Central air condenser unit failing?

Hello. I had my Bryant central a/c condenser unit replaced 9 years ago along with the inside coils. My condenser unit just failed this weekend (I just turned off the whole system). Actually I knew something was up a few weeks ago as the inside blower would go on but the condenser would 'try' to start 60 seconds later (it used to start exactly the same time the blower did). Eventually, after about 4 or 5 minutes ('tries') the condenser would kick in and all would be relatively ok. Now all that happens is the inside blower goes on and I hear a 'click' from the outside condenser unit every 60 seconds. This continues forever and nothing else happens - other than slowly raising the indoor temperature of recycled hot air.

Question: As the unit was replaced 9 years ago is it time for a new unit - I don't think so (quoted $1500 for new 3 ton unit incl installation)? The fins on the outside of the condenser are in good shape and the motor sounds ok - except for a bit of rust on the top plate covering the fan motor).

Can they repair/swap out condenser parts rather than install a whole new unit? Is it worth it?

Thanks, Walter

Reply to
Walter Cohen
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It could be that your condenser fan motor bearings are binding (due to age, wear, or lack of lubrication), or maybe the motor has a bad winding that shorts out when it gets hot. Your condenser fan motor's run capacitor could be bad. In any of those cases when the motor get hot it seizes and shuts down on an overtemp condition. Subsequently the compressor will stop running due to the opening of a high pressure limit switch. If you see this happening, shut off the A/C as soon as you notice it. This scenario isn't good for compressor life. It sounds like you've already figured this out!

You might also have an intermittent contactor (the relay that turns on the power to the compressor / fan), or it could even be something as simple as a corroded or loose wire. Then there are any number of more esoteric things that could be wrong.

Call a tech - find out exactly what's wrong, then decide if you want to fix or replace.

Reply to
Travis Jordan

Do not try to run the system any more until you have a *competent*, licensed, professionally trained, HVAC technician to come and actually diagnose what the problem is and correct it instead of just selling you a new unit.

Reply to
Noon-Air

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