I just got ripped off this way. I was charged $2,000 to replace the capacitor and the fan motor. After it was all done I looked up the part numbers and it was just under $300 in parts. This is a very highly rated HVAC company in central Texas. Never again.
@@diyhvacguy You must not be very popular amongst your HVAC brothers in the US mate ? I can’t believe that unlicensed people can purchase refrigerant let alone you on line showing how charge up units and install units ?? EPA over your way should take that license off you giving away our trade secrets , good work champ .
My cousin got his HVAC career started on a bad capacitor. He began with a large HVAC company but got tired of constantly being pressured to sell optional repairs and stuff. So, he branched out on his own. One of his mom's friends called her for an HVAC referral because she had just been told she needed a whole new unit, and she wanted a second opinion. His mom told her about him, and all he had to do was replace the capacitor. He didn't charge her anything even though she insisted. She bought a half-page ad for him for her church's program for some function, and that ad was what kickstarted him. Sorry for the long story, but having heard it a bajillion times, I couldn't help myself.
I was quoted $550.00 to replace my run capacitor and told him to go. I bought one on Amazon for $18.36 and took me 15 minutes to put it on! Thanks for being honest to your viewers!
Wrong, it's all about training, knowledge, having the right parts on hand. The heart surgeon spends about $50 on the stint and sutures, but charges $ thousands because it's not the cost of the parts, it's the knowledge and then having the correct pieces, instruments, etc. The biggest question on failed capacitor, is why it failed. Yes, sometimes it's just the capacitor itself, but often not so. A short cycling unit for whatever reason (sometimes just weak batteries in the thermostat will cause this, or low/high refrigerant levels, a faulty high or low voltage wire connection, overheating, etc), will burn out a capacitor pretty fast. What happens when the wires to the capacitor are reconnected incorrectly? Or, not understanding the amp draws from the compressor, fan motor, or the need for a start kit assist on an older unit? Or, a thousand other things. If the HVAC trade is so easy and reportedly deceptive, everyone should stop calling them, including you. But, you won't because all you did this time was use the information the HVAC tech told you, and you changed capacitor, got lucky it worked and then thought of yourself invincible.
Comparing a surgen to a HVAC tech is laughable. There is of course things that you should leave to the tech like replacing an entire unit or anything that requires refigerant leaking. Changing out the starter cap is super simple if you basic electronic saftey skills. Thats something easily gained with very little effort. My blower motor was partially shorted and that looked fairly easy to me to do myself using repair clinic to get the parts quickly. It took longer for me to do it than a tech, but i saved a huge amount of money learning to do it myself. If you can turn a wrench, you can replace a motor. I highly recommend the multi-meter to verify no voltage present. Those things are cheap. I have a nice Fluke 79 that i've had since the 90's.
@@michaelkrailo5725 The more you talk the less this 22 year Veteran agrees with you. I'm a licensed journeyman HVAC tech with 22 years experience. I can't begin to even know everything and learn something new all the time. They told me when I was hired maybe 1 in 1,000 guys (there are no women) can do this job. Are you the one? It's not only the technical stuff but also physical strength, determination, not afraid of heights, crawlspaces, 140+ degree attics, bad neighborhoods/criminals, 24/7/356 hours, working out in the rain/cold/heat/snow etc etc. The more you dumb down us REAL guys the less you know about it...believe me. For instance do you know how to measure a capacitor? You need a specialty test meter that reads Microfarads and there is a procedure to doing it correctly and without getting shocked. Unless you are professionally trained and licensed you are nothing more than a parts changer. A REAL HVAC tech could give a Navy SEAL or 1st SFOD-D Delta Force guy a run for their money any day of the week.....
When my uncle died I worked on his house getting it ready to sell and found something dangerous like that. Someone wired an outlet for him all wrong. The hot (black) wire was connected to the ground on the outlet but wasn't connected to anything in the breaker panel. The ground wire (bare copper) was connected to the neutral (silver screws) side of the outlet and it ran back up to the buss bar in the panel. The neutral (white) wire was connected to, yep you guessed it, the brass screws where the hot wire should be and it ran back up to the hot side of the breaker. I'm not an electrician but that seemed really sketchy to me. I only found it because I was testing the outlets and that one showed an open ground.
I was once was charged $500 by a "good friend" HVAC repairman to change the capacitor. I remember telling my wife" This guy is ripping me off." I even asked him how much the part was, and he said, "It's around $500, so I won't charge for labor." Needless to say, he's no longer a friend. That's why I say TH-cam was the best thing to happen to DIYers. Thanks for all you do. You've saved us millions of dollars.
Yeah I had a capacitor replaced last year through a friends "friend", he charged $300 for a new capacitor and the install. I thought I was getting a good deal until I saw this video. I'm just gonna keep replacing capacitors ever summer if I have to and let this AC unit limp along until I actually HAVE TO replace it. I know it's not efficient, but one company was trying to charge me $10k for a new AC and furnace (which I didn't need) but if I just got the AC it would have been like $7.5k. They didn't even check the capacitor, they just told me it was dead and I needed to replace the whole thing. F those people man.
Same story here. Years ago one of my rentals ac went out on a dang Saturday. All the stores were closed. Called me neighbor who is in ac. Told him the exact problem and asked him to fix it. $300 later and a few words we no longer talk. He even pulled out the price book. I told him to shove it. I normally spend around 15 for the part at fox appliance.
Ok hear me out . $2000.. that’s a rip off even $500 .. but your paying for the service mechanic to come and fix your AC .. $150_$300. Is reasonable.. you are paying for the knowledge and experience.. and service .. they’ve got to make a living to .. I’m a plumber sometimes I go to a job .. and say the toilets running and it’s just a fluid master adjustment which is a 30 second adjustment. I have to get paid for my service … I went to a job that was a huge mansion the owner was a surgeon … his shower head was loose he didn’t know how to tighten the screw on the shower head .. it took me 1 minute I could’ve charged 3-$500 ..but I have a conscience and just charges him a service call … but my point is he didn’t have the knowledge to know how to tighten that shower head … yet he could take out your kidney and replace it .. the point being your paying for my experience and knowledge.
Im a one man Hvac business owner. Im licensed and insured 21 years experience in Florida. Today 5/25/24 I got a service call. I charged 395 dollars for a 45/5 capacitor,1.5 Lbs of 410a,new valve cores(They were leaking), new valve core caps and a I vacuumed the drain line. We are not all out here to screw you over.
Yes keep your overhead low, you made more on that one call than most people make in one day. I always tell people to find an independent guy like you rather than the big box companies
@@markme4 I had a situation where I called the "independent" who was on the Good Contractors List, promoted in the DFW area. He was a "bible thumper" and named his business after a book in the Bible. The replacement compressor was provided by the manufacturer free under warranty but he still charged for it. We were several days with out A/C on a hot July day and he was the only one who returned my call and came out of all the service providers I called. I got "hosed" but we couldn't go on indefinitely with out A/C. The compressor failed because it overheated due to the blockage of the cooling fins. Since then I clean the cooling fins around the compressor every spring.
Man, my AC went down in the middle of a heat wave a couple years ago because the capacitor failed. I called one of the big name HVAC companies in town. Thankfully, the tech that came out had my back. He said he had to charge me the $90 service call fee no matter what. But I could either pay another $500 for him to fix it or try to replace the capacitor myself. He wrote down the part # and address to the supply house for me. I decided to try to fix it myself. I about fainted when the supply house said it was only $20! 🤯🤯 I replaced the capacitor EZPZ and called that tech directly and told him I owe him dinner or a case of beer. I think this video will be a lifesaver for some people like that tech was for me. 👍🏻👍🏻
I had an HVAC guy come out for a service call after I tried to self-diagnose why my unit wasn't running. I took your advice and ordered a new capacitor (from your link) and replaced it. I took before-and-after pictures to make sure I connected the proper terminals. When the tech arrived, I told him I had replaced the capacitor, but nothing had changed. He insisted I wired it wrong. When I showed him the pictures before and after, he insisted the original capacitor was wired wrong. That's when I knew it was time to call for a different tech. The next guy found a small leak in the rusted-out dryer filter. Thanks for this video; it helped weed out bad techs.
Amen dude, i had a similar situation to you. A/C died during summer heat, then i called a big brand HVAC service and they sent a tech out. He said it would be $780 to replace the capacitor and the motherboard (second part wasn't actually called a 'motherboard' but it was where the capacitor and other wires connected). Thankfully the tech showed me exactly what needed replacing and why. Like you i took photos before i started removing things. $32 bucks later my capacitor had been replaced and my AC ran fine. Motherboard still works.
A cheap way to find leaks is to shut off the system for at least 30 mins to equalize pressures, then get a spray bottle with an inch of dawn soap at the bottom and water. Spray it all over everything you can see. Then run the system with a small towel over the condenser to get the discharge pressure as high as possible. Then spray it down again. When you’re done wash it off because it is corrosive over time.
@@edcox1630Control boards can sometimes cost several hundred and take several weeks to ship. York, Trane and Carrier have always been really bad about this. And that was before Covid and "supply chain". Thankfully with Carrier, the ICP and simialr boards are close enough clones, cheap and plentiful all over.
@@mikes2381 try and get a board for a Samsung mini split , no one here will stock all the boards they made over the years , they all come out of Texas , I just say mini splits are throw away units ,,
My pop’s worked HVAC manufacturing his whole life and I remember calling him when our AC went out 2 summers ago. The first thing he did was check the capacitor and told me to go ahead and order a new one. We got the new one, he showed me how to replace it, and that brought the unit back to life. He said I just saved you a ton of money and heartache.
Some HVAC gal was talking down to me about how the AC needed a $900 repair, but she wouldn't touch it until the circuit box was replaced AND there would be no warranty. I declined her uninspiring offer, opined that I didn't like her tone, and with that she left. $35 later I had a new cap in there. That was years ago, the HVAC still works.
As a mechanical engineer and frequent viewer of DIY Guy (among others), I find the DIY HVAC Guy offers the most concise and easy understood explanation of HVAC maintenance. This Guy has saved me money with everything from backup solar hookups to condenser cooling. And he does this with short and to the point videos. I have my spare capacitor on order now. Good stuff. Thanks.
If you were an electrical engineer, you would know that the run capacitor does not provide an extra “jolt of energy”. Only 1PH induction motors need them in order to spin the right direction. This clown is going to get someone hurt.
@@ardoinsofkaty5671 He is obviously not an Electrical Engineer. And if you are referring to the unit of measurement for induction, you meant “pH” (picohenry). If you are referring to the unit of measurement for power, you meant “HP” (horsepower). If you are referring to a motor’s phase, you meant “ph”, “φ”, “Ph”. Or “1P” or “SP” in this case. Either way, there is no such thing as a “PH” abbreviation in Electrical Engineering unless you are from a foreign country or it is specified on a set of drawings. To me, a clown is someone like you, not someone who is trying to help people. If he made a mistake, bring it up so we can all learn, don’t just insult the guy.
I myself had this exact same experience. I had the cap blow and needed a new one. I had to find out what the cap was rated which I found on the schematic on the unit. Then ordered the Turbo 200 for no reason other than made in the USA. Installed it myself and the saved $2500 an AC guy said it would cost. Great video.
@JCIK2311 plenty of other options that are made in the USA. But whatever floats your boat, I guess. Some people would rather pay more for features you don't need.
Guess HVAC is the profession to be in if you want to be able to rape other people's wallets. lol. $2,500 should be a new air conditioner. lol Hope your unit stays working strong for many years after you repaired it on your own. Good call!
Around here, most of the successful local owned HVAC companies have been purchased by private equity firms, who turn the techs into salesmen, on commission. This is a great video!
I'm an automotive locksmith and some times I have the opposite problem. This channel is dedicated to help people DIY. I get calls for simple things and try to walk the customers through over the phone so they don't have to have a service call. Some take me up on it but many either get annoyed and just say they don't want to try and would rather pay us to come out for a simple thing. The annoyed ones get mad and make snarky comments like if I wanted to do it myself I wouldn't have called you. lol I charge them accordingly. Once in a while I get a surprise from an older lady who is willing to crawl through glass to avoid a service call and I can usually get those people going.
Yeah I get the same thing with basic household repairs. I don't want to have to charge someone a bunch of money for something that's going to take no more than 5 minutes. It's just easier to walk them through it. Some people don't want to, that's fine, but I always start with "I don't want to have to charge you our minimum just for this." Some people are happy to pay to have you do it
Dude...thanks so much. I stumbled on this video a week BEFORE my capacitor failed (last night) with a peak heat of 98 F today. I went to Amazon and found a good capacitor eligible for overnight shipping. It arrived right when I removed the cover. Replaced it in 3 minutes, and now my air is cool again! I'm a subscriber for life. Thanks!
Had a tech come out and quote $2300 to replace my capacitor. Ordered one off of Amazon, being careful to mirror the specs on the old capacitor. Pulled the electrical disconnect, unfastened the capacitor (it was bulging on top), and I was careful to reinstall the wires where they were located on the old capacitor. Threw the old capacitor in the garbage and fired up my air conditioner. Worked like a charm. Saved $2285. And these HVAC guys had 4.9 stars on google and 5 stars on the the local classified here in Salt Lake City.
Google reviews and online reviews in general are easily fabricated or manipulated by knowledgeable website developers and optimization people. They can make fake reviews and/or pay people to make reviews. I sold my Optometry practice to a your doctor who then pumped up the numbers of positive reviews by trickery and paying a website optimization consultant to greatly increase reviews so that it appeared that the business was much larger and more successful than it actually was. At this point I generally don’t trust online reviews of businesses anymore. All it takes is money, not real reviews.
Just last summer my AC stopped working. I called a local independent HVAC contractor for the repair. I was quite pleased to find out he was very honest and reputable. He diagnosed the problem as a faulty factory capacitor. He only charged me $15 dollars for the capacitor and a $75 minimum response fee. But now, with your video, I am pretty confident that I can do this myself the next time the capacitor fails.
I've learned a TON about hvac (mainly AC) from you in the past 2 years. I now own a new house and I've bought a replacement capacitor, added a soft start kit, cleaned the coils and checked the refrigerant pressure, thanks to you and your videos! Genuinely appreciate what you're doing.
Cleaning the coils is something people largely don't do and not changing the air filter at least once every 3 months. Or get the wrong air filter and shorten the life of their air handler. I never go over Merv 11 for an air filter. The higher the Merv rating the more it restricts airflow and the harder your air handler has to work. Besides anything over a Merv 11 rating is overkill for 99% of people. I clean my coils at least once every 6 to 8 months on both my outside unit and air handler. Also, if your pour 1 cup of white vinegar down the evap drain pipe, monthly it will help prevent algae built up. A little scheduled maintenance can go a long way in how long your AC unit will last.
@@RhinoXpress I’ve gotten into a routine of changing my filter every time I pay my electric bill…once a month. I use an 8 merv filter. I do have my AC guy come late fall and spring to do a preventative maintenance on my system. I’m in Florida so that AC is running CONSTANTLY for about 10-11 months per year. He showed me how to clean the coils myself and also how to suck that condensation tube out with my little portable shop vac to clear it of slime. This keeps everything going well between his visits. A little maintenance goes a LONG WAY! I love this channel and have learned a great deal here. 💜💜
@@lizzieb6311 I pour a cup a vinegar down my evap drain pipe run off once a month, it helps eliminate and prevent algae over growth in the evap pipe run off.
