenser, 14 seer 3 ton for $2500.00. Of course I know what I'm doing but you can find a contractor to do it for you for $1000.00. easy and maybe less if just the condenser.
@@Kevin-mm6xm Finding a contractor can be easier said than done.
You usually have to find a very small mom and pop operation or a handyman to do this, as any A/C company with any reputation and business will probably not be interested.
The best time to find one would be in the slow season, around DEC or JAN when things tend to be very slow, and as a bonus, your house or attic won't be boiling hot during the installation process.
@@redbaron6805 I agree with you regarding established AC companies not wanting to install. Recently one of the major online sellers has connections to installers who will do the work so that's a possibility for a good installer. Running an ad in Craigslist as an "assistant" to a homeowner install would probably attract a lot of attention from licensed technicians with a weekend off!
@@Kevin-mm6xm I think trolling Nextdoor or asking some A/C guys if they wanted a little side job would likely work.
Especially in my area where it will be pretty dead in November to around February, especially December and January.
The problem you could run into would be warranty support, which would probably be out the window, and registering the unit for warranty purposes to cover parts, which could also become a problem.
It is definitely an option looking into. But even finding someone to install a mini split, let alone support and service one in my area is a huge headache, and I live in a huge metro area.
Great info. Thanks. A few years ago I had a contract with the company that installed my AC. They cane out twice a year and it was such a rip off. Always needed more freon than was coverd under the contract. Then my unit went out one day. They came out fast and said a capacitor was bad. You could see it was swollen and bad. He didnt have one on his truck so said wouid take 2 days. And capacitors weren't covered in the contract. Woukd cost me $240.00. I went to Grangers and bought one and replaced it myself and it cost me $14.00. I'll never trust an AC tech again.
Just like any profession, there are bad apples in every business. I wouldn't take a bad job and write off the whole trade. They have a purpose, otherwise it wouldn't be an industry. Food for thought.
@@PinnacleSoluti0nsUnderstood and I would agree normally but this was not some fly by night place. They are huge in my area. Been around for years. They advertise on radio and TV. And of course their website has nothing but praise reviews. This happened a long time ago and they are bigger than ever. I've talked with others that have been burned by them since so its their norm. I'll never use a place that advertises now. I'll only use referrals from people i know that have a history with companies that have treated them well and stood behind their work and honored what they said they would do. Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me.
240 might be a little steep to replace a capacitor, but I always stuck just about every size on my truck and try to have them on hand when doing maintenance and service calls so I can replace on site and I charge a reasonable fee and what comes with that is the homeowner not having to mess with 240 V Components
These folks who can do the job themselves are wonderful, but what about those of us who don't have that kind of knowhow?
@@lorettauppercue6400this guy is doing a lot of fear mongering! Do your research and find a company that you can trust, not everyone is trying to scam you. Also showing how cheap it is when you do it yourself is great, and no big surprise, I can order a pizza for $15 bucks or I can make my own for 1/4 that price. When you pay someone else to do it they take on some responsibility, if they make a mistake or your unit gets damaged in the process, they will be paying to make it right, if you do it yourself and damage your equipment then you are sh1t out of luck.
Thanks. Very good tips. Another possible tip: Keep copper lines away from AC metal frame. I had a loud squealing noise coming from the outdoor AC compressor. The AC tech said it was from a bad compressor and needed to be replaced. I wanted to first get another repair quote and while waiting for the second tech, I opened the side cover to see where the noise was coming from. It was because one of the compressor copper lines was touching against the AC metal frame and the line vibration was amplified against the metal frame causing the loud squealing noise. I carefully moved/bent the line away from the metal frame using a screw driver and noise stopped.
Wow! Appreciate that story. Amazing. You were told you would need a new compressor over a simple fix. Thanks for sharing!
So they were trying to rip you off.
To reiterate, if you are testing or changing out the capacitor, but SURE to cut the power to the unit first. .... 🙂
Perfect timing! Just waiting for the AC tech guy to arrive. I feel well informed now. Thank you!
