Was Quoted $400. I Fixed It For $11.72! AC Capacitor Testing and Replacement

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Have you ever received a bill that seemed way too high for this repair? I know someone that was charged $400 for just the capacitor being replaced.

[@behvac]

@@brothermine2292 How much should a HVAC company charge? Have you worked for a HVAC company. To run a HVAC company for 2 capacitors. What is the company's overhead = 30% to 35%, labor runs 30 to 35%, equipment and parts = 25% Sooo the company could be going in the hole. A Chevy or Ford van cost $40,000, or 900.00 month payment with upkeep like tires and breaks an gas at who knows the price, Company Insurance is 3 times the cost of going 10 miles to and from work. But for 1 van per month cost avg is for all = $2700.00 a month. Hire a service tech that has gone to school and 10 years of experience cost $40.00 a hour $6400.00 a month plus I pay his SS and workers comp. Do I give him health Ins. 30 Year old male Ins is about $600.00 a month so it cost the company about $8000.00 a month for 1 service tech. The avg size of a HVAC company is 5 truck company with 3 service techs, 2 man install crew, bookkeeper, Dispatcher, and a runner to pick up parts and equipment. The owner like me sales equipment, has state license for HVAC H-3 and Electric license. Go to classes every year to keep the license. Got to have a stocked truck, Capacitors come in 12 or more sizes cost $10.00 each. Its not the parts that cost the company. Most service techs run 4 to 5 calls a day. 4 hours is windshield time going to service call might be 45 mins to there house 45 mins to come back. Then service tech might fix AC but many times the customer did not cut off there unit and cause stress on other parts that break 2 days later. Can't charge customer another service call. I did not talk about renting a building for $3000.00 month, cell phones, computers, tracking trucks, talking to a pissed off customer for 1 hour because my tech charged him $650.00 for 2 capacitors and to wash coil and clean drain line.

[@zeke112964]

@@behvac So for your $650 it costs according to you 35% overhead= $227.50, 35% for labor= $227.50, And 25% for parts and equipment = $162.50 , which still leaves out 5%= $32.50 for a grand total of $650

[@electricianron_New_Jersey]

Licensed technicians deserve to be paid well. We’re an asset to society.

[@brothermine2292]

@@electricianron_New_Jersey : Charge for your labor. Don't profit (scam) 1000% on parts you resell.

[@JSATI]

​@@brothermine2292 cost for running a business are very different than an hourly rate you receive working for an employer. Overhead. Someone answered the phone or they pay for a service to schedule the appointment. Pay for a truck to respond. A technician needs to be paid for his time coming. Diagnostic time. They upcharge for the part. (It takes time to re supply). Many variables. No different than changing your own brakes on car for under $300 total and a shop will charge $600-900 per axle (front & rear). The major thing is time. Most people won't try to fix it. If you diy that's great but it should not be the business fault.

[@ShermVibes]

THANK YOU!!! I'm a 54yr old woman that lives alone on a budget. A company tried to charge me $300 for just a $20 part!!! Thanks to this video, I fixed it myself!!!! 🎉🎉🎉 Success!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! 😘

[@lisagardner903]

Awesome! My capacitor went out and I just had it replaced by the a/c repairman for $ 150 even though it was under warranty. I still had to pay for the service call. I just ordered an extra one for $ 18 and my husband will change it next time. He works for free as long as I cook him a nice dinner. 🤩

[@hob976]

IT WORKED !!! You handsome SOB, it worked. My upstairs was 83 degrees today and now there's cold air. ( $17 on Amazon ) My wife thinks I'm a freaking superhero right now!

[@oohhbehave]

i hope you got laid for fixing the AC! :)

[@Anunakipower]

You deserve a treat my man and I hope you got it lol

[@josemartinez7037]

After watching the AC guy replace this part. I got interested, looked this up on KZbin and fixed it for my parents unit for only $20 off of Amazon. Highly recommend researching before hand and always be safe!

