8
- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Score Board
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- SEC Score Board
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Cool A\C story (no pun intended)
Posted on 7/18/26 at 8:35 am
Posted on 7/18/26 at 8:35 am
I noticed before I went to bed, the 5-ton a/c didn't seem to be knocking out the humidity as it should. This morning, my wife complained about that too and said the a\c ran more than usual last night (I slept through it, of course.)
I go outside with the a\c running and the fan is not spinning. I push the blade with a stick, and it kicks on. So, I know I have a capacitor issue. I called Ram Heating and Air, and Tom will be here at 9 AM. However, I put a box fan on top of the condenser to help disperse heat if it ran. Well, the fan spun the blade so much that it was enough to start the fan when the a\c kicked on. The house is cool as normal until the fix. Redneck engineering wins again!
I go outside with the a\c running and the fan is not spinning. I push the blade with a stick, and it kicks on. So, I know I have a capacitor issue. I called Ram Heating and Air, and Tom will be here at 9 AM. However, I put a box fan on top of the condenser to help disperse heat if it ran. Well, the fan spun the blade so much that it was enough to start the fan when the a\c kicked on. The house is cool as normal until the fix. Redneck engineering wins again!
Posted on 7/18/26 at 8:58 am to Enadious
But you will be mocked for letting them gouge you on the capacitor. I have 2 on the shelf in the garage just in case.
Posted on 7/18/26 at 9:02 am to Enadious
Use it as a chance to learn how to replace the capacitor. It is stupid easy
Posted on 7/18/26 at 9:35 am to jmarto1
I'm probably $600 or more ahead replacing my own capacitors.
I'm not good about keeping ones in stock at my house, but the stick trick for the fan usually works enough for me to get one quickly enough.
I'm not good about keeping ones in stock at my house, but the stick trick for the fan usually works enough for me to get one quickly enough.
This post was edited on 7/18/26 at 9:36 am
Posted on 7/18/26 at 9:48 am to Enadious
quote:
Ram Heating and Air, and Tom will be here at 9 AM
Well that worked out in a pinch, even if discovered by accident. Ram Heating & Air installed my HVAC when the house was built in 1993 and I always used them for service, still today.
But I wanted to send a shout out to Tom with RAM, he was the last tech they sent out when I needed service several years ago, I’m glad to hear he is still with them (assuming they have only 1 Tom service tech). But if he is same guy he is the only tech when coming to house, who methodically checked TESP (total external static pressure) to measure air flow of the system, an important diagnostic tool, before anything else, something most techs should do first, but rarely do. If I recall he was from New York. I could tell he really knew his stuff and was not just a “gas & go” guy. Glad you mentioned his name as I had forgotten it, but I’d definitely would request RAM send him out to my house for service if needed, emergency or otherwise.
Posted on 7/18/26 at 10:15 am to jmarto1
quote:
Use it as a chance to learn how to replace the capacitor. It is stupid easy
I've changed many capacitors in the past. It is stupid easy. My wife is handicapped, and I'm the caregiver. I didn't want to leave her alone. Plus, I can't take the money spent with me. Might as well share to help others out.
Posted on 7/18/26 at 10:19 am to CrawDude
quote:
But I wanted to send a shout out to Tom with RAM
Very professional and polite. I couldn't be more pleased. I have a service contract with Ram for about $170 a year. I get a discount on services rendered.
Posted on 7/18/26 at 10:56 am to Enadious
LOL.. Great story... I know entergy is rubbing their little furry paws together with the depths of hell heat that we will have for the next 2 to 3 months... We should see high 90's next week...
Posted on 7/18/26 at 3:52 pm to Enadious
quote:
I called Ram Heating and Air, and Tom will be here at 9 AM.
You were the house he went to before me! I had the same issue last night (capacitor) but he didn’t make it to me until 10.
Posted on 7/18/26 at 11:39 pm to calcotron
I will add a suggestion of getting a spare relay too.
They might go bad due to use, or even ants.
Another optional purchase is to get a spare control board.
They might go bad due to use, or even ants.
Another optional purchase is to get a spare control board.
Posted on 7/20/26 at 2:52 pm to Enadious
quote:
the fan spun the blade so much that it was enough to start the fan when the a\c kicked on. The house is cool as normal until the fix. Redneck engineering wins again!
i love this so muchPosted on 7/21/26 at 1:18 am to Teddy Ruxpin
quote:
I'm not good about keeping ones in stock at my house
Just a heads up for folks as I didn't know this until 2 days ago...Home Depot now has HVAC capacitors in stock around here. A pretty good supply of big and little ones. They also have some contactors now as well.
More than one store near me had 8+ of my size in stock.
ETA: And it was $10 dollars cheaper than ACE Hardware and says made in the USA.
This post was edited on 7/21/26 at 1:21 am
Posted on 7/21/26 at 4:23 am to Enadious
What’s the make and model of the box fan? Seems like a well made one.
Posted on 7/21/26 at 7:27 am to Enadious
How much are techs charging these days to replace the capacitor?
I have recently paid $125 and $160.
I have recently paid $125 and $160.
Posted on 7/21/26 at 8:43 am to DMAN1968
quote:
Just a heads up for folks as I didn't know this until 2 days ago...Home Depot now has HVAC capacitors in stock around here. A pretty good supply of big and little ones. They also have some contactors now as well
I saw this in my HD yesterday as well. First time I have ever seen them in there!
Posted on 7/26/26 at 11:07 pm to UptownJoeBrown
quote:
What’s the make and model of the box fan? Seems like a well made one.
Eh, some cheap plastic box fan i bought for my dogs 20 years ago.
Posted on 7/26/26 at 11:08 pm to ItzMe1972
quote:
How much are techs charging these days to replace the capacitor?
$191
Posted on 7/27/26 at 3:02 pm to Enadious
quote:
$191
Wow, that's high, the capacitor was probably only $20.
I just had this same thing happen with an AC unit. Thought it was the capacitor, but ended up being a bad contactor.
Posted on 7/27/26 at 8:36 pm to donut
quote:
$191
quote:
Wow, that's high, the capacitor was probably only $20.
That’s extremely fair, if not cheap, especially in the middle of summer. Believe it or not, HVAC guys are allowed to make a living. How much do you think he should have charged?
Time for trip there.
Gas for trip there.
Insurance for trip there.
Tools to do the job
Part for the job.
Gas to get the part.
Time to get the part.
Time to diagnose the issue. Not guess….actually know it’s the issue.
Time to change out the part.
Time to test run the system and check for any other issues.
Time to pack up tools.
Time to write invoice.
Time to drive back.
Rent for his building.
Electricity for building.
I can go on but I won’t. Stop acting like the only things a service company pays for is the part. A business is way more involved and costly to run.
Posted on 7/27/26 at 9:40 pm to MardiGrasCajun
quote:
A business is way more involved and costly to run.
I'm still pissed at my Lawyer charging me $2,500 for the 50cents worth of 14" legal paper with some words on it.
Page 1 of 2
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News