AC Tech wanted $1200 with no guarantee so the lady had me install 3 mini splits. Had to buy a vacuum pump and guage set to evacuate the lines and they work fantastic! 😊
With the help of this and other wonderful videos like it, I changed my capacitor myself. I couldn't help but wonder how much they are charging locally. Made three calls with prices ranging from $360 to $450....absolutely ridiculous. Did it myself for $15 and 15 minutes. Thank you sir!
Great video for people that have no clue about A/C units. It goes into to a lot of detail that might go over their heads but it's still good information. When it's hot outside and your A/C isn't working, you will pay just about any amount to get it repaired quickly. I subbed up to the DIY HVAC Guy's channel, thank you for that since I like to make my own repairs when I can.
HVAC companies all came out and replaced bad capacitors with Chinese capacitors. They last 1 maybe 2 years then go bad again. I went out and bought my own MADE IN USA capacitor for $20 and replaced it myself. It has lasted 6 years so far and keeps on running without failing.
The Chinese manufacture to the standards and prices (esp. the prices) demanded by the purchasing retailers.
Thanks for the info, as a single chic, I get creeps trying to take advantage of me all the time, mechanics too!😂🤘🥳
Where did you purchase USA product?
@@-What-are-your-thoughtsMars, Capdog, and Titan HD capacitors are USA made. Titan Pro is Chinese made, stay away from it. I had one that lasted 1 year.
@@FallGirlNot Mars, Capdog, and Titan HD are American made caps
Do not bother with Titan Pro; they are made in China. My HVAC tech replaced our bad cap with a Titan Pro cap and lasted 1 year and went out.
The one reason I stopped having my AC system checked every year is that every time they put gauges on it a little refrigerant will escape. I just make sure to clean the coils and check the capacitor in the Spring. I also keep a spare capacitor and contactor.
I've had the same Carrier unit for 21 years. Last year, I had to replace the fan and figured I would replace the capacitor as preventive maintenance. My cost was under $300. I clean the coils every year and place a cover on the unit in the Fall to prevent leaves from getting inside the unit. I've also installed a hard start capacitor kit. Unit is a lot quieter at start up, even after installing the new fan motor. I cleaned the contacts on the contactor relay.
And that is why your unit has lasted as long as it has. Bravo!
I'm in the trade. It's not a good idea to put anything over the top of the unit. Your going to get older and when the cooling season starts up you will go to the thermostat and turn it on. You will forget to remove the leaf cover. Then get out your check book because your now going to buy a new condensing unit. I've sold many units to folks who have done that exact thing. Move forward in life with knowledge. Be wise. see the future. Save some money .
I live in Texas and one of the biggest things we have is ants getting in the contactor. Easy fix for a homeowner, but unfortunately many do not know anything about it. Might be another video. Thanks and I loved the video on the capacitor.
We get lizards into contactors and capacitors around here. Always find a couple of fried lizards in my A/C...
NEW SUBSCRIBER HERE!!
Where has this channel been all my life? All of your videos are very informative. I appreciate your expertise and I'm sure this will save me money, time and headaches. I can't put my phone down lol. Thx for sharing dude✌️
You are spot on with everything you covered in this video. I clean my coils every year. Super easy. I also wash and wax the outside of my AC units just to help reduce the chance of rust. Filters are replaced every month no matter how they look. I buy them in bulk. Having a good reputable HVAC is very important as well. Do your homework and ask around.
Good info! This world is full of scammers in every field. Automotive being another one where a lot of good folks are cheated every day.
One thing though, the compressor test only tells you the status of compressor motor, not the actual mechanical part of the compressor. Still a good test, but with limited scope. On the other hand amperage test will identify if mechanical part is putting additional load.
this has become my FAVORITE you-tube channel - thank you !!
You are very welcome! I am extremely happy to hear you are liking and finding so much value in the channel. Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know as it really does mean a lot to me! Thanks a lot Mike!