Checking the pressures alone doesn’t really tell you how the system is functioning. The compressor is cooled by the returning refrigerant vapor and matters … if you’re going to do your own for the average homeowner it’s easier to measure the air temperature difference at both ends it should be within a degree of each other and depending on the latent load this differential can vary but is very revealing about system performance
@@RhinoXpress I need todo this…is your 2nd unit (not sure what that is called) up in the attic? That’s where mine is and I noticed a white PVC tube with a cap on it - looks to be same diameter of the tube that comes out of my wall outside. It’s next to the drip pan under the unit in attic.
Your video made me love my long time (21 years) AC Contractor EVEN MORE! Price put in a new capacitor into my failing unit last July to get me by until my new outdooor unit (which had to be ordered) came in…it worked and saved my in Florida for the four days until he got my new unit. He charged me $35 bucks to replace and install the capacitor. He’s the BEST and your videos prove this to me time and again 💜💜💜
He charged you that much cause he was selling you a new unit, more than likely. $35 is way too cheap and HVAC guys will starve with those kinds of prices.
I had a capacitor that needed changed on the air handler and the guy told me he's seen it hundreds of times because the manufacturers use a substandard capacitor that will only last as long as the warranty. He put in the better grade capacitor which cost a whopping $1 more than the substandard one that is OEM.
@@amiatroll6347 well, I’ve been using Price for over 20 years…he always treats me fairly and comes to me immediately when I have any issues. I’m blessed to have found these guys.
Also, I have these guys do PM’s on my system twice a year - so I use them when things are going fine as well… I appreciate him and they take care of me for my continued patronage.
Very well done video. I’m a very experienced electrical engineer, and a sort of half clueless HVAC tech, aka homeowner. This is indeed the easiest HVAC repair possible and you covered all the salient points, without going overboard on the death warnings. I admire that.
I've learned more from this young man for my 2 homes than anything or anyone Ive seen on TH-cam. Fantastic job. Also, if there are Hate comments, they are most likely the companies that charge $2000. A Houston based company called Elmers had a guy that tried to charge me $33,000 to change out my unit, attic unit and new ducts.... On a 2019 New Home! I Simply cleaned the fins and changed a capacitor and Ice Cold inside. Houston area folks, Beware of Elmers HVAC.
I had a heating/plumbing contractor tell me both of our 200 amp panels had to be replaced. Said they were oxidized and it would take a day and $25,000. A retired master electrician who did work for us said “so what, metal oxidizes.” The same company gave me a quote on an additional 75 amps of service. Can’t remember how much that was, but it was complicated and well over 10K. The retired electrician did it for $1500 and took a much-simpler approach. The company I mentioned called me and I had a long, civil conversation with them about how I could never do business with them again because the guys they sent were liars.
I do everything myself and will go as far as I can go before I have to call someone. This is great what you do. My dad had one replaced a couple of years ago and was charged 600 bucks because we didn't know we could do this ourselves. We know better now and thank you so much for what you do to help people.
Couple tips I do is to remove the disconnect and set it on top of the box and not the stored position. It’s easy to look at it and say “yes power is off”. Also, I take a marker and write the wire color on the side of the old capacitor so I don’t get confused later about wire location.
Excellent tutorial, clear and to the point. Additional tip: When visually inspecting the cap look for leaking at the top. When I did my yearly cleaning, inspection and ICM870 install this past spring I noticed a little clear oozing so I knew its days were numbered. My label was toast so I checked my install doc’s schematic for the cap rating and ordered two. For $10 each it’s cheap insurance.
Hey Man, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. It's been over 100 degrees here in SE Washington State for several days, and that trend will continue through at least the 22nd. It was 108 today, 110 yesterday and my AC stopped blowing cold air. Before I realized what was going on, it was 80 degrees inside the house! I had watched this video and another one of yours about the AC Capacitor remove and replace a few weeks ago. Based on these video's I ordered the proper capacitor from Amazon for like $15 so I had it on hand when the old one went out. I pulled the cover like you instructed, saw my capacitor was swollen, discharged it, removed it, and replaced it all in about 20 minutes which also included a good rinse of the fins on the unit. Turned the AC back on and the cold air is flowing freely. My kids are happy, Wife is happy, and I'm happy. Wife said I get a gold start for the day. I like the fact I just saved several hundred bucks on an easy peasy job. YOU ROCK HVAC Guy!!!!!
Had one blow and its case was visibly ruptured. My neighbor, an HVAC tech heard the capacitor blow from his patio and called my attention to it. He didn’t have the exact replacement on hand but jumped two together to get the correct number and had my unit back working on the hottest night of the year ! In the week ahead with the proper capacitor in hand he replaced the two he had jumped and it has worked great in the years since.
Came back from vacation last summer to my home in FL and the AC was out. Used the turbo cap I had bought years earlier in VA to get my AC system back up and running. Ordered a replacement cap. When it came a couple of days later swapped it out. Will keep the turbo cap ready for the next time I have a problem.
I called an air-conditioning company to come check the charge on my unit he checked it and added some gas and changed out the capacitor and wanted to charge 200 for it. I asked the guy why did he change the capacitor? The compressor was running the fan was running. There was nothing wrong with it. he said, the one I put in there is better than the one you have, I said but it’s working so, put it back and take that charge off the bill. 4 years later it still works.
Thank you so much! I ordered the Turbo 200 and installed it simply based on your video. Thank you sooo much! My house was at 82 degrees, but is already at 78 after an hour of it operating correctly. My capacitor was worn out enough that I couldn’t locate Herm, Fan, or Common. I discharged the unit as instructed in the video, and ended up using Q-Tips to remove the build up of dust and dirt. The photo helped, but I also marked the connections with “R” for red, “B” for brown, and “BW” for brown with a white line. I have a Coleman unit and the capacitor is 35+5(plus/minus) 6% 37CAVAC/B. My unit only needed 3 connections: Red wire = Common Brown = HERM Brown with white stripe = Fan Thank you again for the safety guidance and detailed education of how to do this simple fix. Many thanks from a grateful South Dakota family!!
Thanks for all the videos! Had a cap go bad on me after 3yr usage, new construction. Fan still worked, compressor couldn't kick on, only heard a quick buzz noise. Have a hvac friend, and tested it super quick, lucky had the exact capacitor I needed and he had that universal one, was cool to look at it. After this quick fix repair, I've education myself with video knowledge and already purchased a back up, I'm much more familiar with my condenser unit now and ready if it fails again. My old capacitor didn't have any swelling or leaking, the top of it was rusted, but now I know how to test one with my multimeter and the herm was only reading 6.5 of 45 and the fan was 5 of 5, which explains why the fan still turned on, but not the compressor.
I paid $200 to have a new capacitor and compressor heating strip installed since the original heating unit had rusted away. This involved 2 trips to my house for the serviceman. So I think that was a great deal. He just asked that I consider him for when the unit eventually would need replacement.
An HVAC guy wrote up a replacement estimate for "only" $395 a few years ago. After watching a short video like this, I -- a total electrical novice-- ordered one for about $15 and put it in in less than 10 minutes. Easy peazy, but be sure to discharge it!!!
usually a bad cap is not the problem, rather a symptom of other issues. why is your unit drawing so much power it blows a cap? dirty coil, hi-low charge, tired compressor.
@@whatilearnttoday5295 in 30 years i've never heard of anyone discharging or getting shocked by a cap typically no one discharges. i imagine you've watched vids or what ever but getting shocked is no likely
Because of ethical folks like you on YT, I was able to replace the cap myself, add a hard start kit as well (recommended by the Goodman service manual) , replace a defective temp sensor and replace the fan motor on a 15 year old Goodman heat pump. I too was told that I needed a new heat pump, and at the least, a new compressor for multiple thousands of $$. My cost, all in (motor, caps, temp sensor and replacing a few connectors = $225. ($150 of that was the new fan motor). Took about 1.5 hours. It's been running flawlessly for 3 years now. Thanks, keep it coming!
When I replaced my fan motor on a unit that was 30 years old, I had to take the old motor to an AC shop so they could remove the fan blade from the spindle, which, with all my efforts, I could not do.
Great job !! Can you imagine all the helpless elderly & homeowners being robbed !!! You should start a little business being a second opinion basic HVAC guy just to go out & inspect if someone unit need to actually be replaced 😊
I am clear and direct with all my customers if asked on markups. I show people what needs to be done and educate them. I even showed a customer how to clean his own condenser recently..however, i just returned to his home from a service call and i found out he tapped a screw straight through his condenser coil.. a few weeks ago a client of mine plugged a high voltage wire to the low voltage side of thecontactor.... these people were proclaimed to be mechanically inclined and motivated. I was happy to help and i was confident in them.. Now I'm having to charge them 1000's to fix their equipment.. You have a great channel and i sincerely respect your motive behind helping people but you gotta understand that experience is well worth a markup. If an experienced tech occasionally fucks up, imagine what a novice homeowner or DIY guy can do...
Very well said. Experience is invaluable. It’s easy to make a mistake when working with electricity and high voltage capacitors. It may seem easy to us but to your average Joe who’s looking from the other side could get the surprise of their life.
Believe me I've been working on these for years. It's well worth the price of a experienced technician to come out and fix your unit. These units can be very delicate at times and it takes experience and Steady Hand to repair them properly. It's well worth the price to hire a professional.
I am an experienced technician, and sometimes I call for technician to help, two heads are better than one sometimes, and one can always learn something. I pay another technician to come out and help me out of my own pocket, and each time I learn something. The education is well worth the money and a whole lot cheaper than making a mistake.
Do you have the slightest idea how many times I spend hours fixing what DIYers break. I am just gonna mention few, wiring a nest thermostat, extension cords, wire nut among others
I usually charge between $168 and $225 total to change a dual cap. I carry 50-100 different caps, dual and single on the van. I replace with original type parts and I don’t like multi caps. They are expensive and last the same as a direct replacement part. I also check the system pressures, amps/volts, TD, overall condition. I get people cooling as quickly as possible. I get called all the time by people that changed the cap and either wired it wrong or the unit still doesn’t work. Same on thermostats. I change caps and if I believe the homeowner is a DIYer I will tell them to buy an extra cap and teach them how to replace it. Also explain how to clear drains, what to check for, and to call me for free advice. I had a restaurant owner give me crap once for charging $275 total (time and materials) for a $10 part. Plus that was 10pm on a Saturday when his commercial ice machine stopped. He said that’s a really high markup! I asked him what it cost in materials to make a pot of ice tea and how much does he charge for a glass? I think he realized how stupid he was sounding real fast.
It's amazing how companies fell that what they charge someone is reasonable like the Insane markup on tea and soda but when the table is turned they complain. Luckily, I had the same issue, I thought that my A coil froze again due to low charge, but this time it was the cap. The tech was very informative as I watched him from start to finish and I was only charged 150.00 for the service call, the part and knowledge so I can do it myself should it happen in the future.
A starter capacitor is used to temporarily create a 2 phase power cycle to turn a motor with a single phase power supply. Easy way to identify and test for it is to see if the motor hums without moving the blades. Using a stick, just touch a blade to nudge it and if the motor starts moving then the capacitor went bad. Also, you should use a long screwdriver to discharge the contacts before trying to pull any wires. I've seen the wires touch while pulling and spark before.
Thanks for making this video, a lot of people could benefit! My AC guy was swamped with work and knowing I'm not afraid to do things, told me over the phone to replace the capacitor. He told me 90% of the problems he encountered involved replacing that cap or the one in the air handler. Air handler plus compressor caps=$38 with tax, 10 minutes with screwdriver and both were replaced.
We had a bad one about 7 years ago, we have a friend of a friend stop at our house at 7 am when our a\c wasn’t working properly, diagnosed this was the problem, he ran and got one put in on and worked great, charged us $100 bucks and it was worth it, his time is money too.
I was charged $400 a piece for these capacitors a few years ago. I realized afterward that I was ripped off. I have since done a lot of my own HVAC maintenance thanks to channels like yours. Thank you.
@@SuperComfee Hvac contractor here. I'm one man in a van and I charge $150 for most residential capacitors too. It will only use Amrad brand caps....which are generally in the $30 range. If someone thinks another $120 on top of the Capacitor is too much to take the call, make the trip, have the inventory, test the old cap, replace the new one then do a few more checks ensure the system is operating correctly then...they just understand the value of a persons knowledge, equipment and time are truly worth. I do concede that $400 is a bit on the ridiculous side though.
@@kfgreenwald166 If you think that price is justified, why don't you put that into the service fee instead of being dishonest and lying about the price of the part?
@@RedlineWasTaken Walmart may sell it for $16. Do you think they paid that for it? $12 at Amaz0n Maybe next day, maybe not. But your tech has a bunch in his truck (inventory costs money by the way). You don't want to pay him $150/hr to drive to a supply house (assuming it is not late night or Sunday). So he gets a markup on the part- not outrageous, either. SOme people sell Jap ones for $125, plus $495 labor. to install.
A few years ago, i had my ac "serviced" for the summer season. Coincidentally (or suspiciously?) a week later, the AC compressor wouldn't start. I looked online and the symptoms indicated the start/run capacitor. I called my local ac supply shop, and they sold me a new one for $15. I replaced it in 10 minutes and have not had a problem for the past 5 years. I now service my ac myself.
so without a tech to check ei. how do you know your charge is accurate? that alone could screw your monthly bill and wear our your system from running too much.
Just came across this channel and appreciate it so much! I learned to do all the work on my car myself during the pandemic, and now I am turning my attention to our HVAC system. I was furious recently when our HVAC company here in Phoenix (it's a popular company run by a man and his sons) quoted me $2K for a new capacitor and motor. (They've been telling me for four years now that the motor's failing. It's not.)
I went to HVAC supply house to buy capacitor, they have 2 models $10 (below) or about $15-$20. I asked what are the differences, they told me, the cheaper one is THE ONE that “most” hvac company buy (made in China or ….) last about year ish (depending on how old your system is) SO they can come back again the following year. He said if you don’t want to come back next year or so, get the USA made (I believe the brand is Mars) it will last longer. I get extra part for emergency use
because of your videos, a couple years ago i took note of the model numbers of the capacitor and the contactor in my unit and ordered new ones, luckily havent needed them yet. i also started cleaning the coils every spring before first use, about 5 years ago. The amount of junk on the coils in one season is pretty amazing.
Just changed the capacitor on mine as the herm side was measuring zero. Unit still tried to start up but wouldn't work, Tested the soft start module(installed in 2020 with a whole house generator) and it was bad. Opened it up, changed that capacitor as well and everything works as it should. Soft start modules are around $250, A replacement capacitor for them are about $13. super easy to open the module and change it out as well.
About a decade ago I started shadowing professionals while they fixed recurring problems. The jets in my gas furnace get plugged up every 3 years or so. $400 fix. It was the jets getting old. $36 for the parts and 15 minutes to repair. Toilets - piece of cake. A/C capacitor - $20 and I keep a new one inside the A/C. I consider hiring a pro as paying tuition.
I always have a capacitor on the shelf ready to install as needed. A couple of years ago I thought I lost the capacitor, but it turned out to be another simple problem. There were a bunch of earwigs that had had gotten inside the unit, and one was on a contact for the start relay when it energized. It got smashed between the contacts and stopped the circuit from closing. A simple blast of air to clear it out and the unit was running again.