[@OGWonkavisionHD]

Yeah then when your system takes a shit try and KZbin diy… then feel the assrape of ruining the equipment. But $400. Or insanity of 15$ large that’s just robbery I do service for &160. Then $ add $ accordingly but actually service the unit not assrape the customer.

[@stevegore162]

Right on the money...thanks

[@sgnt9337]

Great video. By the way, the first time my capacitor failed on my AC unit, the technician who did the repair, showed me how to do this myself. The guy actually wanted to help me save money!

[@jimbishop6720]

There some of us out there. Anytime someone says the repair is too much, or they can't afford it, I will absolutely show them how to do it and where to get it. Glad you had a good guy

[@kentgoldthorpe3790]

You had one of the good ones, far and few between.

[@lancel7998]

Wow a unicorn 🦄

[@user-zn7lz8tv8s]

Shocking. And how things should be.

[@glennchristie2316]

This is incredible - “An Honest Technician” in America..

[@LiminalSpaceGhost]

Had a service call for a 3 year old AC. Guy quoted me 3k for a repair. Did some digging and here I am. ❤ thanks for saving me a fortune.

[@justjanexxx]

Capacitor, every time!

[@rcdeal21]

I thought our $300 quote was high 😮

[@trippplefive]

@@rcdeal21 that's amazing . i would keep this company on speed dial.

[@luismelchor3817]

3 years is very early for a bad capacitor. Buy some gauges next and check your refrigerant charge. Too much refrigerant in your system can make capacitors give up early. Also bad for your compressor which is a costly repair.

[@oohhbehave]

@@rcdeal21 I guess your HVAC company has more morals than others.

[@zackbower2749]

I was just quoted $637 to replace the capacitor on my Lennox unit. You just saved $600 Thanks :)

[@Sweetnspicymelissa]

Not only did I just save myself hundreds of dollars but I feel like such a bad ass being able to tell people that I just replaced the capacitor on my AC! It’s brought my DIY to a whole new level. Much thanks for the info!!!

[@MrJuannike3]

Same thing here in Tampa FL. I returned from vacation on a Sunday and found my a/c off. My outdoor unit was off, and it did not want to start, so my wife called the A/C company and quoted us $400 + Weekend charge ($120). I started searching for model and diagnostics online. Your video came up, we ran to ACE and fixed it for $19 on a Capacitor. Thank you.

[@Shaqlife]

I’m in Tampa it’s seriously hot out and my unit shuts off later in the day/evening bc it feels like 107 outside I have to do a hard reset so annoying

[@Mike-01234]

Contactor probably burned after the thing trying to start with a bad cap it overheats and burns them. You can avoid a bad cap by just doing your own annual maintenance. All you need is a decent meter like a Kline that reads capacitance, and current clamp, temp gauge like a meat thermometer I like digitals myself. I use a small shop vac with a soft brush attachment to vacuum out the inside coil. Use a garden hose to wash the outside coil videos on KZbin show you how to do all this. You could find an AC guy to do it most are dishonest IMO they will try to upsell you who knows what. I had one cut slits in my duct work in the duct tape claim I had leaks I know there was no leaks I go up there all the time. I told him he was a lair and he did it his word against mine I had no video of it. When I started doing my own AC work.

[@sergioramirez4511]

Great video, I did an inspection and tune up for 39.99 and the guy told me the capacitor was going out and gave me a quote for $280.00, plus another $150 for cleaning. After watching this video, I ordered one on Amazon for $18 bucks and $39 for the foam cleaner, and armed with my voltage tool from Harborfreight, I did both the replacement and cleaned the coils. The cleaning took longer, but I saved over $400 ! I am a proud "KZbin Engineer" and thanks for these videos and I also fixed my neighbor's sytem as well.

[@rodh.5480]

I actually watched an HVAC tech check and replace the capacitor. Even under warranty they demanded $150.00. I found the capacitor for $12 ordered two and plan on using your video as a guide when my unit fails. I am trained in electrical\electronics, have the tools/equipment and saw how easy a process it actually is. Your video is a very helpful guide. Thanks!!!