A note to add about the topping off of refrigerant. Absolutely correct on being a closed system, and you shouldn't require topping off. However In my experience, if it's not them lying, or there isn't anything wrong with your lines leaking, your coil could be slowly leaking, thus the topping off. If your home has a bad sulfur issue in your water, this can lead to coil issues, along with ruining appliances, televisions etc. Even if you don't have sulfur, testing the coil for a leak can help troubleshoot the need for refrigerant periodically. Also, thank you very much for your videos! Very informative and helpful!! And I'm not an HVAC tech, or plumber. I've just unfortunately been through these issues over the years.
I was always taught to add clean water back into condensate line after vacuuming so the AC unit it does not suck air from the outside through the condensate line back into the air handler. Also without water in the line, bugs can enter through the line. Another area of failure is the relay switch.
True story. My neighbor called me to come to her house. An A/C tech was there charging her $326.00 to replace a 6 inch jumper wire from the capacitor to the contactor. I very calmly told him that was not going to happen. He tore up the bill and left. Now, here's the kicker. Why did the wire need to be replaced in the first place? Well two days later same problem. She called me again and I looked and sure enough the wire he installed was burned into. Again. Why? I looked at the contactor and it was absolutely burned up. I always keep a contactor and capacitor for spare for my house. My brother ran the QC lab in a scroll compressor factory and told me to always keep one of each on hand. I installed my spare contactor, capacitor and fabricated a new wire, all total my cost to replace my spares was less than $50.00, which is what I charged her.
...u wouldn't stay in business too long .
@@draperbourgeois702 Is that what you would call good business practice? Would you want this to happen to a vulnerable family member, friend or neighbor?
@Watchyn_Yarwood ...no,not to that extent, but in order to stay in business, your prices are geauxing to have to be higher than a neighbor,relative,or good friend, that has money already, that knows a little about a few things.
I'd wager a bet.....this incident didn't happen in North Carolina!! Whomever she is.....she's blessed with a wonderful neighbor with great integrity.
@@spost8157 Not NC and thanks. God gets the praise. I was just the delivery agent.
Cancel that $150 a year service contract! There is nothing to check on your AC. It's a sealed system and unless you have a leak, the refrigerant stays in the system. The refrigerant being checked 2x a year is WORSE for your system as it releases refrigerant each time it's checked and could introduce contaminates into the system. There are no "health systems and components" to check. They either work or fail completely. Whether it's a capacitor, compressor, contactor or fan motor, when they fail, you will pay for the repair and service call at that time. BUT they will tell you it's failing and should be replaced, and this will happen every couple of years on your service contract. My last system lasted 18 years no maintenance or issues ($150.00 x 18 = $2700.00) and only failed while pressure washing my house. I stupidly decided to hit the AC condenser and caused a leak that wasn't repairable. Bottom line is, you're throwing away $150.00 a year for nothing.
Gr8888 Info. TKS
Gr8888 Info. TKS 👍👍👍👍👍👍
@@Kevin-mm6xm Thanks for that advice.
Thank you so much! I’m 37 and just bought my first home, built in 2019. Everything is newer from the initial build, but as my luck goes, the AC went out yesterday in the middle of an AZ summer! Last night the house was 91 degrees inside. 🥵
But, thanks to your video, I was able to check the compressor and verify it was fine, as well as the capacitor which was showing 71.8, and 1.03. I am the hero of the house tonight as after a quick few hours, the house is now down to 75 degrees again, and the girlfriend is happy again! I would have paid $300+ and had no choice. Instead for $20 I had everything up and running without having to call anyone! THANK YOU SO MUCH! Money is tight, and I was not looking forward to using a credit card to get the air back on! You are amazing!