Nice to know honest hvac techs exist. Guy wanted to charge $1200 to replace a capacitor and add "easy seal" to a 5 year old Trane unit. This was 8 years ago when you could still buy 410a for less than a fortune! Thanks for being honest and knowledgeable in your craft.
The scamming problem is even worse in condo associations, because the condominium property managers aren't spending their own money and it's easiest for them to just go along with whatever they're told by contractors.
its the reason why I prefer to work with stratas (our local version of condos), not with private customers. Its easier and they do not fall down with cardiac arrest when you show them invoice for couple of thousands.
I was also using a top AC company in my area for my annual contracted maintenance and service call. On one call the employee stated my capacitor was 'low' and would likely need replacing soon. My unit was only 5 years old at the time. He gave me a price of $500 and when I expressed shock at that, he 'spoke to his mgr' and came back with $350. I told him thanks, but I'll wait for it to fail. I then went on Amazon and found the item for under $20! After inspecting it, it's very easy to see that removing and replacing it is child's play in the DIY World. I lived there another 3 years before moving and never replaced it.
You explained the process so well that anybody with any mechanical ability can safely change their capacitor. Another thing you can get capacitors from your local AC Supply House might cost you a little bit more but you won't have to wait and not have AC. And like you were saying about getting the turbo 2000 to have laying around be prepared find an AC guy and ask him if he's got a couple of those jumper wires I used to pull one's out of old units just so I had them so you don't have to buy the double capacitor you can just buy whichever one you need for the compressor or for the fan. Just jump the common wire over to the new cap then the wire you removed from the bad side onto the other side of the new cap.
I like you videos. Electrical engineer here, to correct a point. Capacitors do store charge, but that's not how they are used in this application (AC voltages). Here, the capacitor doesn't provide a "jolt" of charge. It is connected in series with a winding in the motor (here, the compressor and the condenser fan), and it causes a shift in the electrical phase between the two windings in the motor. This produces a torque in the motor when it is turning. Some capacitors are for the run winding and some are for the start winding. If the start winding, a switch disconnects this capacitor as the motor spins up.
Doug, I'm glad you posted this. I was about to post as well. I have been an HVACR tech for fifty years ( long before these POS capacitors were around. Also, the right way is to install two separate caps ( one for the herm and one for the cond fan). They will perform better and last longer. I also don't like the money making piggy back start caps, install the correct start cap and relay! Now days with generators and solar batteries use a Micro-Air soft start and reduce the start-up inrush current.
These repairs wouldn't be so soon or often is the manufacturers would use quality capacitors. Unfortunately they use Chinesium brands that usually fail on year 2.
NOTE: Not all disconnects flip the plug over to be off. Some state that off is removal of the plug. To be safe, voltage should be checked with a meter or voltage detector.
I have used my HVAC company for years. They are really honest. I'm lucky. I just had my units replaced... it was time. There was an electrical issue that shut one of the units down... it happens. The company dispatched a tech and he said I need to replace BOTH of them. I have a good relationship with the owner and called him. He came out with the tech and Op's manager. It was a fuse. A $1 part. The owner was embarrassed. More like appalled. He fired the tech right in front of me. The owner was very apologetic stating over and over again "my father would have never allowed this, this is not how we operate". He fixed it right then... himself. There are good ones out there. Few and far between, for sure. Aaron- you are the man.
My highly skilled HVAC guy failed to get the unit started, it ran for 30 secs then shut down. It finally turned out that the utility's "Saver Switch" which allows them to remotely shut it to prevent brownouts was faulty. Took out that wire and all was fine. Now I'm running a geothermal heat pump instead for heating and cooling and much lower cost.
If people don't watch anything else about HVAC, they need this one. Great simple explanation. I got bit many years ago when I was young and dumb and full of (you know). TH-cam can be a great place. I keep a capacitor, contactor, thermostat and even a X13 rescue motor in reserve now, will get a condenser fan when I find the exact rating. Places around here won't sell to consumers and it gets to hot to wait a few days for a replacement.
They don't "jolt" they provide a phase shift into the motor windings which excites rotation, Those are duel caps which is two capacitors in one package providing phase shift for both the compressor and condenser fan motors.
Another great video! About 5 years ago I noticed my AC stopped working, A quick video search showed me to change this capacitor and it fixed it. The AC contractor at work told me you just saved yourself 500 bucks for a weekend service call. The contractor must have been the honest honest type..
I was a HVAC technician for 7 years for a giant company in my area. A blown cap call is usually 79$ for the trip , a cap is a easy find so no diagnostic fee, and 149$ to replace the cap, wich includes a 1year warranty. So your looking at 228$. The capacitor runs about 7$ from the part house. Now let's break this down. This call probably took 30mins including paperwork, reason being you can't just replace the cap and go, no. I have got to check refrigerant pressure, delta T, and all other functions of the system. So the company I worked for has invested insurance, my hourly wage, gas and the promise to return if the part fails again. Not to mention most people these days don't have walk around sense let alone be able to diagnose and repair a HVAC system. I'd say you got a good deal.
Nobody is saying this should be free, but I've seen countless scenarios where it's way more than what you outlined. An hour labor is perfectly reasonable for this job.
Uh, yah, IF you get charged that which is likely VERY rare. I've built two houses now (owned 7 over my 51 years) and have yet to meet a plumber / plumbing company with any morals. The sky is the limit on what they will attempt to charge you!
I remember a guy years ago charging my grandmother $400 to change a capacitor, and it was working fine. In and out in about 30 minutes, part of a "free" tune up. HVAC seems to attract the slimiest people.
Part of the slime is due to the fact that depending on your region you may have 2 times a year where you make little to no money in HVAC so they try to maximize what they can. I kill my pockets because I just cant charge people crazy prices.
That price is high, but it is worth noting that changing out the cap if its readings are off the allowed tolerance (like explained in this video) is a good idea, even if it 'works fine'. Better to get ahead of it failing on the hottest day or to avoid unnecessary strain on the system as it struggles to start. Who knows if your GM's cap actually needed to be changed, however.
I had an HVAC guy tell me I needed a new furnace in 2016. I replaced the blower motor myself and everything ran well. It's 2024 and l replaced the motherboard, new ignitor and replaced the flame sensor just in case just in January. It's running like new! In 2017 I was also told that my AC condenser needed to be replaced and it literally was just the capacitor and the shut off needed to be taken out and re-inserted. I had quotes of $25k to replace these things in 2017. If I would have done that today I would have a 7-year-old system that probably would be experiencing a few of these issues again and I'd be out $25k that I didn't have
This is all great information. In Hawaii I was a handyman and had lots of people call me to replace water pumps because it was dead. They were really surprise when I changed out the capacitor for less than a $100 bucks! Then the times I got to a home for other repairs and find good looking pump just laying around only to find they were sold a new pump because the old on was bad. Usually they would let me have the old one, if I ask, just to get rid of it. I would test them and I bet 8 or 9 times out of 10 it was just a bad cap. I had a way of testing the old pump and would sell them to people on fixed income for a fraction of what a new one was.......
My ac unit is only 4 years old I have 6?years left on a 10 year all parts all labor warranty. Yes you heard that right. The blower motor went out last year they showed up replaced it and left no charges anyways I love this dude. This is great info. I’m about to buy a universal cap just to keep in the garage for when the warranty is up.
On the turbo 200, when jumping 2 or more terminals together, to get the microfarads you need, you’re supposed to put your wire from the unit on the highest rated terminal in that connected bunch, even though they’re connected together with the little jumper wires.
certainly if you had to jump 3 together you'd need to hook the unit from one end of the chain or the other? Otherwise your your making a parallel connection rather than the intended series connection.
Great video, I live in AZ and I just change capacitors every 5 years, checking yearly.If I use AMRAD, they last 10 years a least in AZ. They are the best quality caps. I love them for my rentals.
Your channel has so much good info!! I was charged $300 last summer for a bad capacitor. It was for a rental property on a Friday evening so I was paying to keep tenants happy. The AC unit was installed in 2021 so I was upset it was already having issues. I clean it twice in the summer. Once I found out it was a $10 part I still felt a little cheated. I cannot believe people are paying $2,000. That is a scam.
If the unit was installed in 2021 the capacitor would be under warranty. You paid for the labor,service and time to facilitate the warranty(paperwork and Shipping and Handling). You got a great deal.
That $300 was a GREAT price for a Friday night cap call out. To think you were scammed or cheated just shows you have no clue about how businesses are run or supply and demand.
Just replaced my capacitor. I bought one for backup and thank God I did. I had to use it just today. My AC has the exact symptoms, fan only no buzz from condenser. After replacing it, out fired right up. AC back on, registers showing 58 degrees! Best of all, $15 bucks! Ordered another backup instantly. Ready for the next failure.
My Florida condenser was flooded under 4.5 feet of water from Hurricane Ian. I washed the unit and called one-hour heating and cooling. They wanted $1,200 to replace the fan motor, who said they had it on back order. It would take 3 weeks. I bought a new motor that day for $120 and it was back working in one day. Figuring 3 hours labor for them, that works out to over $300/hr. Gouging at its worst during a disaster. In three weeks I would have lost the house to black mold.
@@Xanthopteryx _Why would you have lost your house to black mold?!_ That seemed an obvious reference to what would happen without the A/C running, with all of that Florida humidity. But just wait until we start having all of those predicted rolling blackouts, due to the enviro-wackos shutting down our power plants with their pretense of "climate change" (fake-science and trendy BS) of being a thing to worry about, and not caring that power sources seriously need to be "dispatchable", because they can't be bothered with technical details like science, physics, or economic feasibility. Coal, natural gas, nuclear power, hydro-electric are all dispatchable, which means that they can be brought online in a short amount of time to match a rising demand curve or a hot summer day in which people are running their A/C. Solar and wind are not dispatchable, because they produce when they produce. The sun does not always shine, clouds block the sun, the wind does not consistently blow. Bad things happen if the supply can not match the demand, forcing them to "shed load" in the form of rolling blackouts. How will we ever have jobs, when nobody wants to build a factory where they do not have reliable 24-7 electricity? BTW, the backup electricity for hospitals would be considered to be dispatchable I imagine, because diesel generators run day or night and are not dependent upon the fickle weather. However, the fuel can run out in days, if power is not promptly restored. Those emergency generators start themselves automatically within seconds of detecting a power outage. Why don't hospitals or other places needing emergency reliable power, rely upon wind or solar? Think about it. Also check out Ray Stevens "A Solar Powered Song". Funny, if it wasn't actually kind of sad.
If you are in that situation again, you may want to call a Yankee friend, up North and have them pick up the item needed then ship it to you UPS next day air. It is not that much!
Thank you! Great advice. If you can tighten kitchen cabinet hinge, you can probably swap a capacitor. If your A/C has the symptoms, it is worth taking a shot at replacing the capacitor, even if you don’t have a test meter. You’re out less than 20 bucks and if works, you saved a couple hundred or more.
The danger in a first time cap replacement is cuts on your hands from the jagged edges of zip ties that you may have to work around. I have snipped back all of the jagged edges of all zip ties. When a cap goes out, it may not be in daylight.
@@HardRockMaster7577 Excellent observation and advice! I always snip off the excess ends of zip ties. I wear safety glasses around wiring where zip ties have been used because I’ve come uncomfortably close to getting poked in the eye by one of those ends sticking out.
Thank you sincerely sir for the video. I actually watched this about a month ago and just a couple of weeks after that my ac stopped cooling, and I did exactly what you explained, bought a capacitor and installed it, and my ac was cooling again.
Universal caps are meant to be used in an emergency when you are far from a supply house. I have a collection of them taken out of replaced units and I use them in a pinch.
I live in a suburb in Phoenix. George Brazil came out last year to do maintenance and wanted to charge me $600. Needless to say, that was the last time I will be using them. Another company came out reference a warranty call (after I did it myself), and their price was $250 (still high). Thanks for having your channel up. I'm currently working on putting on a soft start kit (having some wiring issues).
I want to say that i got George Brazil came out last year for maintenance complementary call..for $39 and ended up swindle me for $490 and didn't even fix the problem ..Never again..they don't stand behind their work satifaction to the customer ..
@@ireneayenmacorol546 If you were ripped off by an HVAC company, you should report them to the State Licensing Board; they can pay stiff penalties or go to jail or have license revoked! Like here in Texas.--
Thanks my capacitor had the top blown and was leaking fluid .I cleaned the area up and ordered the replacement capacitor under 30 bucks with rush shipping. Thanks for the help
I can’t believe you are so honesty and integrity , you will never see a contractor will tell you how much cost for capacitor and charge you arm and leg 🦵. Thanks 🙏 you so much and god bless you keeps it up .
Technically it shifts the phase to give a rotational phase to start a motor, but who's asking. As well +- means that it can be within 6% of 45 and be within rating. so 42.3-47.7 . Good advice regardless!
I am a retired HVACR Contractor. (Actually a Mechanical Contractor in FL. That means an AC contractor that does BIG Refrigeration too, and other stuff) I have never charged $100 for a capacitor and certainly not for a residential AC Capacitor which are small capacitors. Most of the time, I sold them for under $50. This includes the purchase price (Good ones are about $30 at a reputable supplier) for a good capacitor, my time to go get it for you, keep it on the truck, replacing the capacitor correctly and checking the unit motors afterwards.) But an Amazon china made cap will last a season, maybe two. Some AC models have more costly Capacitors, and the China knock-offs may not be available. And don’t be surprised if that Amazon China Capacitor doesn’t start your AC unit. The percentage of bad china capacitors out of the box is crazy high. Now that Fluke meter he was using will set you back $150 to $250 on Amazon. Some cheaper ones are available, many are unreliable however. A good HVAC Technician will not only diagnosis your capacitor, will check the contactor, wiring, cleanliness of the unit and he will put your unit back in service & check it for correct operation and efficiency. As I always stayed booked (and did not advertise, ever) I was mostly working on a repeat client’s unit when I replaced the capacitor, usually during an Annual or semi-annual clean & inspect. SO rarely did the capacitor add much to the bill. But, If working on 220vac circuits don’t bother you and you have the knowledge to understand Capacitance. Sure go ahead and save a few bucks, Realistically $10 to $20. But don’t burn anything up. And if that Capacitor is bad, 90% of the time so is the contactor is bad too. Also, if the Capacitor is bad, most likely your coils are dirty and need cleaning, so do that too or the Capacitor will go out again. Dirty Coil = High Amp Start Up = Short Capacitor Life. Dirty coils shorten the life of Condenser Fan Motors too. They are also hard on the compressor & your power bill. And before you start, make sure the POWER is truly OFF. HVAC Contractors really hate to have fix a unit somebody totally smoked, trying to save $10. If you short something out & pay someone to fix your mess, there is a good chance something else will go bad really soon after. NO it is not the AC Tech’s Fault either. Short circuits over heat all your electrical components in an AC unit. Lots of those get weak after a short circuit and they are put back in service. If your AC unit is made by TRANE and you have an Orange colored compressor. Stop and call a HVAC Contractor to service your unit. These units’ compressors have internal overloads that do NOT like being tripped. Short this OL. Out and it will cost you about $3000. Not worth the risk to save $50. Trane usually has the more expensive parts on them. But PLEASE, if you think a capacitor is a BATTERY. Don’t even think about servicing your AC unit, you’re going to get hurt. A Capacitor IS NOTHING like a battery. Even after being Removed from the machine, it can give you a VERY strong shock. That shock can cause a heart attack, stop a pacemaker, burn you quite good and certainly will make you say bad words. Oh.. NEVR short a capacitor out with a screwdriver as shown. There is absolutely no reason to do this, unless you want to see the spark. You are counting on the screwdriver handle being sufficient insulation to protect you and it not being cracked, split or broken. BTW: A capacitor is a coil of two conductors, separated by an insulating material called dielectric. It briefly receives a lot of power (not a save voltage like a battery) and holds it for only a few micro seconds and then releases it, based on the capacitive resistance it creates. This gives the motor a pause followed by strong kick to one of its coils, called a lag. That helps the motor start and determines the direction it turns in some motors. Now that insulation inside the capacitor can be oil in an expensive Capacitors or air in an el cheap-o. China capacitors often use wax paper, so like Florida, Texas or Arizona summer heat is real hard on them. Good capacitors use mica insulation that can last five years or more. But you won’t be buying those on Amazon for $16 for a dual capacitor (Compressor & Fan).. Oh, one more thing, put those wires back exactly where they go. Cross them up and your repair bill will be far more than you can save on capacitors over the entire life of your AC unit. That is 220 Volts on top of that capacitor. The breaker protecting the unit is a lot bigger than the one on an outlet in your house, usually about 45 amps. So it will do some serious damage if you short it out. If in doubt and REALLY are two stubborn (or broke) to call someone to help; H or Herm terminal on the Cap goes to the Compressor (follow the wires), C is for Common, that will go to one side of the incoming 220 volts (often red or black), F or Fan goes to the fan motor. Usually the fan is a smaller wire, often purple, but not if the fan motor has been changed out with a generic motor. All these wires have power on them if the power is turned on, even if it is not running. Stay Safe.