[@4thlinegooner582]

Warranty pays for the part, not the labor.

[@JacobsNews]

​@@4thlinegooner582remember Blue Collar is looked down upon people think you should live in a trailer with the Leaky Roof😂

[@lisagardner903]

I just had my capacitor changed today from the A/C repairman and it cost me $ 150 even though my unit is under warranty. My husband just ordered an extra one from Amazon for $17 and we will be able to change it out ourselves the next time it goes out. They only seem to last a few years.

[@themilkybiscuit]

Your instructional video saved the day. Downstairs A/C unit stops working, I found your video, and found a capacitor that was extremely swollen on the terminal side. Ordered a replacement on Amazon and got it delivered the next morning. It took me all of two minutes to check the new one with a multimeter and install it. A/C is humming along nicely now. Thanks!

[@JeffMcNeal]

Outstanding. Thank you. I replaced my own run capacitor without using the meter, because it was clearly bad with swelling. I've kept a spare on hand ever since. I also replaced my own fan motor, when the local co. quoted me $900. I bought it at a local HVAC supply house and replaced it myself for less than $200. It's good to be able to DIY when you can, and videos like this help to show how easy and non-intimidating it can be. Bravo.

[@eltonyancey6426]

You are so right.

[@josephmiranti7736]

My compressor starts once, the house comes to temp set at thermostat then fails to restart when temps rises.changed 2 thermostats same condition. Could weak cap cause this condition? It is original 30 yes old.

[@patzeuner8385]

@@josephmiranti7736 capacitors can work the intial start up then after they get hot will quit. Had one on an air compressor motor, that would work the first time then wouldn't work again till it cooled off with no power to it.

[@TimDyb]

@@josephmiranti7736 You accidentally answered your own question. YES 😁

[@jeffnoble9757]

You're a good man thank you, I use simple green to clean the fins it seems to work good?

[@Brpower83]

My mother had this issue and the company/guy they called to check it out quoted them $1500, luckly my step dad googled common issues noticed the mushroomed capacitor replaced it for $13. pretty shocking at the lack of morals people have now days.

[@HowToHomeDIY]

What?! $1300?? That is by far the highest number I’ve heard so far. That is crazy. Thanks for sharing.

[@DieselRamcharger]

@@HowToHomeDIY out here in phoenix you couldnt get an ac guy to show up for 400 bucks. they flat out rape folks and do absolute shit work. its bad man. bad.

[@yardlimit8695]

yep, what's new,,, everybody's out there to rip off anybody they can.............these people are going to ROT IN HELL. THIS GOES FOR PLUMBERS ELECTRICIANS MECHANICS ETC. IT'S EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO FIND ANYBODY WITH CHARACTER AND HONESTY..........

[@joegoodman9232]

Yes I agree 1000 % . It's called Biden economics! Ever since slow Joe was elected in 2020 our Country has gone down the tubes. Cost of living , open boarders ,closing the Keystone pipeline, just to name a few of his lame leadership. These A/C contractors should be investigated and SUED! Period! 2 yrs ago my AC Condenser went down and needed a $14. capacitor. Horizon Heating and Cooling (NJ and DEL) charged me $400. I ripped into them thoroughly.. They refunded me a $200 credit off my bill. I heard through the grapevine that the techs have a competition for the most sales of the month contest.. Keep an eye out and watch how they perform their work!

[@joegoodman9232]

​@@yardlimit8695 yeah, it's called Biden economics. Cost of living, open boarders and closing the Keystone pipeline just to name a few. Report all corrupt contractors to the better Business Bureau!!

[@leodemon6981]

Wow, about time somebody actually films a clean step by step video on this kind of stuff with every detail and clean filming. Kudos man keep up the good work

[@whatnow5313]

A KZbin video of doing something to show others is only as good as one's fundamental knowledge, abilities, tools and equipment to attempt the task themselves.

