Air conditioners are made up of various components, each with a specific function that enables the entire cooling system to work efficiently. One of these essential parts is the capacitor. A capacitor basically acts like a temporary battery; it stores voltage and then sends that voltage to the motors so that your AC can start up and continue running.
Capacitors don’t normally last as long as the AC unit itself, so they’ll have to be replaced at some point. In this post, AC repair experts at Air Products & Services list some common signs that indicate your AC’s capacitor is already in bad shape.
“Hard starting” occurs when the AC compressor finds it hard to start up. then makes a booming noise when it finally turns on. You should be wary of incidents like this because they can cause a full breakdown fof your AC system. Additionally, it places extra stress on the other components, which could potentially put the compressor at risk. If it overheats and fails, you’ll have no other choice but to replace it.
Replacing the compressor isn’t cheap, though. In many cases, it’s more cost-effective to opt for air conditioning replacement instead.
AC systems typically have two capacitors. When one or both of these capacitors fail, the motor connected to them will create a humming sound and fail to continue running. Moreover, once you hear a humming from your AC, make sure to stop using it and call a pro immediately. Otherwise, the motor will likely grow hot and eventually burn out. This will require you to replace the entire motor.
Rising energy bills are usually an offshoot of hard starting.. Remember that AC systems use the most power while starting up and cycling off. So when you notice hard starting or other odd symptoms from your AC, have an expert check the unit as soon as possible.
Has your AC been acting up lately? Air Products & Services has an effective AC troubleshooting system that will help you pinpoint and fix the problem. Call us at (818) 989-2030 or fill out our contact form to request a quote. We serve customers in Tarzana, CA.