Yeah, the cheap capacitors kind of suck, but what really sucks is that HVAC suppliers won't sell to regular people, so Amazon crap is most people's only reasonable option unless they want to seriously overpay to DIY. I've made it a habit to just keep a spare on hand in the garage, because it always seems to be the hottest day of the year that they fail, and even with Amazon prime, you end up waiting a day or two to get a new one delivered. So having $10-15 tied up in a spare to keep in the parts drawer and be able to swap it out and get it up and running again is totally worth it. Even having to replace the cap every year or two at a cost of $10-$15, it still ends up costing less to just keep replacing them than it costs for the 5-year lifespan of the Turbo 200. And you don't have to worry about being stuck trying to warranty anything for weeks/months with no A/C, during the hottest days of the year. I've been using Amazon cheapies for the past ~15 years, and I'll continue to do so until/unless HVAC suppliers consider becoming less hostile to homeowners.
Grainger sells direct to the public. Changed out my 28 year old Trane fan motor and updated to the proper capacitor last week. Bought all my parts from my local Grainger down the road from my house.
@@Wrenchmonkey1 Well, don't know where you live, but here in North Florida HVAC Contractors are not hostile toward our customers. At least I never was. But if you want to DIY & forgo the value of having an expert check why the capacitor popped... well, its your ac unit. I never stopped a DYI-er. Eventually, they all call a contractor. Hopefully next time you have to call one, it isn't because you overlooked a problem when you changed your own capacitor. Granted, cheap china caps pop often & yes, heat makes them go out. But so does a P/T problem, bad contactor or wiring issue. So be sure to check those carefully. Even if its a fan motor that cooks off because the capacitor burnt the contacts out on the contactor and you missed it.... That is going to be a couple hundred bucks to get you cooling again.
"Seems your going to be a bit short, we have several flexible financing plans for you to choose from and then we can get you "set up" and running again...."
Just exactly like the scene in the Lampoon Vacation movie where Chase's character jumps the family "truckster" in the desert and gets it fixed by these shyster mechanics..... "Cmon guys how much is it" and the one says: "And I'm asking HOW MUCH YOU GOT?!"
If you go to a mechanic for your auto repairs, they do the same exact thing with Oxygen Sensors. They replace them when it’s not necessary and they up charge you massively on the parts and labor. If you require an oxygen sensor, it’s less than $100 for the part and take 5-10 min to replace.
Bought a 4x/yr “Preventive Maintenance” contract for $33/mo from my HVAC company. Tech warned me in second visit that my capacitor was starting to head towards the range suggesting replacement ($350 plus tax) but while watching him check it I quickly looked on Amazon and found the identical part for $14 and called him out on it. I replaced it myself….15 mins in time. The previous / first visit 3 months earlier he did a Carbon monoxide test stating “you got a leak; likely a crack in the heater box” (it’s a heat pump with natural gas back up) and the system should be replaced…. $8-10 thousand (I live in the Pacific NW; 1400 sq/ft). I brought out my two (2) state of the art CO detectors that run constantly and have a digital readout of the percentage of CO it detects and both read zero. Yes, I know his CO detector was likely much higher tech then mine but ya got to wonder; Considering diy hybrid solar mini split 2400 btu for 4k which includes the panels. I could buy two of these mini splits for what he quoted me to replace my “leaky system”.
At my old place, I had to replace a capacitor, and I did it myself it wasn't that big of a deal. Right after replacement, the condenser motor for the fan went out. So I went back to my local AC supplier, and he was able to match me up a new motor. I hooked it up, and the fan worked in reverse. A quick youtube search shows that reversing any of the 2 wires makes the motor spon the other direction. The service call was 120.00 just to come out, and the local AC technician said he probably wouldn't be able to get to it in about 3 days. We had a newborn baby. Mid summer in Texas,and that was not going to work. I have no idea how much I saved in the end, but it was worth the effort.
A lot. You saved a lot. I'm a licensed tech. Most companies would've charged you an arm and a leg for the part alone, and the part is the cheap portion of the bill. Here's a tip, and feel free to spread it around. A good rule of thumb is if it doesn't involve the pipes and freon, you are legally permitted to make the repairs without a license. For simple stuff like coil cleaning, replacing caps or contacts, the condenser fan I encourage people to learn to do it. Apart from saving money, making something work again with your own two hands gives you a feeling of accomplishment you simply can't get elsewhere. Just make sure you follow ALL the safety guidelines. It's not about being tough, it's about staying alive.
Thanks for another great video!!!! I never knew how to use a universal cap. Made it easy to understand. Caps are always the first thing I check bc in my exp. they are the first thing to go bad.
Yeah, they do it all the time. Thanks to you and Google. I looked up why my AC was not turning on.. like you, they said the first thing to do for a $10-$15 part is change the run capacitor or start capacitor. It’s worth a shot for the money.. connecting 3 wires it fixed my problem five years ago. I got lucky! Tnks!
Most state hvac licensing boards are responsible for enforcing ethical behavior by contractors, and most are lazy bureaucrats who do nothing. Complain to your local state representative if you deal with a scam contractor (and about half of us are crooked, imo). Demand action.
I dont know if the laws have changed but if a contractor has a price list for certain work it's perfectly legal. In fact 60 min ?? did a show on this years ago on an electric contractor in Calif was charging insane prices for breakers. But since they had a price list it was perfectly legal. Also, that contractor had full yellow page ads so their overhead was high too.
@@Steve-sg3uz price list alone doesn't necessarily make it legal. On the surface it may be but you also have to look at underlying business practices. This would also be illegal gouging if an emergency was declared. I'm not against high rates because someone needs to be on the high end but I am against prices that are so ridiculously high that they are considered price gouging. You also have to consider the fact that the contractor may be charging a flat rate for the repair. If the contractor is charging for a more expensive repair when they have a cheaper flat rate that covers this then they are pulling illegal business practices by charging for more than they should be.
Sadly price gouging is a common practice in most (not all) businesses, not just HVAC. Most legal representatives won't go after businesses, it's a long sketchy process dealing with pulling a business financial records and finding the smoking gun.
I was ripped off by being charged $150, in advance, before the tech would come out! Then he proceeded to rip the wires out of the ac unit! He then says I’ll get a call on the cost to repair. 3 days later a young sounding, cheerful female voice tells me it will cost $9,000 to replace my ac unit. When I asked for an explanation she said she didn’t know. I am an octogenarian and have great difficulty with my knees to get down to do repairs. I went to TH-cam. Watched your video. Replaced the capacitor myself for under $25.00. Thank you. I will never call a service tech again. My refrigerator just went out. I’m debating if I should replace the compressor myself or buy a new refrigerator. Won’t ever call a service tech again.
I'm sure some cheapie ones are 10 bucks, but my neighbor is an a/c guy and said he pays around 50- 100 bucks depending on what a/c. That said his company charged me 200 bucks to do mine, so I guess thats pretty good.
It's not a scam (other than the $2000 cost). It's a common part failure. Now, charging $2000 for it is unethical, and while I'm sure it has happened I doubt that's the norm. None of the ones you show When mine failed, my AC tech came out and found it was the capacitor, he told me and gave me the option of replacing it myself for about $20, or if he replaced it the cost would be just under $200 after you add in the charge for the service call. I had him replace it because he had the part in hand and I could get my AC fixed right then rather than wait to buy a capacitor myself. I kept the old one for reference so I could buy a spare to keep on hand for the future.
A couple hundred for parts and labor to send a skilled technician out on a service call with the tools and knowledge to diagnose the issue and fix it is reasonable. A couple grand for a 10 buck part is highway robbery unless there was alot more wrong than a bad cap.
I saw this video a while ago and had put a capacitor in my Amazon wish list to purchase. I should’ve done it right away. AC went out a few days ago. Ordered a capacitor for and installed it today and it’s back to working. Thank you for making this known! Cheap and easy fix.
Well, thought I was good, but new capacitor failed in 24 hours. Something must be causing it to fail. Just don’t know what. Unit is 10 years old. May have to call a pro in now.
![[LIVE] : ONE ลุมพินี 88 | คู่เอก "ป้อมเพชร vs อัสลามจอน"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1ZqTVVbMgbo/mqdefault.jpg)
I just got ripped off this way. I was charged $2,000 to replace the capacitor and the fan motor. After it was all done I looked up the part numbers and it was just under $300 in parts. This is a very highly rated HVAC company in central Texas. Never again.
Dang so sorry to hear about that! But at least you know now!! Knowledge is power
@@diyhvacguy You must not be very popular amongst your HVAC brothers in the US mate ? I can’t believe that unlicensed people can purchase refrigerant let alone you on line showing how charge up units and install units ?? EPA over your way should take that license off you giving away our trade secrets , good work champ .
@@AussieHVAC 😂😂🤡🤡
@@AussieHVACdear god tell me you’re being sarcastic, no one could be that big of a boot licker…. Right?
@@AussieHVAC LOL so in other words. YOUR TELLING THEM WERE STEALING WAHHHHH lol cry me a river dude
My cousin got his HVAC career started on a bad capacitor. He began with a large HVAC company but got tired of constantly being pressured to sell optional repairs and stuff. So, he branched out on his own. One of his mom's friends called her for an HVAC referral because she had just been told she needed a whole new unit, and she wanted a second opinion. His mom told her about him, and all he had to do was replace the capacitor. He didn't charge her anything even though she insisted. She bought a half-page ad for him for her church's program for some function, and that ad was what kickstarted him. Sorry for the long story, but having heard it a bajillion times, I couldn't help myself.
That's a great story.
I'll tell you right now if I change a motor I'm changing the cap. But then I'm the guy that has to come back later
@@captainaxle438 I believe it. The best Caps are made by the Japanese, but I dont see any Jap offerings available for heat pumps.
PEOPLE ARE SICK OF DISHONEST SCAMMERS, SO WHEN THEY MEET AN HONEST CONTRACTOR, OF COURSE THEY ARE GOING TO SPREAD THE WORD.
Thanks for the comment. That's a great message 👍.
I was quoted $550.00 to replace my run capacitor and told him to go. I bought one on Amazon for $18.36 and took me 15 minutes to put it on! Thanks for being honest to your viewers!
Nice !
Wrong, it's all about training, knowledge, having the right parts on hand. The heart surgeon spends about $50 on the stint and sutures, but charges $ thousands because it's not the cost of the parts, it's the knowledge and then having the correct pieces, instruments, etc. The biggest question on failed capacitor, is why it failed. Yes, sometimes it's just the capacitor itself, but often not so. A short cycling unit for whatever reason (sometimes just weak batteries in the thermostat will cause this, or low/high refrigerant levels, a faulty high or low voltage wire connection, overheating, etc), will burn out a capacitor pretty fast. What happens when the wires to the capacitor are reconnected incorrectly? Or, not understanding the amp draws from the compressor, fan motor, or the need for a start kit assist on an older unit? Or, a thousand other things. If the HVAC trade is so easy and reportedly deceptive, everyone should stop calling them, including you. But, you won't because all you did this time was use the information the HVAC tech told you, and you changed capacitor, got lucky it worked and then thought of yourself invincible.
Comparing a surgen to a HVAC tech is laughable. There is of course things that you should leave to the tech like replacing an entire unit or anything that requires refigerant leaking.
Changing out the starter cap is super simple if you basic electronic saftey skills. Thats something easily gained with very little effort.
My blower motor was partially shorted and that looked fairly easy to me to do myself using repair clinic to get the parts quickly. It took longer for me to do it than a tech, but i saved a huge amount of money learning to do it myself. If you can turn a wrench, you can replace a motor. I highly recommend the multi-meter to verify no voltage present. Those things are cheap. I have a nice Fluke 79 that i've had since the 90's.
The company had in his price labor, service call, warranty. But 550 is high. 240 tops
@@michaelkrailo5725
The more you talk the less this 22 year Veteran agrees with you. I'm a licensed journeyman HVAC tech with 22 years experience. I can't begin to even know everything and learn something new all the time. They told me when I was hired maybe 1 in 1,000 guys (there are no women) can do this job. Are you the one? It's not only the technical stuff but also physical strength, determination, not afraid of heights, crawlspaces, 140+ degree attics, bad neighborhoods/criminals, 24/7/356 hours, working out in the rain/cold/heat/snow etc etc. The more you dumb down us REAL guys the less you know about it...believe me. For instance do you know how to measure a capacitor? You need a specialty test meter that reads Microfarads and there is a procedure to doing it correctly and without getting shocked. Unless you are professionally trained and licensed you are nothing more than a parts changer. A REAL HVAC tech could give a Navy SEAL or 1st SFOD-D Delta Force guy a run for their money any day of the week.....
Retired HVAC guy, I always check for power even if I pulled the disconnect. I was almost zapped because someone wired the box wrong.
ABSOLUTELY! Had a house, someone bypassed the disconnect. Pulled it, went in and SURPRISE!!! Took a minute to uncross my eyes…no, it was not funny.
Thank God you found the problem 🙏
True and as an electrician I have seen crazy electrical cutoffs and panels, more often than not....
Reagan's old "trust but verify" works if you add a little skepticism. Skepticism keeps you alive. That said:
Don't trust. Always verify.
When my uncle died I worked on his house getting it ready to sell and found something dangerous like that.
Someone wired an outlet for him all wrong.
The hot (black) wire was connected to the ground on the outlet but wasn't connected to anything in the breaker panel.
The ground wire (bare copper) was connected to the neutral (silver screws) side of the outlet and it ran back up to the buss bar in the panel.
The neutral (white) wire was connected to, yep you guessed it, the brass screws where the hot wire should be and it ran back up to the hot side of the breaker.
