Outside Unit not working.
#1
06-06-15, 09:16 AM
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Outside Unit not working.
I'm a teen asking this question for my parents so please try not to be too technical lol.
Anyways last night, we had a thunderstorm come through. It was mostly rain, a few thunder here and there with some lightning. Nothing too big. But after the storm ended, i notice our air vents was blowing out room temperature air. Went downstairs to check thermostat. It was set to 73 and inside temp was 77. I turned off the ac. Tried again this morning same thing. But when I turn it on it doesn't give the usual click sound but you can hear the furnace thing or whatever its called turn on.
At this point, I realize the outside unit isnt working at all. No humming sound, fan isnt moving, nothing. No frozen pipes or anything, the unit itself just doesnt want to turn on. What could be the problem? Is it costly?
Just wanted to add. I turned it on again and this time I heard a very low buzzing .
Anyways last night, we had a thunderstorm come through. It was mostly rain, a few thunder here and there with some lightning. Nothing too big. But after the storm ended, i notice our air vents was blowing out room temperature air. Went downstairs to check thermostat. It was set to 73 and inside temp was 77. I turned off the ac. Tried again this morning same thing. But when I turn it on it doesn't give the usual click sound but you can hear the furnace thing or whatever its called turn on.
At this point, I realize the outside unit isnt working at all. No humming sound, fan isnt moving, nothing. No frozen pipes or anything, the unit itself just doesnt want to turn on. What could be the problem? Is it costly?
Just wanted to add. I turned it on again and this time I heard a very low buzzing .
Last edited by sjstevenson; 06-06-15 at 10:08 AM.
#2
06-06-15, 09:37 AM
Member
Since you had a thunderstorm, the problem may be electrical. There may be a dedicated circuit breaker in the breaker panel for the outside unit (compressor/condenser). There should also be an outside electrical disconnect near the outside unit. Some of the outside disconnects contain fuses.
Check the circuit breakers first. If in doubt, flip the breaker to OFF, then ON. If the breakers are good, then check the outside electrical disconnect. If your disconnect is a Square-D unit, you may have a problem with it. See posts #4 & #8 in the following thread: http://www.doityourself.com/forum/ai...t-problem.html
Check the circuit breakers first. If in doubt, flip the breaker to OFF, then ON. If the breakers are good, then check the outside electrical disconnect. If your disconnect is a Square-D unit, you may have a problem with it. See posts #4 & #8 in the following thread: http://www.doityourself.com/forum/ai...t-problem.html
#3
06-06-15, 10:45 AM
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Thanks. We haven't tried anything yet. We have a tech coming out in about an hour or so to check things out. My mom said something about them telling her our home isn't grounded, whatever that suppose to mean. Said it may be electrical like you said but since we arent educated on any of this, we're just gonna let the tech handle it and I will report back here.
#4
06-06-15, 10:52 AM
Forum Topic Moderator
Storms often take out capacitors.
I have had to come back and replaced caps that I just checked after storms.
Another problem that can occur is the compressor shuts off on thermal protection if you don't have a digital thermostat or a 5 minute time delay in the outdoor unit. 3 horsepower motors don't handle short cycling as well as light bulbs.
And as already posted breakers often trip during storms.
I have had to come back and replaced caps that I just checked after storms.
Another problem that can occur is the compressor shuts off on thermal protection if you don't have a digital thermostat or a 5 minute time delay in the outdoor unit. 3 horsepower motors don't handle short cycling as well as light bulbs.
And as already posted breakers often trip during storms.
#5
06-06-15, 10:52 AM
Group Moderator
The power probably went off and back on so quickly that the compressor tried to restart under load. That would cause the protection breaker to trip or the protection fuses to blow like Bob mentioned.
#6
06-06-15, 12:40 PM
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@houston204 This is exactly what the problem was. We got a new one and we are up and running again. Thanks for the help!
