HVAC HELP its 90 in my house!!

[indyk]

I need an HONEST HVAC guy or girl that works around the east side Indianapolis to help me out.

I have an older outside AC unit that was humming and would not run unless you turned the blades yourself, this would cool for a little while but, after 10 to 15 minutes the blades sloooow and then stop to hum.

I replaced the Capacitor and it runs then stops
and will not turn on for at least 3/4 of an hour

I talked to a HVAC guy at the gas station and he says its sounds like the motor his estimate for a motor replacement off hand was 850$

I had to tell him to go to Grainger Industrial supply and get his equipment cheaper I basically just walked away.

So

I need a guy who knows what he is doin and trouble shoot my unit,
before I go get a loan for a new one

 

[furbymac]

it does sound like a bad fan motor. just go to granger and replace it your self. it isn't hard just make sure you hook all the wires up the same way.

edit: just make sure you copy all the info down on the old motor so they can get you the right one.

 

[woowoo2]

If the cap is the proper one, you need a new fan motor.
It would also be a good time to clean the coils while it is apart.
Make sure the power is off on the air handler and the outside unit before working on it.

 

[LtScott14]

Get a cheap box fan and lay it down to blow on unit. Also can you point a slow sprinkler of water at the unit? Warning: watch out to not get water in the motor of the box fan. Not perfect, but a 1/3 hsp 208/230 volt fan motor replacement should cost about $65.00, $5.00 for a 5x 370 capacitor, a can of wd 40, and a cooler morning to do the work. In the shade about a 2 hr job. If you pay someone $100.00 + parts w/ 20% markup? Maybe around $250-300. Note: No Mercy in Heat waves, 14hrs a day, 110 degree outdoor temp in the sun. Some guys can't sleep at night for $850.00!

 

[Westside]

If it is a fan motor they are fairly simple as long as you get the right one and wire it for the correct voltage.

But in short:
1) replacement wire $1
2)knowing which wire to replace and how to replace it $100.

Your not paying them for just the parts and time, your paying for the specialized knowledge required to do it. Otherwise you wouldn't be on ingo asking for help.

 

[VaGriller]

Get a cheap box fan and lay it down to blow on unit. Also can you point a slow sprinkler of water at the unit? Warning: watch out to not get water in the motor of the box fan. Not perfect, but a 1/3 hsp 208/230 volt fan motor replacement should cost about $65.00, $5.00 for a 5x 370 capacitor, a can of wd 40, and a cooler morning to do the work. In the shade about a 2 hr job. If you pay someone $100.00 + parts w/ 20% markup? Maybe around $250-300. Note: No Mercy in Heat waves, 14hrs a day, 110 degree outdoor temp in the sun. Some guys can't sleep at night for $850.00!

AC companies typically charge 100-200% markup on the heat pump/handler/condensor. Even more on small parts like capacitors & boards etc. Then their trip charge, fuel charge, diag charge, weekend surcharge, nighttime surcharge, holiday surcharge, + their "book" time do the install. I've got two friends that own their own HVAC companies, its amazing what they can get away with charging people.

 

[michael b]

This might be a bit complicated to replace by yourself. I have never attempted to work on my AC unit. You may be able to find some kind of guide online. If you haven't found an HVAC specialist yet, have you tried searching on Angies List? Good luck staying cool. I hope mine doesn't go out with this nasty heat wave.

 

[indyk]

..

Being that my unit was made in 1963 I think the best thing to do is.....buy a new one $$

Thanks for the links guys!!

 

[Scutter01]

Being that my unit was made in 1963 I think the best thing to do is.....buy a new one $$

Thanks for the links guys!!

Is it central air, or just a window AC unit? There's a pretty nice tax credit for installing energy-saving HVAC (furnaces, AC, windows, etc., until the end of 2011, I think). We replaced our furnace last year and got a $1500 credit. That's not a rebate, it's a tax credit. The new unit is also WAY more efficient than our previous 10-year-old unit, so it saves us money on our heating bill.

 

[Don]

A Perfect Climate Greenwood Heating, Greenwood Furnace, Shelbyville Heating, Shelbyville Furnace, Heat Pump, mooresville, martinsville, franklin, camby, in indiana

Give my friend Sean a call, he is a fellow gun owner as well. Tell him Don with the prosthetic leg told you to call him. He will do you right.

Don

 

[BE Mike]

We got a blessing in disguise a couple of months ago when our heating and air conditioning unit went Tango Uniform. We used a company that we have been using for servicing and repair. The company was recommended to us by a relative, who had been using them for many years. Our new unit is more efficient and is keeping up during this hot weather down south (yeah, New Albany). We got part of the tax credit because we had taken a tax credit the previous year for a new water heater. The company gave us a discount for paying cash!

I can't believe that your unit has operated since 1964! Typical units seem to last 15 years or so. I would think that yours is way beyond repair. You will probably need to get a new system. Be prepared to shell out the big bucks. A wild guess on my part is that you might pay $4,000-$5,000. If you don't have the bucks, go to the public library or other place (the big cities have designated places) during the day and keep cool or plug in a fan or two, put your feet in ice water and ride out the heat.

Unfortunately this isn't a good time to bargain. With the heat wave, the HVAC companies are up to their ears with work and it might be hard to find a few that will give you estimates.

 

[pinshooter45]

If you want to just try to replace the motor yourself, try All Appliance Parts at pendolton pike and Shadland. Right behind the Rally's and next door to Menards. They've helped me out of more than one problem, Just recently rebuilt my dryer for about half the cost of a new one. They've also sold me parts for my gas funace when no one else would!