I'm not an electrician but that seemed really sketchy to me. I only found it because I was testing the outlets and that one showed an open ground.
I was once was charged $500 by a "good friend" HVAC repairman to change the capacitor. I remember telling my wife" This guy is ripping me off." I even asked him how much the part was, and he said, "It's around $500, so I won't charge for labor." Needless to say, he's no longer a friend. That's why I say TH-cam was the best thing to happen to DIYers. Thanks for all you do. You've saved us millions of dollars.
Yeah I had a capacitor replaced last year through a friends "friend", he charged $300 for a new capacitor and the install. I thought I was getting a good deal until I saw this video. I'm just gonna keep replacing capacitors ever summer if I have to and let this AC unit limp along until I actually HAVE TO replace it. I know it's not efficient, but one company was trying to charge me $10k for a new AC and furnace (which I didn't need) but if I just got the AC it would have been like $7.5k. They didn't even check the capacitor, they just told me it was dead and I needed to replace the whole thing. F those people man.
And I would add e-commerce to that, for knowing what to replace means nothing, if you can't source the parts for a good price.
Same story here. Years ago one of my rentals ac went out on a dang Saturday. All the stores were closed. Called me neighbor who is in ac. Told him the exact problem and asked him to fix it. $300 later and a few words we no longer talk. He even pulled out the price book. I told him to shove it. I normally spend around 15 for the part at fox appliance.
Ok hear me out . $2000.. that’s a rip off even $500 .. but your paying for the service mechanic to come and fix your AC .. $150_$300. Is reasonable.. you are paying for the knowledge and experience.. and service .. they’ve got to make a living to .. I’m a plumber sometimes I go to a job .. and say the toilets running and it’s just a fluid master adjustment which is a 30 second adjustment. I have to get paid for my service … I went to a job that was a huge mansion the owner was a surgeon … his shower head was loose he didn’t know how to tighten the screw on the shower head .. it took me 1 minute I could’ve charged 3-$500 ..but I have a conscience and just charges him a service call … but my point is he didn’t have the knowledge to know how to tighten that shower head … yet he could take out your kidney and replace it .. the point being your paying for my experience and knowledge.
$500 vs $2000 doesn't sound like a rip-off. Your friend has experience to recognize whats wrong & used his time.
Im a one man Hvac business owner. Im licensed and insured 21 years experience in Florida. Today 5/25/24 I got a service call. I charged 395 dollars for a 45/5 capacitor,1.5 Lbs of 410a,new valve cores(They were leaking), new valve core caps and a I vacuumed the drain line. We are not all out here to screw you over.
At this point you seem to be the exception rather than the rule... and I'm sure you've got all the business you can handle because of it.
@@rhymereason3449 A lot of companies have unnecessary overhead and Im not talking employees.
Yes keep your overhead low, you made more on that one call than most people make in one day. I always tell people to find an independent guy like you rather than the big box companies
@@markme4 I had a situation where I called the "independent" who was on the Good Contractors List, promoted in the DFW area. He was a "bible thumper" and named his business after a book in the Bible. The replacement compressor was provided by the manufacturer free under warranty but he still charged for it. We were several days with out A/C on a hot July day and he was the only one who returned my call and came out of all the service providers I called. I got "hosed" but we couldn't go on indefinitely with out A/C. The compressor failed because it overheated due to the blockage of the cooling fins. Since then I clean the cooling fins around the compressor every spring.
@@JackLucas-jh1eo How much was the final bill ?
Man, my AC went down in the middle of a heat wave a couple years ago because the capacitor failed. I called one of the big name HVAC companies in town. Thankfully, the tech that came out had my back. He said he had to charge me the $90 service call fee no matter what. But I could either pay another $500 for him to fix it or try to replace the capacitor myself. He wrote down the part # and address to the supply house for me. I decided to try to fix it myself. I about fainted when the supply house said it was only $20! 🤯🤯 I replaced the capacitor EZPZ and called that tech directly and told him I owe him dinner or a case of beer. I think this video will be a lifesaver for some people like that tech was for me. 👍🏻👍🏻
Did the tech pick the dinner or the beer?
@stephenhu9561 He said, "Let's just be friends"...
@@GonadOBrien That's a real friend.
Once in a while you run into one of the good guys, with a real conscience. He is NOTHING like our politicians. The guy you would want for a friend.
I had an HVAC guy come out for a service call after I tried to self-diagnose why my unit wasn't running. I took your advice and ordered a new capacitor (from your link) and replaced it. I took before-and-after pictures to make sure I connected the proper terminals. When the tech arrived, I told him I had replaced the capacitor, but nothing had changed. He insisted I wired it wrong. When I showed him the pictures before and after, he insisted the original capacitor was wired wrong. That's when I knew it was time to call for a different tech. The next guy found a small leak in the rusted-out dryer filter. Thanks for this video; it helped weed out bad techs.
Amen dude, i had a similar situation to you. A/C died during summer heat, then i called a big brand HVAC service and they sent a tech out. He said it would be $780 to replace the capacitor and the motherboard (second part wasn't actually called a 'motherboard' but it was where the capacitor and other wires connected). Thankfully the tech showed me exactly what needed replacing and why. Like you i took photos before i started removing things. $32 bucks later my capacitor had been replaced and my AC ran fine. Motherboard still works.
Wow you were way off how silly
A cheap way to find leaks is to shut off the system for at least 30 mins to equalize pressures, then get a spray bottle with an inch of dawn soap at the bottom and water. Spray it all over everything you can see. Then run the system with a small towel over the condenser to get the discharge pressure as high as possible. Then spray it down again. When you’re done wash it off because it is corrosive over time.
@@edcox1630Control boards can sometimes cost several hundred and take several weeks to ship. York, Trane and Carrier have always been really bad about this. And that was before Covid and "supply chain".
Thankfully with Carrier, the ICP and simialr boards are close enough clones, cheap and plentiful all over.
@@mikes2381 try and get a board for a Samsung mini split , no one here will stock all the boards they made over the years , they all come out of Texas ,
I just say mini splits are throw away units ,,
My pop’s worked HVAC manufacturing his whole life and I remember calling him when our AC went out 2 summers ago. The first thing he did was check the capacitor and told me to go ahead and order a new one. We got the new one, he showed me how to replace it, and that brought the unit back to life.
He said I just saved you a ton of money and heartache.
Wow that is one of the best, most concise and clearly explained videos I have watched on TH-cam. Bravo! 👏
Some HVAC gal was talking down to me about how the AC needed a $900 repair, but she wouldn't touch it until the circuit box was replaced AND there would be no warranty.
I declined her uninspiring offer, opined that I didn't like her tone, and with that she left.
$35 later I had a new cap in there. That was years ago, the HVAC still works.
As a mechanical engineer and frequent viewer of DIY Guy (among others), I find the DIY HVAC Guy offers the most concise and easy understood explanation of HVAC maintenance. This Guy has saved me money with everything from backup solar hookups to condenser cooling. And he does this with short and to the point videos. I have my spare capacitor on order now. Good stuff. Thanks.
Agree!!!
If you were an electrical engineer, you would know that the run capacitor does not provide an extra “jolt of energy”. Only 1PH induction motors need them in order to spin the right direction. This clown is going to get someone hurt.
@@ardoinsofkaty5671how will that occur?
Do A/C systems not have capacitors that fail?
@@ardoinsofkaty5671 He is obviously not an Electrical Engineer. And if you are referring to the unit of measurement for induction, you meant “pH” (picohenry). If you are referring to the unit of measurement for power, you meant “HP” (horsepower). If you are referring to a motor’s phase, you meant “ph”, “φ”, “Ph”. Or “1P” or “SP” in this case.
Either way, there is no such thing as a “PH” abbreviation in Electrical Engineering unless you are from a foreign country or it is specified on a set of drawings.
To me, a clown is someone like you, not someone who is trying to help people.
If he made a mistake, bring it up so we can all learn, don’t just insult the guy.
Did you buy a multi capacitor? You know. You don't have to have more than one.
I myself had this exact same experience. I had the cap blow and needed a new one. I had to find out what the cap was rated which I found on the schematic on the unit. Then ordered the Turbo 200 for no reason other than made in the USA. Installed it myself and the saved $2500 an AC guy said it would cost. Great video.
Why order the turbo 200? Why not just the proper capacitor? Would have been a fraction of the cost. Doesn't make sense...
@@adamradley4407he already said only because it's made in the USA.
@JCIK2311 plenty of other options that are made in the USA. But whatever floats your boat, I guess. Some people would rather pay more for features you don't need.
Guess HVAC is the profession to be in if you want to be able to rape other people's wallets. lol. $2,500 should be a new air conditioner. lol Hope your unit stays working strong for many years after you repaired it on your own. Good call!
Great information, thanks for sharing your videos. 👍
Around here, most of the successful local owned HVAC companies have been purchased by private equity firms, who turn the techs into salesmen, on commission. This is a great video!
I'm an automotive locksmith and some times I have the opposite problem. This channel is dedicated to help people DIY. I get calls for simple things and try to walk the customers through over the phone so they don't have to have a service call. Some take me up on it but many either get annoyed and just say they don't want to try and would rather pay us to come out for a simple thing. The annoyed ones get mad and make snarky comments like if I wanted to do it myself I wouldn't have called you. lol I charge them accordingly. Once in a while I get a surprise from an older lady who is willing to crawl through glass to avoid a service call and I can usually get those people going.
Yeah I get the same thing with basic household repairs. I don't want to have to charge someone a bunch of money for something that's going to take no more than 5 minutes. It's just easier to walk them through it. Some people don't want to, that's fine, but I always start with "I don't want to have to charge you our minimum just for this." Some people are happy to pay to have you do it
Yup, never had a problem taking money from a dickhead.
If they would hide a key under the car, they wouldn't have to call you at all.
Your customers need to watch a video!
@@HardRockMaster7577 Better tell them to hurry up. We run 80-150 calls per week. Just lost keys and lockouts.
Dude...thanks so much. I stumbled on this video a week BEFORE my capacitor failed (last night) with a peak heat of 98 F today. I went to Amazon and found a good capacitor eligible for overnight shipping. It arrived right when I removed the cover. Replaced it in 3 minutes, and now my air is cool again! I'm a subscriber for life. Thanks!
Goooooooo Browns!
Had a tech come out and quote $2300 to replace my capacitor. Ordered one off of Amazon, being careful to mirror the specs on the old capacitor. Pulled the electrical disconnect, unfastened the capacitor (it was bulging on top), and I was careful to reinstall the wires where they were located on the old capacitor. Threw the old capacitor in the garbage and fired up my air conditioner. Worked like a charm. Saved $2285. And these HVAC guys had 4.9 stars on google and 5 stars on the the local classified here in Salt Lake City.
My neighbor in pg was told they needed to but a new unit. I replaced cap and contactor told them give me $50
Should have turned them in to BBB.
Google reviews and online reviews in general are easily fabricated or manipulated by knowledgeable website developers and optimization people. They can make fake reviews and/or pay people to make reviews. I sold my Optometry practice to a your doctor who then pumped up the numbers of positive reviews by trickery and paying a website optimization consultant to greatly increase reviews so that it appeared that the business was much larger and more successful than it actually was.
At this point I generally don’t trust online reviews of businesses anymore. All it takes is money, not real reviews.
I do know if you haul junk metal into the salvage yard you have to take off the capacitor or they won't take your junk.
Just take pictures
Just last summer my AC stopped working. I called a local independent HVAC contractor for the repair. I was quite pleased to find out he was very honest and reputable. He diagnosed the problem as a faulty factory capacitor. He only charged me $15 dollars for the capacitor and a $75 minimum response fee. But now, with your video, I am pretty confident that I can do this myself the next time the capacitor fails.
Where are you located?
You should keep his contact and spread the word around. They dont make those techs anymore
You should keep his contact and spread the word around. They dont make those techs anymore
@@blipblop92 Totally! And I have done such that.
At those prices he will be out of business soon. What that guy charges is not enough to cover his cost plus pay Uncle Sam and put food on his table.
I've learned a TON about hvac (mainly AC) from you in the past 2 years. I now own a new house and I've bought a replacement capacitor, added a soft start kit, cleaned the coils and checked the refrigerant pressure, thanks to you and your videos! Genuinely appreciate what you're doing.
Cleaning the coils is something people largely don't do and not changing the air filter at least once every 3 months. Or get the wrong air filter and shorten the life of their air handler. I never go over Merv 11 for an air filter. The higher the Merv rating the more it restricts airflow and the harder your air handler has to work. Besides anything over a Merv 11 rating is overkill for 99% of people.
I clean my coils at least once every 6 to 8 months on both my outside unit and air handler.
Also, if your pour 1 cup of white vinegar down the evap drain pipe, monthly it will help prevent algae built up.
A little scheduled maintenance can go a long way in how long your AC unit will last.
@@RhinoXpress I’ve gotten into a routine of changing my filter every time I pay my electric bill…once a month. I use an 8 merv filter. I do have my AC guy come late fall and spring to do a preventative maintenance on my system. I’m in Florida so that AC is running CONSTANTLY for about 10-11 months per year. He showed me how to clean the coils myself and also how to suck that condensation tube out with my little portable shop vac to clear it of slime. This keeps everything going well between his visits. A little maintenance goes a LONG WAY! I love this channel and have learned a great deal here. 💜💜
@@lizzieb6311 I pour a cup a vinegar down my evap drain pipe run off once a month, it helps eliminate and prevent algae over growth in the evap pipe run off.
Checking the pressures alone doesn’t really tell you how the system is functioning. The compressor is cooled by the returning refrigerant vapor and matters … if you’re going to do your own for the average homeowner it’s easier to measure the air temperature difference at both ends it should be within a degree of each other and depending on the latent load this differential can vary but is very revealing about system performance
@@RhinoXpress I need todo this…is your 2nd unit (not sure what that is called) up in the attic? That’s where mine is and I noticed a white PVC tube with a cap on it - looks to be same diameter of the tube that comes out of my wall outside. It’s next to the drip pan under the unit in attic.
Your video made me love my long time (21 years) AC Contractor EVEN MORE! Price put in a new capacitor into my failing unit last July to get me by until my new outdooor unit (which had to be ordered) came in…it worked and saved my in Florida for the four days until he got my new unit. He charged me $35 bucks to replace and install the capacitor. He’s the BEST and your videos prove this to me time and again 💜💜💜
He charged you that much cause he was selling you a new unit, more than likely. $35 is way too cheap and HVAC guys will starve with those kinds of prices.
I had a capacitor that needed changed on the air handler and the guy told me he's seen it hundreds of times because the manufacturers use a substandard capacitor that will only last as long as the warranty. He put in the better grade capacitor which cost a whopping $1 more than the substandard one that is OEM.
@@amiatroll6347 well, I’ve been using Price for over 20 years…he always treats me fairly and comes to me immediately when I have any issues. I’m blessed to have found these guys.
@@HariSeldon913 That is a great Contractor who appreciates your business 💜
Also, I have these guys do PM’s on my system twice a year - so I use them when things are going fine as well… I appreciate him and they take care of me for my continued patronage.
After watching this clip, my faith in humanity is restored!
I love you man!
Your HVAC videos have saved my family thousands of dollars and kept me safe while doing so. Thank you! Keep it up.
Very well done video. I’m a very experienced electrical engineer, and a sort of half clueless HVAC tech, aka homeowner. This is indeed the easiest HVAC repair possible and you covered all the salient points, without going overboard on the death warnings. I admire that.