[@RR31982]

@@whatnow5313wha! Well, I never!!

[@zipcdr]

I agree. Plus no loud background music to drown out what the poster is saying.

[@Goshified]

My A/C went out yesterday and today the technician was nice enough to tell me that it was capacitor that was failing and even showed the defect that happened! I found this video and discovered it was a really easy fix I could have done! Luckily my unit is still under warranty, but once my warranty runs out I know the first thing to look for thanks to a kind repair technician and this great video :)

[@MiViejoDIM]

I wish I had seen this video before. I just paid $398 to replace the capacitor in my HVAC. After it was replaced, I kept the old one and bought a new one, it cost me $18. Ii can safely say I was taken to the cleaners on this job.... Never again! Thanks a lot Sir, you have made my day...

[@luismelchor3817]

Idk where your live but i live in California and $398 is not bad. You guys dont understand how expensive it is to run a business. Your not only paying for that capacitor but payroll. Insurances . Gas. And the knowledge to know thats the only issue. Just saying at the end of the day neither me or my boss were getting big payouts on capacitors and we would charge $385. Their are companies out their that will not even attempt a repair and just sell you a brand new system cuz thats where the money is at.

[@Mike-01234]

@@luismelchor3817 BS you work for a dishonest HVAC company doesn't cost you $500 to replace a $40 cap. You won't get away with that in the commercial side we know what it costs HVAC contractors kiss our asses if they don't we have 20 others who will. We black ball ones who screw stuff up word gets around in our business.

[@shobi6359]

@@luismelchor3817 so you are justifying $400 is right amount for a part that costs $20 and its okay to charge folks 380 for just labor ?

[@JacobsNews]

​@shobi6359 I would say $400 is fine on that part ... you might have 3 hours in labor with driving ... you might have to warranty the part ... it's not like the HVAC guy is making doctor or dentist money😂😂😂 you're lucky if the company makes 75 bucks at the end

[@dudleygordon6191]

@@luismelchor3817 I understand trying to survive in a society like California is very very expensive, with a lot of unnecessary red tape, taxes, environmental fees, surcharges, restrictions and trying to support all of the illegals that y’all want to come into your state! Hope y’all survive your state’s onslaught of it’s citizens! 😢

[@gabeo.731]

A couple of days ago the temperature hit 105 degrees, and my AC stopped working properly, I knew it was the capacitor but I thought it might be something else too, so I called a guy, he came after 3-4 hours, he fixed the capacitor, he checked the refrigerant(R410) and he asked for 225$, I gave him 20$ tip and I was happy that the ac is working when 105 degrees outside. I was happy nothing else was broken and the guy didn't try to charge me for other things.

[@boeing757pilot]

That was a great tech!

[@user-zn7lz8tv8s]

So you paid $250 for a $15.00 capacitor.

[@gabeo.731]

@@user-zn7lz8tv8s most likely I paid 15$ for the capacitor and the rest of the money was money well spent . I hope you will understand one day, I promise you, IT WILL BE HOT in that day!

[@poschevy7852]

​@@user-zn7lz8tv8s no he paid $200 for someone's knowledge and experience.

[@bu6957]

Good job explaining step by step! This happened to me 2 years ago. Came back from vacation, turned the AC on and did not get cold after running for awhile. the temperature at that time was about over 100 deg. I was ready to call an AC guy but it was on a weekend, so no one to call. I have no knowledge what so ever about AC. I google the problem and lo and behold, I was able to find the same problem; no heat and the fan wasn't turning on. Suggested to check the Start Capacitor , so I did. It was wet on top. Replaced it and just cost me under 20 bucks! I told my neighbor what I have done and he was so grateful because his AC did the same a week later!

[@marktran630]

Thanks to your video and videos like this, I have fixed my central A/C. I was quoted $300.00 but the part cost me $16.00 and about 15 minutes of my time. Thank you for posting helpful videos like this.