All true. I replaced my last systems after they had served well for 47 yrs. I replaced one contactor (probably the last of its type in the USA) and a relay during that time. They were still functioning. I maintained them myself. The first rule I followed, and still do, is that, if the system is functioning properly, i.e. interior air supply and return temps. are correct, the refrigerant in the sight glass is liquid and the moisture sensor is negative, NO ONE touches it. This means that gauges are never connected. Filters do not exceed MERV 8. The most important thing is that the initial installation is done correctly and many aren't. There's only one way to do it right. It makes very little difference which brand of AC you choose. If you really need service, do not choose a company that has a lot of trucks running all over your town or one that advertises on TV. We have a big company in our city that actually has acting classes to teach techs. how to convince reluctant people to buy new systems! I have no service contract.
@@wholeNwon wow 47 years!!!!!🤯I'm screen shotting this comment! There are some very intelligent & helpful people on here!
@@FallGirlNot I may not be among the "intelligent" but I hope to be helpful.
They don’t build a/c systems that robust anymore. Cheaper parts and metals are used and ALL major system brands build obsolescence into HVAC systems. 15 yrs is what you’re looking at on average. And that’s not just HVAC home systems, home appliances are the same if not worse in service life expectancy.
@@Kevin93m3it's true about the home appliances. I've worked on residential home appliances for 11 years.
That's how manufacturers keep making money.
why do you not exceed MERV 8?
I wish I would have fell on your video about 2 years ago! It would have saved me a lot of money! Several of the scams you mentioned I fell victim to and they replaced parts and then I ended up having to pay for a whole new unit in the end! I have subscribed!
Right after I’m finished watching your video my pointer finger hit subscribe button thanks for sharing your knowledge
Im going to watch this at least a couple x & refer back when needed! Thank u so much for posting!!!🤘🥳
I am a DIYer and am working overseas and do have a company that handles my A/C and plumbing since I am not home a lot, good service but they try and tell my wife this and that is bad not knowing I am on FaceTime the they are talking to her. Last year they said I had 2 bad capacitors and quoted over 200.00 for the capacitors + labor would be over 300.00 so before I went home I ordered 2 capacitors for about 20.00 each but when Ii went home I tested them and they were both good.. Eveytime they come out they allays find something different and what gets me they are always trying to charge outrages prices for the parts, I'm talking 300-500 percent
Sounds like you should start with getting rid of this company.
After 10 yrs. or so, depending on several variables, the contactor can go bad. These are easily replaced by virtually any homeowner.
After watching this very helpful video, Just bought 3 cans of Frost King AC coil foaming cleaners and a Compressor testing Supco M500 the same time. Thank you!!!
I can't say how thankful I am that you put this out. I just went through the capacitor for 555.00 bucks this August. Cheers!
8:42 - I think it is important to stress to the DIYer, that the rinse should be a gentle spray, not a hard stream - and absolutely never a power washer.
Now you tell me..😢
God bless your soul. I’m a small business Contracter for in house fixtures. The amount of knowledge I just got from you in 10 minutes is mind blowing. Call HVAC Contracters must hate you right now. But this is how you gain trust of home owners and increase your business awareness. Thank you I will click and subscribe.
Thank you for the video! I always learn a lot watching any of your videos. Is the maintenance for a heat pump air conditioner the same as a regular air conditioner?
Truly appreciate your channel you have helped this old guy tremendously thank you 😊
You are very welcome! Really glad to hear you have found so much value in the channel! Really means a lot to me. Thanks a lot for taking the time to let me know!
I appreciate your videos so much and I’ve watched enough of them that I trust you to give me good information. You’re the first place I go to for info. I’m going to start with cleaning my coils.
As a Florida home owner with 2 ac units this video is essential.
As a part of my business I used to install and repair intercom systems in SF. Like capacitors in HVAC systems, the most common problem was usually an inexpensive front door entry speaker.
Thank you for the tip. My mom called AC tech because we had overflow on drain tub. He charged $200 to take out water with snake. After watching this vid, I changed bad capacitor myself for $55. Saved a bunch of money.