Agreed. I'm going to school for et, so I'm also interested in learning some ac stuff too
I've learned more from this young man for my 2 homes than anything or anyone Ive seen on TH-cam. Fantastic job. Also, if there are Hate comments, they are most likely the companies that charge $2000. A Houston based company called Elmers had a guy that tried to charge me $33,000 to change out my unit, attic unit and new ducts.... On a 2019 New Home! I Simply cleaned the fins and changed a capacitor and Ice Cold inside.
Houston area folks, Beware of Elmers HVAC.
I hate their ads with that stupid face lol I think there's one near the 59N/10 interchange
I had a heating/plumbing contractor tell me both of our 200 amp panels had to be replaced. Said they were oxidized and it would take a day and $25,000.
A retired master electrician who did work for us said “so what, metal oxidizes.”
The same company gave me a quote on an additional 75 amps of service. Can’t remember how much that was, but it was complicated and well over 10K. The retired electrician did it for $1500 and took a much-simpler approach.
The company I mentioned called me and I had a long, civil conversation with them about how I could never do business with them again because the guys they sent were liars.
They have ads here in Fort Worth that he can fix any AC to keep you going so you don't need a new one!
Wow, that is crazy to charge so much, on a new house yet! 😳
@jonathangatto, the same ads were running for Elmers here in Houston.
I do everything myself and will go as far as I can go before I have to call someone. This is great what you do. My dad had one replaced a couple of years ago and was charged 600 bucks because we didn't know we could do this ourselves. We know better now and thank you so much for what you do to help people.
Couple tips I do is to remove the disconnect and set it on top of the box and not the stored position. It’s easy to look at it and say “yes power is off”.
Also, I take a marker and write the wire color on the side of the old capacitor so I don’t get confused later about wire location.
Your phone is your #1 helper... take lots of pictures and refer to they while doing any repairs.😊
You live in a low-rain climate :) rain regularly in other areas- putting the breaker in ‘disconnected’ keeps it from getting wet.
@@JimzAuto No, rains a lot here. But something like that you could just shake it off.
@@ODucks55 that’s the ‘Taylor swift’ approach to electricity :)
@@JimzAuto Who’s that?😂
Excellent tutorial, clear and to the point.
Additional tip: When visually inspecting the cap look for leaking at the top. When I did my yearly cleaning, inspection and ICM870 install this past spring I noticed a little clear oozing so I knew its days were numbered. My label was toast so I checked my install doc’s schematic for the cap rating and ordered two. For $10 each it’s cheap insurance.
Hey Man, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. It's been over 100 degrees here in SE Washington State for several days, and that trend will continue through at least the 22nd. It was 108 today, 110 yesterday and my AC stopped blowing cold air. Before I realized what was going on, it was 80 degrees inside the house! I had watched this video and another one of yours about the AC Capacitor remove and replace a few weeks ago. Based on these video's I ordered the proper capacitor from Amazon for like $15 so I had it on hand when the old one went out. I pulled the cover like you instructed, saw my capacitor was swollen, discharged it, removed it, and replaced it all in about 20 minutes which also included a good rinse of the fins on the unit. Turned the AC back on and the cold air is flowing freely. My kids are happy, Wife is happy, and I'm happy. Wife said I get a gold start for the day. I like the fact I just saved several hundred bucks on an easy peasy job. YOU ROCK HVAC Guy!!!!!
Had one blow and its case was visibly ruptured. My neighbor, an HVAC tech heard the capacitor blow from his patio and called my attention to it. He didn’t have the exact replacement on hand but jumped two together to get the correct number and had my unit back working on the hottest night of the year ! In the week ahead with the proper capacitor in hand he replaced the two he had jumped and it has worked great in the years since.
Came back from vacation last summer to my home in FL and the AC was out. Used the turbo cap I had bought years earlier in VA to get my AC system back up and running. Ordered a replacement cap. When it came a couple of days later swapped it out. Will keep the turbo cap ready for the next time I have a problem.
For such a relatively inexpensive item, it just makes sense to always keep a spare on hand.
I called an air-conditioning company to come check the charge on my unit he checked it and added some gas and changed out the capacitor and wanted to charge 200 for it. I asked the guy why did he change the capacitor? The compressor was running the fan was running. There was nothing wrong with it. he said, the one I put in there is better than the one you have, I said but it’s working so, put it back and take that charge off the bill. 4 years later it still works.
Right, if your system is working, keep the filter clean and leave it alone! (retired hvac tech) AC "tune ups are a big scam
WoW!!!
My man!
@@markme4how about deep cleanings? Dust coating the blower blades?
@@mrtechie6810 Your AC needs deep cleaning ?
Thank you so much! I ordered the Turbo 200 and installed it simply based on your video. Thank you sooo much! My house was at 82 degrees, but is already at 78 after an hour of it operating correctly.
My capacitor was worn out enough that I couldn’t locate Herm, Fan, or Common. I discharged the unit as instructed in the video, and ended up using Q-Tips to remove the build up of dust and dirt. The photo helped, but I also marked the connections with “R” for red, “B” for brown, and “BW” for brown with a white line.
I have a Coleman unit and the capacitor is 35+5(plus/minus) 6% 37CAVAC/B.
My unit only needed 3 connections:
Red wire = Common
Brown = HERM
Brown with white stripe = Fan
Thank you again for the safety guidance and detailed education of how to do this simple fix. Many thanks from a grateful South Dakota family!!
Thanks for all the videos! Had a cap go bad on me after 3yr usage, new construction. Fan still worked, compressor couldn't kick on, only heard a quick buzz noise. Have a hvac friend, and tested it super quick, lucky had the exact capacitor I needed and he had that universal one, was cool to look at it.
After this quick fix repair, I've education myself with video knowledge and already purchased a back up, I'm much more familiar with my condenser unit now and ready if it fails again.
My old capacitor didn't have any swelling or leaking, the top of it was rusted, but now I know how to test one with my multimeter and the herm was only reading 6.5 of 45 and the fan was 5 of 5, which explains why the fan still turned on, but not the compressor.
I paid $200 to have a new capacitor and compressor heating strip installed since the original heating unit had rusted away. This involved 2 trips to my house for the serviceman. So I think that was a great deal. He just asked that I consider him for when the unit eventually would need replacement.
Seems fair 🤔
Not sure how he's even making money.
@@kennybakerhvacr5751 We would go broke doing stuff that cheap
Too cheap , service call $99 per hour, capacitor $79_ crankcase heater $90
An HVAC guy wrote up a replacement estimate for "only" $395 a few years ago. After watching a short video like this, I -- a total electrical novice-- ordered one for about $15 and put it in in less than 10 minutes. Easy peazy, but be sure to discharge it!!!
I like how he doesn't discharge it until after dismounting and creating the hazard.
usually a bad cap is not the problem, rather a symptom of other issues. why is your unit drawing so much power it blows a cap? dirty coil, hi-low charge, tired compressor.
@@whatilearnttoday5295 in 30 years i've never heard of anyone discharging or getting shocked by a cap typically no one discharges. i imagine you've watched vids or what ever but getting shocked is no likely
@@theuserthatishere Good stuff. Embrace that complacency. Have a nice life.
@@theuserthatishere Capacitors go bad. Age, and use, and surroundings (temperature, air pollutions and more). Not strange at all.
Because of ethical folks like you on YT, I was able to replace the cap myself, add a hard start kit as well (recommended by the Goodman service manual) , replace a defective temp sensor and replace the fan motor on a 15 year old Goodman heat pump. I too was told that I needed a new heat pump, and at the least, a new compressor for multiple thousands of $$. My cost, all in (motor, caps, temp sensor and replacing a few connectors = $225. ($150 of that was the new fan motor). Took about 1.5 hours. It's been running flawlessly for 3 years now. Thanks, keep it coming!
Rest assured these types of videos have little to do with ethics and everything to do with money
When I replaced my fan motor on a unit that was 30 years old, I had to take the old motor to an AC shop so they could remove the fan blade from the spindle, which, with all my efforts, I could not do.
@@HardRockMaster7577 Just need an inexpensive puller
@@markme4 If these guys make a couple of pennies for me watching a video that saves me lots of $$$, I'm ok with that.
Great job !! Can you imagine all the helpless elderly & homeowners being robbed !!!
You should start a little business being a second opinion basic HVAC guy just to go out & inspect if someone unit need to actually be replaced 😊
I am clear and direct with all my customers if asked on markups. I show people what needs to be done and educate them. I even showed a customer how to clean his own condenser recently..however, i just returned to his home from a service call and i found out he tapped a screw straight through his condenser coil.. a few weeks ago a client of mine plugged a high voltage wire to the low voltage side of thecontactor.... these people were proclaimed to be mechanically inclined and motivated. I was happy to help and i was confident in them..
Now I'm having to charge them 1000's to fix their equipment..
You have a great channel and i sincerely respect your motive behind helping people but you gotta understand that experience is well worth a markup. If an experienced tech occasionally fucks up, imagine what a novice homeowner or DIY guy can do...
Very well said. Experience is invaluable. It’s easy to make a mistake when working with electricity and high voltage capacitors. It may seem easy to us but to your average Joe who’s looking from the other side could get the surprise of their life.
Believe me I've been working on these for years.
It's well worth the price of a experienced technician to come out and fix your unit.
These units can be very delicate at times and it takes experience and Steady Hand to repair them properly.
It's well worth the price to hire a professional.
I am an experienced technician, and sometimes I call for technician to help, two heads are better than one sometimes, and one can always learn something.
I pay another technician to come out and help me out of my own pocket, and each time I learn something.
The education is well worth the money and a whole lot cheaper than making a mistake.
Do you have the slightest idea how many times I spend hours fixing what DIYers break. I am just gonna mention few, wiring a nest thermostat, extension cords, wire nut among others
I usually charge between $168 and $225 total to change a dual cap. I carry 50-100 different caps, dual and single on the van. I replace with original type parts and I don’t like multi caps. They are expensive and last the same as a direct replacement part. I also check the system pressures, amps/volts, TD, overall condition. I get people cooling as quickly as possible. I get called all the time by people that changed the cap and either wired it wrong or the unit still doesn’t work. Same on thermostats. I change caps and if I believe the homeowner is a DIYer I will tell them to buy an extra cap and teach them how to replace it. Also explain how to clear drains, what to check for, and to call me for free advice. I had a restaurant owner give me crap once for charging $275 total (time and materials) for a $10 part. Plus that was 10pm on a Saturday when his commercial ice machine stopped. He said that’s a really high markup! I asked him what it cost in materials to make a pot of ice tea and how much does he charge for a glass? I think he realized how stupid he was sounding real fast.
This is very reasonable. Like me your honest
It's amazing how companies fell that what they charge someone is reasonable like the Insane markup on tea and soda but when the table is turned they complain. Luckily, I had the same issue, I thought that my A coil froze again due to low charge, but this time it was the cap. The tech was very informative as I watched him from start to finish and I was only charged 150.00 for the service call, the part and knowledge so I can do it myself should it happen in the future.
A starter capacitor is used to temporarily create a 2 phase power cycle to turn a motor with a single phase power supply.
Easy way to identify and test for it is to see if the motor hums without moving the blades. Using a stick, just touch a blade to nudge it and if the motor starts moving then the capacitor went bad. Also, you should use a long screwdriver to discharge the contacts before trying to pull any wires. I've seen the wires touch while pulling and spark before.
Thanks for making this video, a lot of people could benefit!
My AC guy was swamped with work and knowing I'm not afraid to do things, told me over the phone to replace the capacitor. He told me 90% of the problems he encountered involved replacing that cap or the one in the air handler.
Air handler plus compressor caps=$38 with tax, 10 minutes with screwdriver and both were replaced.
We had a bad one about 7 years ago, we have a friend of a friend stop at our house at 7 am when our a\c wasn’t working properly, diagnosed this was the problem, he ran and got one put in on and worked great, charged us $100 bucks and it was worth it, his time is money too.
I was charged $400 a piece for these capacitors a few years ago. I realized afterward that I was ripped off. I have since done a lot of my own HVAC maintenance thanks to channels like yours. Thank you.
400 usd thats crazy, we were charging $150 CAD over here per cap and i thought we were ripping. guess not.
@@SuperComfee Hvac contractor here. I'm one man in a van and I charge $150 for most residential capacitors too. It will only use Amrad brand caps....which are generally in the $30 range. If someone thinks another $120 on top of the Capacitor is too much to take the call, make the trip, have the inventory, test the old cap, replace the new one then do a few more checks ensure the system is operating correctly then...they just understand the value of a persons knowledge, equipment and time are truly worth. I do concede that $400 is a bit on the ridiculous side though.
@@kfgreenwald166 If you think that price is justified, why don't you put that into the service fee instead of being dishonest and lying about the price of the part?
@@RedlineWasTaken Walmart may sell it for $16. Do you think they paid that for it? $12 at Amaz0n Maybe next day, maybe not. But your tech has a bunch in his truck (inventory costs money by the way). You don't want to pay him $150/hr to drive to a supply house (assuming it is not late night or Sunday). So he gets a markup on the part- not outrageous, either. SOme people sell Jap ones for $125, plus $495 labor. to install.
I replaced the capasitor on my heatpump last summer, 40 bucks ! TH-cam is a wonderful source of information !
A few years ago, i had my ac "serviced" for the summer season. Coincidentally (or suspiciously?) a week later, the AC compressor wouldn't start. I looked online and the symptoms indicated the start/run capacitor. I called my local ac supply shop, and they sold me a new one for $15. I replaced it in 10 minutes and have not had a problem for the past 5 years. I now service my ac myself.
Good! Keep doing it, call a professional you’ll need him eventually! Job security 🙏🏼
The technician does not have the ability to make a capacitor go bad.
@@jamesonredbreast6310 all he needs to do is swap in an old one... he probably had a box full of failing ones in his truck.
@@BrandonBTV yep, I'll call a real pro when it needs to be repaired, not some fly by night operation ripping off people who don't know any better.
so without a tech to check ei. how do you know your charge is accurate? that alone could screw your monthly bill and wear our your system from running too much.
Just came across this channel and appreciate it so much! I learned to do all the work on my car myself during the pandemic, and now I am turning my attention to our HVAC system. I was furious recently when our HVAC company here in Phoenix (it's a popular company run by a man and his sons) quoted me $2K for a new capacitor and motor. (They've been telling me for four years now that the motor's failing. It's not.)
I went to HVAC supply house to buy capacitor, they have 2 models $10 (below) or about $15-$20. I asked what are the differences, they told me, the cheaper one is THE ONE that “most” hvac company buy (made in China or ….) last about year ish (depending on how old your system is) SO they can come back again the following year.
He said if you don’t want to come back next year or so, get the USA made (I believe the brand is Mars) it will last longer.
I get extra part for emergency use
🤡
Quick note: Made in USA and Turbo200 caps are made in Florida and sold by Global the Source.
because of your videos, a couple years ago i took note of the model numbers of the capacitor and the contactor in my unit and ordered new ones, luckily havent needed them yet. i also started cleaning the coils every spring before first use, about 5 years ago. The amount of junk on the coils in one season is pretty amazing.
