How to Tell If AC Capacitor Is Bad. A FL Tech Answers.

Have you seen all those memes about how much Floridians love to watch winter scenes on the TV? Living in a tropical climate is a good enough reason to make us feel smug about our beautiful surroundings and mild climate. However, if the air conditioner breaks down, it’s a whole other story. That smile on your face when reading about shoveling snow becomes a forgotten memory as you stress to figure out how to fix the problem before your entire family melts.

While there are many parts that are essential for an air conditioner to work efficiently, in this blog, we’ll provide an overview of one of its main components: the capacitor.

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What Is an AC Capacitor?

Everything with a motor has a capacitor. This nifty AC part, also called a run capacitor, is the item that charges and starts the motor when you turn on your air conditioner. It looks like an oversized round battery.

Symptoms of a Bad AC Capacitor

The most common indicators that you may be having issues with your air conditioner capacitor are as follows:

• When you turn on the AC, it sometimes takes a while to start
• Once it starts, you can hear a humming sound
• It does not cool your home
• AC shuts off randomly
• AC won’t start at all

The most concerning factors (taking a while to start or not starting at all) are dead giveaways. But if the only issue you’re experiencing is an AC that’s not cooling your home, you may also be dealing with dirty air filters or a refrigerant leak.

How to Test Your AC Capacitor

The best thing you can do when a major part of your air conditioner is not working is to call an HVAC professional. If you’d prefer to give it a try on your own, always remember to shut off power to your air conditioner before you begin.

Step 1. Turn off your AC. Turn it off at the thermostat and at the breaker panel.

Step 2. Perform a continuity test. Once that’s done, you’ll need to get a multimeter and do a continuity test. If you don’t already have one, you can buy it at any hardware store.

Step 3. Locate your AC condenser. To access the run capacitor, locate your air conditioner’s condenser unit. If you live in a single family home, it’ll be outside, somewhere along one of the exterior walls. If you live in an apartment, it’ll likely be in the same closet as your furnace.

Step 4. Test Your AC Capacitor. Use a screwdriver to remove the side panel and watch this video tutorial to learn how to test the capacitor.

If the process sounds too complicated, we’re here to help. All you have to do is give us a call at any time and we’ll gladly come to your home or business to fix your AC capacitor.

Contact Climate Design for AC Services in Tampa Bay

At Climate Design, we provide AC installation, maintenance, and repair services all over Tampa Bay: Clearwater, Largo, Palm Harbor, South Tampa, St. Pete Beach, Eastlake, Tarpon Springs, Safety Harbor, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Palmetto, and New Port Richey.

If you think you’re having AC capacitor issues, we can help! Call us 24/7.