[@tw5991]

Dude they were about to charge me $600 for the this paying for the knowledge….this is so helpful! I paid the diagnostic fee and said thank you. Saving over $500

[@etesla]

I was quoted $650 today for this - by a company that's literally three blocks from me. The part for my particular AC won't be $12 (more like $30 based on checking around for the right specs) but that's still an incredible savings. Your other videos have saved me a bunch of money on new outlets. I appreciate what you're doing here so much - an easy subscribe.

[@artysanmobile]

Their proximity to your home is not an issue you should consider. Any service business should have a minimum for a visit and be eager to tell you what that minimum is. My tech’s is $125 just to show up and I consider myself lucky. If he is here for 3 minutes and I get a working HVAC unit, then good for both of us. Common sense says to make your profit for your experience and time. My business is one of a highly technical nature. I make my income from my knowledge, not from gaming a customer on parts. I feel no shame charging my customers for my very special body of knowledge. The amount I charge for that is computed to keep me in business and cover all my expenses, the details of which I feel no obligation to share with anyone but my accountant. My rate for showing up and subsequent time spent is known in advance. Playing games with parts is a shady way to run a business and engenders a lot of justifiable resentment. No real professional needs to operate that way.

[@etesla]

​@@artysanmobile I only mention how close they are because so many service providers have cited stuff like mileage and time in traffic. I've had techs from rather distant service providers sit an hour in traffic to come do a job for me (because they were the only provider for the specific service), and that feels legit. They have to cover costs. I do make more of an effort to hire out work closer to me now because it reduces environmental impact and in theory should save everyone time and money.

[@captainjackson6135]

you had them diagnose it, then you replaced the part, hope they charged you for the service call and diagnosis fee.

[@tayler2396]

@@captainjackson6135 Oh, I'm sure they did. No need to worry.

[@behvac]

It's not the cost of the part. It's going to school and learning a trade. Why did that part go bad? will It go bad again. You could have a stopped up coil, or Acid in your freon, to much freon, a bad connection in one of the wires that go to the compressor. A good service tech will look for that. Or Its just a bad capacitor. Are you Qualified to know?

[@Pezzonovante916]

I really appreciate the clear instructions, the step-by-step procedures, and the close-up, unobstructed, video filming. This is the best video I have watched on this topic. Very well done!

[@TimDyb]

I agree! Especially the safety points that a DIYer may not know.

[@raker2007]

Home DIY’er here and I just had this issue this morning and because of this video, I replaced the capacitor in about 40 minutes. It’s supposed to be over 100 degrees where I’m at, and I’m relieved that I found your video! You made it very clear and easy of how to replace the capacitor, and saving my family and I lots of money, and from this massive heatwave we’re experiencing where we live. Thank you again, and God bless!

[@JonathanMurray]

Had this to do today. Actually paid a contractor $20 for a capacitor off his truck... saved me time and effort and was done and fixed in minutes! Great video, thank you.

[@TheCollector501]

I swapped the capacitor today with your steps and my AC is working now. Youre a life savor. We were hitting 102 this week.

[@jackunver]

This fix worked for me as well. I was able to find an exact replacement for the capacitor in my A/C unit for $20 rather than the quoted $500! Thanks for posting this video.

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Glad you found it helpful! Thanks a lot for the feedback!

[@richardfowler3254]

Good information here, a good tip I was taught is to get a new capacitor for your unit before you need it. The capacitor is a part that will eventually wear out and it usually does not happen at a convenient time. The exact size you need may be out of stock when you need it. Also, if your unit disconnect is a "fused" on get a set of new identical fuses before the Summer when they also can wear out... I remember trying to get fuses for a friend last Summer and all of the fuses I needed were sold out at the large Orange Big Box store.... I also found that if I have the simple replacement parts stored in the garage waiting for this to happen, they just seem (to me) to just keep on working. When I do not have them, that is when "Murphy's Law" will happen...