Nice! It will be going soon and you’ll be prepared! Cheers
Order a compressor
Just changed the capacitor on mine as the herm side was measuring zero. Unit still tried to start up but wouldn't work, Tested the soft start module(installed in 2020 with a whole house generator) and it was bad. Opened it up, changed that capacitor as well and everything works as it should. Soft start modules are around $250, A replacement capacitor for them are about $13. super easy to open the module and change it out as well.
About a decade ago I started shadowing professionals while they fixed recurring problems. The jets in my gas furnace get plugged up every 3 years or so. $400 fix. It was the jets getting old. $36 for the parts and 15 minutes to repair. Toilets - piece of cake. A/C capacitor - $20 and I keep a new one inside the A/C. I consider hiring a pro as paying tuition.
I always have a capacitor on the shelf ready to install as needed. A couple of years ago I thought I lost the capacitor, but it turned out to be another simple problem. There were a bunch of earwigs that had had gotten inside the unit, and one was on a contact for the start relay when it energized. It got smashed between the contacts and stopped the circuit from closing. A simple blast of air to clear it out and the unit was running again.
🥱
A hvac guy told me once a box wasn't wired right, always connected even if you pull. He said ALWAYS have a no contact meter to check.
It's why when I deal with heavy electrical like this, I cut the mains power.
Nice to know honest hvac techs exist. Guy wanted to charge $1200 to replace a capacitor and add "easy seal" to a 5 year old Trane unit. This was 8 years ago when you could still buy 410a for less than a fortune! Thanks for being honest and knowledgeable in your craft.
Yea thanks for failing so hard you had to shut down and make TH-cam videos
Thanks a bunch. This has happened to my AC twice in the past 4 yrs. Thank goodness i have a honest AC man like this gentleman.
The scamming problem is even worse in condo associations, because the condominium property managers aren't spending their own money and it's easiest for them to just go along with whatever they're told by contractors.
That is absolutely true. I'm in one and they don't care.
its the reason why I prefer to work with stratas (our local version of condos), not with private customers. Its easier and they do not fall down with cardiac arrest when you show them invoice for couple of thousands.
The administrators will often engage those who reciprocate benefit in some manner.
Hmm. Shared hvac?
@@z352kdaf8324 plenty of them, centralised system for the whole building. But usually ac for common property - bm office, lobbies and so on
Damn I needed to find you two days ago. I was charged $600 for a capacitor to be changed and get my AC running. Definitely subscribing!
I was also using a top AC company in my area for my annual contracted maintenance and service call. On one call the employee stated my capacitor was 'low' and would likely need replacing soon. My unit was only 5 years old at the time. He gave me a price of $500 and when I expressed shock at that, he 'spoke to his mgr' and came back with $350. I told him thanks, but I'll wait for it to fail. I then went on Amazon and found the item for under $20! After inspecting it, it's very easy to see that removing and replacing it is child's play in the DIY World. I lived there another 3 years before moving and never replaced it.
You explained the process so well that anybody with any mechanical ability can safely change their capacitor. Another thing you can get capacitors from your local AC Supply House might cost you a little bit more but you won't have to wait and not have AC. And like you were saying about getting the turbo 2000 to have laying around be prepared find an AC guy and ask him if he's got a couple of those jumper wires I used to pull one's out of old units just so I had them so you don't have to buy the double capacitor you can just buy whichever one you need for the compressor or for the fan. Just jump the common wire over to the new cap then the wire you removed from the bad side onto the other side of the new cap.
I like you videos. Electrical engineer here, to correct a point. Capacitors do store charge, but that's not how they are used in this application (AC voltages). Here, the capacitor doesn't provide a "jolt" of charge. It is connected in series with a winding in the motor (here, the compressor and the condenser fan), and it causes a shift in the electrical phase between the two windings in the motor. This produces a torque in the motor when it is turning. Some capacitors are for the run winding and some are for the start winding. If the start winding, a switch disconnects this capacitor as the motor spins up.
Doug, I'm glad you posted this. I was about to post as well. I have been an HVACR tech for fifty years ( long before these POS capacitors were around. Also, the right way is to install two separate caps ( one for the herm and one for the cond fan). They will perform better and last longer. I also don't like the money making piggy back start caps, install the correct start cap and relay! Now days with generators and solar batteries use a Micro-Air soft start and reduce the start-up inrush current.
@@keithreuter4932 Was going to do the same.
These repairs wouldn't be so soon or often is the manufacturers would use quality capacitors. Unfortunately they use Chinesium brands that usually fail on year 2.
I'm not qualified to do anything, but I have changed my capacitor just fine before. And even added a Kick Start to it. Thanks for the videos!
Those Supco Boosts are epic on high LRA motors
NOTE: Not all disconnects flip the plug over to be off. Some state that off is removal of the plug. To be safe, voltage should be checked with a meter or voltage detector.
i have a breaker bar outside in a box, I can visually look to see if the bus bar is contacted
@@maxgorden499 You insinuated that flipping a pullout would remove power. I pointed out that that is not always true.
I have used my HVAC company for years. They are really honest. I'm lucky. I just had my units replaced... it was time. There was an electrical issue that shut one of the units down... it happens. The company dispatched a tech and he said I need to replace BOTH of them. I have a good relationship with the owner and called him. He came out with the tech and Op's manager. It was a fuse. A $1 part. The owner was embarrassed. More like appalled. He fired the tech right in front of me. The owner was very apologetic stating over and over again "my father would have never allowed this, this is not how we operate". He fixed it right then... himself.
There are good ones out there. Few and far between, for sure. Aaron- you are the man.
My highly skilled HVAC guy failed to get the unit started, it ran for 30 secs then shut down. It finally turned out that the utility's "Saver Switch" which allows them to remotely shut it to prevent brownouts was faulty. Took out that wire and all was fine. Now I'm running a geothermal heat pump instead for heating and cooling and much lower cost.
The capacitor helps the motor start. Three-phase motors do not need a capacitor to start but most single-phase motors need one.
Homeowner here. I have a spare cap for my pool pump, sprinkler pump, and ac, and I have used 2 of the 3 already. Get them!!!
If people don't watch anything else about HVAC, they need this one. Great simple explanation. I got bit many years ago when I was young and dumb and full of (you know). TH-cam can be a great place. I keep a capacitor, contactor, thermostat and even a X13 rescue motor in reserve now, will get a condenser fan when I find the exact rating. Places around here won't sell to consumers and it gets to hot to wait a few days for a replacement.
They don't "jolt" they provide a phase shift into the motor windings which excites rotation, Those are duel caps which is two capacitors in one package providing phase shift for both the compressor and condenser fan motors.
Another great video! About 5 years ago I noticed my AC stopped working, A quick video search showed me to change this capacitor and it fixed it. The AC contractor at work told me you just saved yourself 500 bucks for a weekend service call. The contractor must have been the honest honest type..
I was a HVAC technician for 7 years for a giant company in my area. A blown cap call is usually 79$ for the trip , a cap is a easy find so no diagnostic fee, and 149$ to replace the cap, wich includes a 1year warranty. So your looking at 228$. The capacitor runs about 7$ from the part house. Now let's break this down. This call probably took 30mins including paperwork, reason being you can't just replace the cap and go, no. I have got to check refrigerant pressure, delta T, and all other functions of the system. So the company I worked for has invested insurance, my hourly wage, gas and the promise to return if the part fails again. Not to mention most people these days don't have walk around sense let alone be able to diagnose and repair a HVAC system. I'd say you got a good deal.
Nobody is saying this should be free, but I've seen countless scenarios where it's way more than what you outlined. An hour labor is perfectly reasonable for this job.
Uh, yah, IF you get charged that which is likely VERY rare. I've built two houses now (owned 7 over my 51 years) and have yet to meet a plumber / plumbing company with any morals. The sky is the limit on what they will attempt to charge you!
I've just ordered a meter for $18 to check the cap. Money well spent!!
Local 36 Tinner here. A lot of people don't think about the stuff you listed. They just see the cost of the part and the bill and get mad...
that is reasonable. sounds like some companies rip ppl off tho
So nice of you to show people how they can save money by showing them how to do the repair themselves. God bless you!
I remember a guy years ago charging my grandmother $400 to change a capacitor, and it was working fine. In and out in about 30 minutes, part of a "free" tune up. HVAC seems to attract the slimiest people.
Part of the slime is due to the fact that depending on your region you may have 2 times a year where you make little to no money in HVAC so they try to maximize what they can. I kill my pockets because I just cant charge people crazy prices.
That price is high, but it is worth noting that changing out the cap if its readings are off the allowed tolerance (like explained in this video) is a good idea, even if it 'works fine'. Better to get ahead of it failing on the hottest day or to avoid unnecessary strain on the system as it struggles to start.
Who knows if your GM's cap actually needed to be changed, however.
Weak capacitor was caught before it quit altogether
Screwed my mom in Charlotte County , Florida with free inspection!
I worked for a TV repair shop while going to school in the 70s, HVAC are amateurs compared to the shop I worked for.
I had an HVAC guy tell me I needed a new furnace in 2016. I replaced the blower motor myself and everything ran well. It's 2024 and l replaced the motherboard, new ignitor and replaced the flame sensor just in case just in January. It's running like new!
In 2017 I was also told that my AC condenser needed to be replaced and it literally was just the capacitor and the shut off needed to be taken out and re-inserted.
I had quotes of $25k to replace these things in 2017. If I would have done that today I would have a 7-year-old system that probably would be experiencing a few of these issues again and I'd be out $25k that I didn't have
This is all great information. In Hawaii I was a handyman and had lots of people call me to replace water pumps because it was dead. They were really surprise when I changed out the capacitor for less than a $100 bucks! Then the times I got to a home for other repairs and find good looking pump just laying around only to find they were sold a new pump because the old on was bad. Usually they would let me have the old one, if I ask, just to get rid of it. I would test them and I bet 8 or 9 times out of 10 it was just a bad cap. I had a way of testing the old pump and would sell them to people on fixed income for a fraction of what a new one was.......
My ac unit is only 4 years old I have 6?years left on a 10 year all parts all labor warranty. Yes you heard that right. The blower motor went out last year they showed up replaced it and left no charges anyways I love this dude. This is great info. I’m about to buy a universal cap just to keep in the garage for when the warranty is up.
On the turbo 200, when jumping 2 or more terminals together, to get the microfarads you need, you’re supposed to put your wire from the unit on the highest rated terminal in that connected bunch, even though they’re connected together with the little jumper wires.
Make it make sense....
certainly if you had to jump 3 together you'd need to hook the unit from one end of the chain or the other? Otherwise your your making a parallel connection rather than the intended series connection.
@@stvrob6320 I’m just saying that the company says if you jump 10 and 20 and 50 to get 80 uf, put your condenser wire on the 50 not the 20 or 10.
Why would that make a difference?
@@stvrob6320 not sure but it’s what the manufacturer says to do.
Great video, I live in AZ and I just change capacitors every 5 years, checking yearly.If I use AMRAD, they last 10 years a least in AZ. They are the best quality caps. I love them for my rentals.
Makes a lot of sense for such a cheap and easy to replace part. Preventative Maintenance for the win!
Seems like overkill but ok I get it, Arizona is a little warm sometimes 😆
Agree preventive maintenance is key
Why change them after 5 years if they last 10?
@@mrtechie6810So you don't get a call from a tenant "My AC won't work!" at an inconvenient hour?
Your channel has so much good info!! I was charged $300 last summer for a bad capacitor. It was for a rental property on a Friday evening so I was paying to keep tenants happy. The AC unit was installed in 2021 so I was upset it was already having issues. I clean it twice in the summer. Once I found out it was a $10 part I still felt a little cheated. I cannot believe people are paying $2,000. That is a scam.
An emergency service call ( after normal business hours ) is typically twice the normal service call fee . Time and materials.
@@anthonygonzalez7488 $300 for an after hours call, and a $15 part, does not seem bad to me. Tech made a living. Not a killing.
If the unit was installed in 2021 the capacitor would be under warranty. You paid for the labor,service and time to facilitate the warranty(paperwork and Shipping and Handling). You got a great deal.
That $300 was a GREAT price for a Friday night cap call out. To think you were scammed or cheated just shows you have no clue about how businesses are run or supply and demand.
If HVAC companies were really your friend, when they install a new HVAC, they should include an extra cap.
Just replaced my capacitor. I bought one for backup and thank God I did. I had to use it just today. My AC has the exact symptoms, fan only no buzz from condenser. After replacing it, out fired right up. AC back on, registers showing 58 degrees!
Best of all, $15 bucks! Ordered another backup instantly. Ready for the next failure.
My Florida condenser was flooded under 4.5 feet of water from Hurricane Ian. I washed the unit and called one-hour heating and cooling. They wanted $1,200 to replace the fan motor, who said they had it on back order. It would take 3 weeks. I bought a new motor that day for $120 and it was back working in one day. Figuring 3 hours labor for them, that works out to over $300/hr. Gouging at its worst during a disaster. In three weeks I would have lost the house to black mold.
Sometimes DIY is faster.
Why would you have lost your house to black mold?!
@@Xanthopteryx
_Why would you have lost your house to black mold?!_
That seemed an obvious reference to what would happen without the A/C running, with all of that Florida humidity.
But just wait until we start having all of those predicted rolling blackouts, due to the enviro-wackos shutting down our power plants with their pretense of "climate change" (fake-science and trendy BS) of being a thing to worry about, and not caring that power sources seriously need to be "dispatchable", because they can't be bothered with technical details like science, physics, or economic feasibility. Coal, natural gas, nuclear power, hydro-electric are all dispatchable, which means that they can be brought online in a short amount of time to match a rising demand curve or a hot summer day in which people are running their A/C. Solar and wind are not dispatchable, because they produce when they produce. The sun does not always shine, clouds block the sun, the wind does not consistently blow. Bad things happen if the supply can not match the demand, forcing them to "shed load" in the form of rolling blackouts. How will we ever have jobs, when nobody wants to build a factory where they do not have reliable 24-7 electricity?
BTW, the backup electricity for hospitals would be considered to be dispatchable I imagine, because diesel generators run day or night and are not dependent upon the fickle weather. However, the fuel can run out in days, if power is not promptly restored. Those emergency generators start themselves automatically within seconds of detecting a power outage. Why don't hospitals or other places needing emergency reliable power, rely upon wind or solar? Think about it. Also check out Ray Stevens "A Solar Powered Song". Funny, if it wasn't actually kind of sad.
@@Xanthopteryxno ac in a humid climate allows growth. Welcome to Florida
If you are in that situation again, you may want to call a Yankee friend, up North and have them pick up the item needed then ship it to you UPS next day air. It is not that much!
Thank you! Great advice. If you can tighten kitchen cabinet hinge, you can probably swap a capacitor. If your A/C has the symptoms, it is worth taking a shot at replacing the capacitor, even if you don’t have a test meter. You’re out less than 20 bucks and if works, you saved a couple hundred or more.
The danger in a first time cap replacement is cuts on your hands from the jagged edges of zip ties that you may have to work around. I have snipped back all of the jagged edges of all zip ties. When a cap goes out, it may not be in daylight.
@@HardRockMaster7577 Excellent observation and advice! I always snip off the excess ends of zip ties. I wear safety glasses around wiring where zip ties have been used because I’ve come uncomfortably close to getting poked in the eye by one of those ends sticking out.
You are a man of integrity, and we appreciate you.
Thank you sincerely sir for the video. I actually watched this about a month ago and just a couple of weeks after that my ac stopped cooling, and I did exactly what you explained, bought a capacitor and installed it, and my ac was cooling again.