Hey, just wanted to add some clarity to those techs that are saying your compressor is on its way out. What I have always found with compressor with a rusted top shell is this; the compressor at some point in time has either been running high discharge or high superheat. Either one will cause your compressor to run hot which will therefore chip and degrade the paint and expose the metal causing rust. High superheat could be due to numerous reasons but essentially you are not providing enough refrigerant back to your compressor which helps cool it down, this in turn will cause the overall temp of your compressor to be higher than normal operating conditions. High discharge pressure could be from a time when the condenser fan when out and the compressor short cycled on thermal overload, dirty condenser coils, a restriction, ect. Not saying any of this applies to what you are dealing with or have dealt with. But typically that is what I notice when I see a compressor in this type of condition. I believe this is what my fellow technicians are saying. Does this mean there was permanent winding damage that could be picked up from a megger? I suppose it would depend on how long that particular compressor ran under those conditions. But what it should tell good technician is not that the compressor is “on its way out” but to look more deeply into the system performance and check for some of the issues I stated above. Just my two cents.
I have a Whole House Contract through a reputable local company for my built home. Same thing. Checks twice a year. Expedited service. Discounts on repairs. Great video.
Thank you for a good understanding of the AC.
I have been a victim to dishonest AC tech and replaced my havoc. Thank you for making this video.
Love your videos! Always informative and well done.
You forgot to add "Earwig in the contactor" I have had it happen twice. An earwig gets smashed between the contacts and the compressor won't start. Most contactors can be taken apart and cleaned rather than replaced.
I had approx 6 companies come out, telling each that i was doing rate comparison. They each said compressor without me telling them. This was the only way i was convinced maybe my compressor was actually out. Its still hard to trust. I went ahead and got a brand new system $4000 lennox. 2 months later with a short circuit board now i am back without ac. To have them come out to trouble shoot the installation they charged me 89$.
I understand your point and I also feel a lot of residential HVAC guys can be dishonest and companies overcharge. At the same time the prices are based off of not only labor but overhead cost (rent, vans, tools, etc)
I used to change a lot of Compressors out. Here’s the problem, if you can afford a new unit people for goodness sake do it. A compressor has a 1 year warranty. A new unit should have a 10 year if your installer registers it like they are supposed to. Compressor are so expensive now not like they were a few years back. Not to mention the refrigerant and all the other parts if it’s done properly. If you spend a fortune on a compressor and something else goes, you’ll wish you would have just bit the bullet and replaced it. There are exceptions if you have a unit not very old then yeah maybe take a chance. But I’ve been in situations where I change a compressor only to discover the reversing valve is bad. So, there you go.
Hvac tech here in arizona, and I agree with everything but the ez flow filters. I don't use pleated air filters in my home because they restrict Airflow. I don't want to restrict Airflow to my Coil. Serviced a guy about a month ago. All I did was remove his filter and got my split, it made a whistling type of noise by return like it was struggling to get air. I use ez flow in my house, the more expensive ones ain't bad I just rather not use them.
Depends if you have enough filter surface area and it keeps youre static pressure within range..
Best thing home owners can do: pan tabs, no rinse evaporator cleaner, annual condenser cleaning. $75 a year, and keeps you from overpaying unless there is a real issue. Also, no pleated filter, go cheap and change it monthly. Airflow is a huge, and often overlooked.