[@doby199726]

Exactly! It will break down after hours, weekend or a holiday! I keep all spare capacitors,and coil cleaner and other ac maintenance supplies in the closet where my inside unit is located. Convenient location.

[@srt4victors]

Very good ideas for sure and now I'm going to put that to use. Cause like you said they will break down at the wrong time and nothing wrong with having some extra new parts to toss in ready to do when it does give out. 🤘🏻

[@HardRockMaster7577]

*BINGO!*

[@VETERANMASTER]

My wife doesn’t believe that, but it’s worked for me. Always have parts available for appliances ($40 condensate pump, $20 contactor, $20 temperature and pressure valve, etc) and for some reason the product doesn’t fail. And of course IF it does fail, you’re prepared.

[@michaeledwards5198]

So true! If I have a spare, I will never need it! Ha Ha. Thank you for this.

[@mgweir3252]

I have done this repair a couple of times on my 20 year old unit. I have also had to replace the fan motor as well as the fan blade. Very easy repairs.

[@twizdom1]

If you’ve done it a few times, you probably need to clean your condenser better.

[@mgweir3252]

@@twizdom1 2 times in 20 years on the capacitor. Once on the fan and blade. Fan went out of balance due to a large hail stone hitting it. Out of balance fan burned out the motor.

[@midnighthexlore]

Me too I've done both.. .fairly straight forward repair.

[@grtessman]

@@twizdom1 I have to replace it every year or two here in Arizona on my 18 year old Carrier. I spray my compressor coils with water every year. Might have to clean the A-coil in the attic but it seems pretty normal here in AZ.

[@HardRockMaster7577]

ALWAYS good to note the specs for your fan motor early, before the specs are unreadable!!!

[@GrimmReaperRL]

Love this video! Something I would add for people who's fan stopped spinning but the unit is still on/running, is instead of taking the plate off to test the capacitor or feeling like you need to start up electrical work (that does tend to scare people off of home repairs) is to take a thin stick or screwdriver and spin the fan through the vent with the unit on (make sure to not leave the stick/tool in the way of the fan blades, just a good lil push is all it needs). If the fan starts up and spins by itself now then the problem is likely the capacitor. I would still recommend troubleshooting other things since multiple problems can occur at once!

[@michaelfredmon4748]

Great advice. Thank you

[@autohog]

Thank you sir. May I ask what setting should the multimeter be in for checking current?

[@GrimmReaperRL]

​@@autohogI'm pretty sure most air conditioners run AC current so whichever AC V setting is on your multimeter. That's the setting the guy in the video is on

[@michaeledwards5198]

Thank you

[@Babrams32]

A quick trip to Ace Hardware for a $30 capacitor and you’ve helped me make my daughter and pregnant wife two happy ladies. Thanks!

[@mikejump5595]

Me too!

[@mljee658]

The video was done perfectly. My AC stopped blowing cold right as the summer started. My first time ever trying this. I followed these steps, ordered the right capacitor, took me about 20 min to change it out. AC is blowing cold now. Saved my family time and money.

[@alp3781]

20.00 repair. YOU ARE THE MAN. eBay has plenty and 3 days later, its in my mailbox. I bet many HVAC guys are unhappy with you. But, they do have plenty work anyhow. Charging 500.00 to replace a capacitor is a robbery, pure and simple. God bless You guys and YT.

[@The_guy90]

HVAC guys are not unhappy with him. He's just a KZbinr. The HVAC guys are unhappy because they are getting attacked on how much they charge. When customers don't know what goes into a tech. Me for example every week when I turn my time card in it's 87$ an hr that they pay me. Do the math. Then add cost of LLC, vans, maintenance on they equipment they own. Buying tools for each tech. Stocking parts. What do you think it cost to outfit a service van? At the end of the day he showed you how to change a capacitor. I don't care. I'll be happy to come fix your next problem with your system when it goes down.