Universal caps are meant to be used in an emergency when you are far from a supply house. I have a collection of them taken out of replaced units and I use them in a pinch.
I live in a suburb in Phoenix. George Brazil came out last year to do maintenance and wanted to charge me $600. Needless to say, that was the last time I will be using them. Another company came out reference a warranty call (after I did it myself), and their price was $250 (still high). Thanks for having your channel up. I'm currently working on putting on a soft start kit (having some wiring issues).
I want to say that i got George Brazil came out last year for maintenance complementary call..for $39 and ended up swindle me for $490 and didn't even fix the problem ..Never again..they don't stand behind their work satifaction to the customer ..
@@ireneayenmacorol546 If you were ripped off by an HVAC company, you should report them to the State Licensing Board; they can pay stiff penalties or go to jail or have license revoked! Like here in Texas.--
You people are the reason our country is failing, I bet your mechanic hates you and half does your oil change.... if you don't do ti yourself 😂
I got smoked by what I thought was a friend. This business has taught me a lot in a short time. Thankfully we now have TH-cam to help us learn.
Sucker born every minute
Thanks my capacitor had the top blown and was leaking fluid .I cleaned the area up and ordered the replacement capacitor under 30 bucks with rush shipping.
Thanks for the help
I can’t believe you are so honesty and integrity , you will never see a contractor will tell you how much cost for capacitor and charge you arm and leg 🦵. Thanks 🙏 you so much and god bless you keeps it up .
Technically it shifts the phase to give a rotational phase to start a motor, but who's asking. As well +- means that it can be within 6% of 45 and be within rating. so 42.3-47.7 . Good advice regardless!
Good catch. You stated what he meant to say on the 6% variance in clearer language.
I am a retired HVACR Contractor. (Actually a Mechanical Contractor in FL. That means an AC contractor that does BIG Refrigeration too, and other stuff) I have never charged $100 for a capacitor and certainly not for a residential AC Capacitor which are small capacitors. Most of the time, I sold them for under $50. This includes the purchase price (Good ones are about $30 at a reputable supplier) for a good capacitor, my time to go get it for you, keep it on the truck, replacing the capacitor correctly and checking the unit motors afterwards.)
But an Amazon china made cap will last a season, maybe two. Some AC models have more costly Capacitors, and the China knock-offs may not be available. And don’t be surprised if that Amazon China Capacitor doesn’t start your AC unit. The percentage of bad china capacitors out of the box is crazy high.
Now that Fluke meter he was using will set you back $150 to $250 on Amazon. Some cheaper ones are available, many are unreliable however. A good HVAC Technician will not only diagnosis your capacitor, will check the contactor, wiring, cleanliness of the unit and he will put your unit back in service & check it for correct operation and efficiency. As I always stayed booked (and did not advertise, ever) I was mostly working on a repeat client’s unit when I replaced the capacitor, usually during an Annual or semi-annual clean & inspect. SO rarely did the capacitor add much to the bill.
But, If working on 220vac circuits don’t bother you and you have the knowledge to understand Capacitance. Sure go ahead and save a few bucks, Realistically $10 to $20. But don’t burn anything up. And if that Capacitor is bad, 90% of the time so is the contactor is bad too. Also, if the Capacitor is bad, most likely your coils are dirty and need cleaning, so do that too or the Capacitor will go out again. Dirty Coil = High Amp Start Up = Short Capacitor Life. Dirty coils shorten the life of Condenser Fan Motors too. They are also hard on the compressor & your power bill.
And before you start, make sure the POWER is truly OFF. HVAC Contractors really hate to have fix a unit somebody totally smoked, trying to save $10. If you short something out & pay someone to fix your mess, there is a good chance something else will go bad really soon after. NO it is not the AC Tech’s Fault either. Short circuits over heat all your electrical components in an AC unit. Lots of those get weak after a short circuit and they are put back in service.
If your AC unit is made by TRANE and you have an Orange colored compressor. Stop and call a HVAC Contractor to service your unit. These units’ compressors have internal overloads that do NOT like being tripped. Short this OL. Out and it will cost you about $3000. Not worth the risk to save $50. Trane usually has the more expensive parts on them.
But PLEASE, if you think a capacitor is a BATTERY. Don’t even think about servicing your AC unit, you’re going to get hurt. A Capacitor IS NOTHING like a battery. Even after being Removed from the machine, it can give you a VERY strong shock. That shock can cause a heart attack, stop a pacemaker, burn you quite good and certainly will make you say bad words. Oh.. NEVR short a capacitor out with a screwdriver as shown. There is absolutely no reason to do this, unless you want to see the spark. You are counting on the screwdriver handle being sufficient insulation to protect you and it not being cracked, split or broken.
BTW: A capacitor is a coil of two conductors, separated by an insulating material called dielectric. It briefly receives a lot of power (not a save voltage like a battery) and holds it for only a few micro seconds and then releases it, based on the capacitive resistance it creates. This gives the motor a pause followed by strong kick to one of its coils, called a lag. That helps the motor start and determines the direction it turns in some motors. Now that insulation inside the capacitor can be oil in an expensive Capacitors or air in an el cheap-o. China capacitors often use wax paper, so like Florida, Texas or Arizona summer heat is real hard on them. Good capacitors use mica insulation that can last five years or more. But you won’t be buying those on Amazon for $16 for a dual capacitor (Compressor & Fan)..
Oh, one more thing, put those wires back exactly where they go. Cross them up and your repair bill will be far more than you can save on capacitors over the entire life of your AC unit. That is 220 Volts on top of that capacitor. The breaker protecting the unit is a lot bigger than the one on an outlet in your house, usually about 45 amps. So it will do some serious damage if you short it out.
If in doubt and REALLY are two stubborn (or broke) to call someone to help; H or Herm terminal on the Cap goes to the Compressor (follow the wires), C is for Common, that will go to one side of the incoming 220 volts (often red or black), F or Fan goes to the fan motor. Usually the fan is a smaller wire, often purple, but not if the fan motor has been changed out with a generic motor. All these wires have power on them if the power is turned on, even if it is not running.
Stay Safe.
Great information as you thoroughly explained a somewhat complex issue and simplified it
Yeah, the cheap capacitors kind of suck, but what really sucks is that HVAC suppliers won't sell to regular people, so Amazon crap is most people's only reasonable option unless they want to seriously overpay to DIY.
I've made it a habit to just keep a spare on hand in the garage, because it always seems to be the hottest day of the year that they fail, and even with Amazon prime, you end up waiting a day or two to get a new one delivered. So having $10-15 tied up in a spare to keep in the parts drawer and be able to swap it out and get it up and running again is totally worth it.
Even having to replace the cap every year or two at a cost of $10-$15, it still ends up costing less to just keep replacing them than it costs for the 5-year lifespan of the Turbo 200. And you don't have to worry about being stuck trying to warranty anything for weeks/months with no A/C, during the hottest days of the year.
I've been using Amazon cheapies for the past ~15 years, and I'll continue to do so until/unless HVAC suppliers consider becoming less hostile to homeowners.
Grainger sells direct to the public. Changed out my 28 year old Trane fan motor and updated to the proper capacitor last week. Bought all my parts from my local Grainger down the road from my house.
@@scottkuzma125 Grainger does sell direct to the public, but not at the same price as a contractor gets.
@@Wrenchmonkey1 Well, don't know where you live, but here in North Florida HVAC Contractors are not hostile toward our customers. At least I never was. But if you want to DIY & forgo the value of having an expert check why the capacitor popped... well, its your ac unit. I never stopped a DYI-er. Eventually, they all call a contractor. Hopefully next time you have to call one, it isn't because you overlooked a problem when you changed your own capacitor. Granted, cheap china caps pop often & yes, heat makes them go out. But so does a P/T problem, bad contactor or wiring issue. So be sure to check those carefully. Even if its a fan motor that cooks off because the capacitor burnt the contacts out on the contactor and you missed it.... That is going to be a couple hundred bucks to get you cooling again.
Customer: "Air not cold, wife mad, how much to you want?" HVAC Guy: "How much you got?"
Dude, exactly! 🤣🤣🤣
"Seems your going to be a bit short, we have several flexible financing plans for you to choose from and then we can get you "set up" and running again...."
Isnt it funny how wives just dont care what something costs unless its the husband's hobby?
@@johneldorado 😂🤣Exactly!
Just exactly like the scene in the Lampoon Vacation movie where Chase's character jumps the family "truckster" in the desert and gets it fixed by these shyster mechanics..... "Cmon guys how much is it" and the one says: "And I'm asking HOW MUCH YOU GOT?!"
EXCELLENT VIDEO! Clear, concise, and no fluff. Anyone with central AC should save this video. Don't ask how I know. Thank you!
If you go to a mechanic for your auto repairs, they do the same exact thing with Oxygen Sensors. They replace them when it’s not necessary and they up charge you massively on the parts and labor. If you require an oxygen sensor, it’s less than $100 for the part and take 5-10 min to replace.
Bought a 4x/yr “Preventive Maintenance” contract for $33/mo from my HVAC company. Tech warned me in second visit that my capacitor was starting to head towards the range suggesting replacement ($350 plus tax) but while watching him check it I quickly looked on Amazon and found the identical part for $14 and called him out on it. I replaced it myself….15 mins in time. The previous / first visit 3 months earlier he did a Carbon monoxide test stating “you got a leak; likely a crack in the heater box” (it’s a heat pump with natural gas back up) and the system should be replaced…. $8-10 thousand (I live in the Pacific NW; 1400 sq/ft). I brought out my two (2) state of the art CO detectors that run constantly and have a digital readout of the percentage of CO it detects and both read zero. Yes, I know his CO detector was likely much higher tech then mine but ya got to wonder; Considering diy hybrid solar mini split 2400 btu for 4k which includes the panels. I could buy two of these mini splits for what he quoted me to replace my “leaky system”.
Buy a Canary, if there is a CO leak you'll know.😎🌴🐊
At my old place, I had to replace a capacitor, and I did it myself it wasn't that big of a deal.
Right after replacement, the condenser motor for the fan went out.
So I went back to my local AC supplier, and he was able to match me up a new motor.
I hooked it up, and the fan worked in reverse.
A quick youtube search shows that reversing any of the 2 wires makes the motor spon the other direction.
The service call was 120.00 just to come out, and the local AC technician said he probably wouldn't be able to get to it in about 3 days.
We had a newborn baby. Mid summer in Texas,and that was not going to work.
I have no idea how much I saved in the end, but it was worth the effort.
A lot. You saved a lot. I'm a licensed tech. Most companies would've charged you an arm and a leg for the part alone, and the part is the cheap portion of the bill. Here's a tip, and feel free to spread it around. A good rule of thumb is if it doesn't involve the pipes and freon, you are legally permitted to make the repairs without a license. For simple stuff like coil cleaning, replacing caps or contacts, the condenser fan I encourage people to learn to do it. Apart from saving money, making something work again with your own two hands gives you a feeling of accomplishment you simply can't get elsewhere. Just make sure you follow ALL the safety guidelines. It's not about being tough, it's about staying alive.
Thanks for another great video!!!! I never knew how to use a universal cap. Made it easy to understand. Caps are always the first thing I check bc in my exp. they are the first thing to go bad.
Yeah, they do it all the time. Thanks to you and Google. I looked up why my AC was not turning on.. like you, they said the first thing to do for a $10-$15 part is change the run capacitor or start capacitor. It’s worth a shot for the money.. connecting 3 wires it fixed my problem five years ago. I got lucky! Tnks!
Most state hvac licensing boards are responsible for enforcing ethical behavior by contractors, and most are lazy bureaucrats who do nothing. Complain to your local state representative if you deal with a scam contractor (and about half of us are crooked, imo). Demand action.
The board can't do anything if the contractor isn't reported. The board is dependent upon complaints before they can even investigate.
Good luck, bro. None of us are going to anything unless all of us do something.
I dont know if the laws have changed but if a contractor has a price list for certain work it's perfectly legal. In fact 60 min ?? did a show on this years ago on an electric contractor in Calif was charging insane prices for breakers. But since they had a price list it was perfectly legal. Also, that contractor had full yellow page ads so their overhead was high too.
@@Steve-sg3uz price list alone doesn't necessarily make it legal. On the surface it may be but you also have to look at underlying business practices. This would also be illegal gouging if an emergency was declared. I'm not against high rates because someone needs to be on the high end but I am against prices that are so ridiculously high that they are considered price gouging. You also have to consider the fact that the contractor may be charging a flat rate for the repair. If the contractor is charging for a more expensive repair when they have a cheaper flat rate that covers this then they are pulling illegal business practices by charging for more than they should be.
Sadly price gouging is a common practice in most (not all) businesses, not just HVAC. Most legal representatives won't go after businesses, it's a long sketchy process dealing with pulling a business financial records and finding the smoking gun.
My favorite kind of human. Zero bs, fast, and looking to save people money. Thank you, subbing.
I was ripped off by being charged $150, in advance, before the tech would come out! Then he proceeded to rip the wires out of the ac unit! He then says I’ll get a call on the cost to repair. 3 days later a young sounding, cheerful female voice tells me it will cost $9,000 to replace my ac unit. When I asked for an explanation she said she didn’t know. I am an octogenarian and have great difficulty with my knees to get down to do repairs. I went to TH-cam. Watched your video. Replaced the capacitor myself for under $25.00. Thank you. I will never call a service tech again. My refrigerator just went out. I’m debating if I should replace the compressor myself or buy a new refrigerator. Won’t ever call a service tech again.
did you pull fridge out & clean compressor on bottom? sometimes that's all it takes to get it working properly again
@@methus57 I know this was a month ago, but always check your thermostat, that is what usually goes out.
I'm sure some cheapie ones are 10 bucks, but my neighbor is an a/c guy and said he pays around 50- 100 bucks depending on what a/c. That said his company charged me 200 bucks to do mine, so I guess thats pretty good.
This is an awesome video. It gets right to the point and explains everything perfectly. I'll share this with all my friends.❤
Shared this video on Next Door and on FB.
It's not a scam (other than the $2000 cost). It's a common part failure. Now, charging $2000 for it is unethical, and while I'm sure it has happened I doubt that's the norm. None of the ones you show When mine failed, my AC tech came out and found it was the capacitor, he told me and gave me the option of replacing it myself for about $20, or if he replaced it the cost would be just under $200 after you add in the charge for the service call. I had him replace it because he had the part in hand and I could get my AC fixed right then rather than wait to buy a capacitor myself. I kept the old one for reference so I could buy a spare to keep on hand for the future.
No one said it was a scam to replace a faulty part. The scam is charging an arm and a leg for it or replacing a perfectly good one.
@@mbrownie22 If they replaced a good part; that's considered fraud!
A couple hundred for parts and labor to send a skilled technician out on a service call with the tools and knowledge to diagnose the issue and fix it is reasonable. A couple grand for a 10 buck part is highway robbery unless there was alot more wrong than a bad cap.
I saw this video a while ago and had put a capacitor in my Amazon wish list to purchase. I should’ve done it right away. AC went out a few days ago. Ordered a capacitor for and installed it today and it’s back to working. Thank you for making this known! Cheap and easy fix.
Well, thought I was good, but new capacitor failed in 24 hours. Something must be causing it to fail. Just don’t know what. Unit is 10 years old. May have to call a pro in now.