I recently busted a technician from a very reputable company who went to my 85 year old mother's home for their "annual inspection". They were not aware i was there inside and as i was watching tv all of a sudden hot air was blowing from ac. I went outside and tech turned white as a ghost. He had my mom outside with him trying to show her the refrigerant was low (because he was actually releasing it!) Long story short, not to upset my mother i had to walk away before knocking this jerk out and now my mom was kinda forced into adding like 3lbs of refrigerant. Getting upset at me because these jerks have a name on there shirt saying ac tech and wanting to believe and have faith that a reputable company would never do such a thing. Before this he told her as well she needed to replace a working uv light bulb inside the handler which would of been only $375 just for a uv bulb! BS! Found the same one for $80 online and i feel having to replace that yearly (even if still works) and tried to scare my mother into bringing up covid and bacteria, ect. I must say this entire ac system was replaced 5 years ago including all the lines under the house, ect. Another BS scam on the elderly just because she may have a nice home, taken care of and may appear to have money, so she wouldn't Even tell me what they charged for that. However close to $10k that being said next time I'm setting up a hidden camera because even this reputable company didn't refund my mom for anything as she is too passive and didn't really press the issue as i would and made me promise not to say or do anything as it is her house. Her money. Which is true. However these punk technicians pray on the elderly and they know exactly who they are and all i can hope for is Karma on these crooks!! Buyer Beware and look out for the elderly!!!
@@radbronson7018 As an elderly female I agree, and it is not limited to HVAC companies/technicians. I am afraid to hire anybody for anything, and that’s a shame.
Enjoy your HVAC, especially how to check the compressor windings.
I had an hvac repair man tell me that my Goodman unit was using and was only good for an older type re-frigerant that isn't being used any more. He said it was very difficult to get and that not many servicers have it.
This is why I learned the trade myself. I have all of the equipment which more than paid for itself after one service call. HVAC is pretty easy, but it’s a process and equipment intensive.
Thank you for the information, when i bought my house i had a ac problem, the tech fixed in 5 minutes and charge me $1500
@@adrianchum2573 Yep!
Great info. Truly appreciate your videos
Thanks! A+ on that soft start. Love mine.
Just changed mine thank you for the video . Only spent 17 dollars 👍🏻
I have to assume the Megohmeter is basically a Meg-ohm resistance meter. I'm guessing since the measurement is from the case of the compressor to each winding that it measures whatever leakage is occurring between the windings & the case. Interesting to me that this is a common failure with theses compressors since there is no other electrical connection between the compressor windings and the case/ground to make it function. I also have to think that these compressors can also fail if a winding just goes bad without electrically leaking or flat out shorting to the case. Very cool information.
Great video! Is that compressor tester good for other compressor e.g. window units, refrigerator, etc... great info!! thanks for the feedback!
Ide rather use a cheap filter that’s not choking down my system. I’ve actually seen units freezing up over one of those fancy junk filters. Better to use a cheaper filter it will work.
Used to use cheap ones but found out they will let a lot of dust pass through and it over time will collect on the damp evaporator coils, then when I went to fire up gas furnace in the fall, as the evaporator coils heated up, I got the usual smell and sometimes visible smoke from registers. Switched to #5 pleated filters & no more nasty smell or smoke on 1st fall furnace startup.
I'm an H.V.A.C tech of 40 years. Never buy or use an air filter you can see through. Capacitors are a big issue and has a lot to do on how they are installed. Because they feel the same heat load that the motor they are connected to, they have be installed in a way so they can
shed heat. I don't like selling maintenance contracts , but take extra time training the customer on how they can do it. It's all about keeping it clean , and possibly having it serviced every other year if needed.
thanks! do we need to add soda+ vinegar ?
Great video! Where did you get (what's it called?) that UV cover wrap for the outside HVAC suction line starting @6:13?? I want to apply the same to my outside line. They get beat pretty bad here FL, thanks.
Great information packed video. I learned a ton. Thank you!
I’ve had my system American Standard, checked twice a year for $300.00 (Spring and Fall) since it was installed. I’ve had this system for 15 years with only a blower motor failing under warranty. I change the filters every 3 months.
Don't forget to set your shop vac up for water suction.
Looking for the Space Balls vacuum gif now. . .
No way 😮
Looks like you have some sweet new insulation on those AC lines!
Yes he does and it is just for looks.
It is 100% unnecessary!!
Insulation is to keep the condensation from damaging any material it might drip on.
Only time it MIGHT be an efficiency thing is if the lines run in a space that is extremely hot. That is a very low % loss in those situations. In those cases, both lines should be insulated.
I can perform every item you went over and have saved thousands doing g my own A/C maintenance 😊
Absolutely! It is great.
I JUST got charged $1200 (CA) for replacing my capacitor and unclogged a drain line...... and I just watched this! :( I wont be paying that again!
I don't begrudge techs charging $150+ to do a good cleaning. I do my units myself, but it takes me at least an hour each to do a good clean. We get a lot of cottonwood, so it really tends to pack in the coils.
Most of them don't do a good clean. Just hose it down and call it a day. Glad it sounds like you take pride in your work.
Thanks for the video! I called to have an A/C tech tune and clean my A/C. He told me he couldn't clean it because I had a hail guard on it and it would cost $400. I told him I didn't want to pay for that. He gave me an estimate to replace problem parts for $6500. I told him it was still working so I didn't do anything else. I felt like I was ripped off because he didn't clean the coils. He did show me I had 2 capacitors that were out of spec. Should I replace the capacitors right away or wait for problems? Right now it's working fine. I bought replacement capacitors and plan to DIY.
Assuming you meant capacitors instead of condensers, go ahead and replace them. Also keep spares on-hand.
@@GNXClone You're right, I meant capacitors. Do you know if the old capacitors are harming the A/C unit if I don't replace them right away? My 28 year old air conditioner has never needed them to be replaced. I live in MN and it doesn't get the amount of use as A/C units in southern states.
@@gregs250 No, they won’t hurt anything. When they go, usually either the fan or the compressor won’t start. I did have one cap which had exploded its guts out. Usually they just swell.
@@GNXClone Thank you. That’s what I thought.
@@gregs250 You really want to replace them if they are out of tolerance. The capacitors are responsible for the phase shift which runs the compressor and motors. When they are out of tolerance, you stress the motors and compressor and will shorten their lifespan.
On my own A/C unit, my compressor was overheating and shutting down, and I found the capacitor was 50% out of tolerance, vs +/- 6% is the actual spec.
Once I replaced the capacitor, the compressor worked flawlessly with no overheating. Get Made in USA capacitors like Amrad, Mars or similar, which will last far longer.
This message is for the host: how to home. Can you please do a video on this exact same topic for a mini split with hoses coming out of the left or right side. Thank you
Best HVAC video I've ever seen!🎉❤
You are very welcome! Really glad to hear you liked it. Thanks a lot for taking the time to leave that feedback!
I don't call big HVAC companies, to take care if my unit. They have too many overhead expenses that why charge charge too much. I have my HVAC contract, he's Licensed, honest & experience. An honest individual contractor charges half of what big Companies charge.
My dad bought (8) 30lb tanks of R22 before it was regulated. It has saved a significant cost over the years.
No one will clean the coils and drain lines. Any time the drain stops up, it's an indication that the unit is dirty. Just cleaning the drain out does not really fix the main problem.
Using those cheap EZ flow green filters allows a lot of dust to pass through & stick to damp evaporator coil. This is especially true if one tries to get more than a months use from cheap filters.
Subscribed after the first visit
Great information. Thanks
Valuable information. Appreciate your time.
The megohm tester is a bit pricey for a homeowner's occasional use - is there a site or YT video that describes how to test with a multimeter?
There are videos of it on youtube. Make sure to disconnect power to unit first. If you add the ohms of common and run terminals to the ohms of common and start terminals, it should equal the run and start ohms. For example, if common and run is .5 ohms and common and start is 2.3, then your run and start ohms should be 2.8.
Excellent info.... thanks. 👍👍👍👍👍
Great info! Nice job!
Excellent Video!
Thanks! I appreciate what you do. ❤
You are very welcome! And thank you very much for the kind words Wayne!
Change your capacitor(s) and especially the contactor every 3 years in the off-season as a preventative measure that costs less than $40. An intermittent worn contactor can damage your system due to low voltage and transients. Bad capacitors can overheat and damage wires, etc. Change these components before they fail, typically during the hottest time of the year. It is cheap insurance for an expensive system. It's also a good idea to keep a cap and contactor on hand, as Murphy would agree with!
Sweeeet. I'm getting that compressor tool for sure.
Makes it super easy!
@@HowToHomeDIY I see.
Wow this video is fantastic! Thanks very much!!
Thank you so much for the helpful advice and tips
11 years with no service contract. At 150 dollars a year that means I have saved $1,650 dollars. I have replace one bad capacitor, cleaned the blower motor squirrel cage once and cleaned the outside coils.
I have a very good furnace, no problem.
My a/c has a microscopic leak. The
A/C unit uses R22.
I won’t be able to have it serviced because they won’t sell R22 after this season so I’ll have to replace a great furnace with a crappy new one that won’t last half as long as the one I have now.
Where can I get R22?
They can still service and add r-22. It’s very pricey.
@@rogerhoffstetter2807
My HVAC guy told me this is the last time he can refill the R22, they aren’t making it anymore which is know is incorrect because most of the world still uses it as their primary refrigerant. The last time he refilled it he charged me $800.00 for two pounds.
I have since found it online (unavailable to me) for
$850.00 for a thirty pound tank. I hate all these restrictions.
Yeah he’s full of it. Can still easily get a 30 pound tank of r22 for $800-850. But 410a is like $300-400. So it is more expensive but there is no reason to say it’s the last time because they aren’t making it. Just isn’t true.
Question - we have a newer Trane unit and it has the "fluffy" coils rather than the "typical" radiator coil fins. Someone did tell me that you only rinse them off since if you put coil cleaner on them, it degrades or destroys the fragile aluminum... 1. is this true? 2. Ho would you suggest cleaning the coils on a Trane?
I have the same unit, and most the A/C guys appear to just dilute their coil cleaner way down when using it to clean the Spine Fins coils Trane uses. People appear to use the shower or spray function to wash them, pointing the spray down at a 45 degree angle and not using too much pressure appears to work fine.
The cleaner they appear to use is the Nu Brite Foaming Coil Cleaner diluted way down. The normal dilution ratio in a low pressure sprayer like a bug sprayer is around 4:1. I would figure 10:1 should be pretty safe.
To apply the cleaner to the coils and let it foam up, you can either use a hand pump sprayer, or a battery operated one like Lowes sells for around $100 or so, which is the Kobalt 2.11 gallon Plastic Pump Sprayer.
I don't like disassembling the cabinet, so I just rinse it first with the shower function, from the inside out. Use the sprayer to spray upwards towards the coil all around. Let it foam for about 10 minutes. Then wash the cleaner out from the inside out again.
My condenser unit sits between the house and a wall with no vegetation, so it mostly just gets dusty over time.
Technicly the windings could be fine but rotor could be locked sometimes
Is there anyway to service some of the rust/ treat the rust on the condenser/compressor? Con I slow or stop the rust with paints or rust treatment?
Yes, you can. Google corrosion protection. I have one on my unit, it's a sacrificial piece of Zinc that attracts rust and corrosion.
Fun fact: They put them on our military's battle ships for the same purpose 😊
The proper coil cleaner is liquid sodium hydroxide, and is sold in 1 gallon jugs for about $35.00. The inside coil also needs cleaning, and almost no one will do it.
Bro. You’re pro!
Thank you!
Thank you for all the great content. Are all capacitors create equal? Seems Amazon is full of Chinese products. Can you recommend some brands?
You are very welcome. I would say that they are not quite created equal. Can usually get around 2-3 more years out of a USA made capacitor. Then it becomes about the price and is it worth the extra money. AmRad and Titan HD are 2 reputable made in the USA brands. Make sure it isn't Titan Pro, they are made in China. AmRads are usually more expensive than the titans but are a great cap.
Thank you very informative
You are very welcome! Really glad to hear you liked it. Thanks a lot for the feedback!