[@alp3781]

@@The_guy90 ok, but the bottom line is, all these small repairs are a candy repairs for any HVAC guy. I call it, in and out with a bonus, however you look at it. YT videos like this are doing great service to many who can’t spare a lot for day to day repairs. I surly understand what it takes to run a business day to day. In the end of the day, it’s a challenge to many contractors all over. Let’s be honest here. The fact that this guy is taking that 300.00 always, it’s a challenge, my friend!

[@mikewall8798]

@@The_guy90 Caps and easy parts like that should never be over charged to the customer. But at the same time, ive seen people replace those and cause bigger issues. So do what your wallet can handle, we aint hurting for work.

[@RetiredSignDude]

Amazon is tyoically10-12$ for the cap, and next day!

[@RetiredSignDude]

@@The_guy90 Exactly right. If you can DIY, then do it. DIY calls are almost nuisance calls. Save the pro expertise for when it's needed.

[@JacobFrey]

I've done this twice before at my home. This is a GREAT video and HOW-TO. All of the tools and parts will cost less than a repair service. In my opinion, every homeowner needs to know this. Thanks for sharing!

[@JaviEzko7]

A lot of videos on this subject all over youtube. This one is outstanding in it’s simplicity and communicated so well that a novice could diagnose with the right tools. Very well done. Thank you.

[@andyd9900]

Just replaced mine for 32 bucks from the local ace hardware. Fired right up and cooling at vent is 54 degrees. Perfect. Love these videos. Sucked out the drain and put in a new filter to keep the ole girl happy.

[@kmik5682]

Thank you. Your instructional video helped me fix my daughters AC unit on a 105 degree AZ day. Many Thanks!

[@rickl5938]

Great video! I ran my own HVAC company for a total of 25 years, 18 of those in small town Iowa and it was a great experience; glad I did it. You are absolutely correct when you say that this is the one of the most common calls an HVAC person gets, the other being the unit is low on refrigerant. You did mention that prior to replacing the dual value capacitor the unit was drawing a little more than 17amps. You also mentioned in passing that it had a "soft start kit" installed; I think you meant a hard start kit. But you didn't explain why the unit ran at all in spite of the capacitor being bad. This was due to the ability of the hard start kit to get the compressor running even without the assistance of the run capacitor. Once the compressor started, the start capacitor was dropped out of the circuit by the potential relay, leaving the compressor to run without a good run capacitor and, as a consequence, was drawing nearly double the amperage it would normally draw. I have seen older compressors draw as high as 40 amps (and not trip the breaker since the breaker was oversized) in this scenario and some were even ruined due to the abnormal amperage draw over time. Thanks for sharing this information so that others won't be taken advantage of.

[@beardedbarnstormer9577]

Haha my fav trick was just hand propping the condenser fan and the whole thing kicking on when the start cap went bad

[@artysanmobile]

Best thing about the typical HVAC unit is that many of the parts throw up a giant, visual red flag when they fail. Not hard to troubleshoot. The heat they create as they fail leaves a trace. This goes for capacitors, resistors, switches in general in electronics, but particularly in power electronics. It is cheaper to replace such parts proactively than it is to wait until they fail.

[@michaeledwards5198]

Thank you! Good to know.

[@jefferygray5948]

You saved me $400. I had a maintenance inspection performed, and the only issue I had was a failing capacitor. The company quoted me over $400 to replace the part. I saw your video and replaced it myself in 10 min. I owe you an adult beverage.

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Awesome! Really glad you found it helpful. Nothing owed, just always happy to hear when I was able to help someone. Thanks a lot for the feedback Jeffery!

[@Realtor_Ryan_Hodzic]

wife just paid 200 bucks. I figured I'd watch a video to avoid that in the future.

[@Freeuse-ck7kw]

I think I owe him a beer also because he just saved me couple hundreds bucks. Just fixed mine by replacing the capacitor that costs only $14 from Amazon.

[@franksisto1924]

I tell you what, when people do cool stuff like this, I'd be entirely cool if they put up a link and said "hey, if this was helpful, a donation would be appreciated". I'd send him a $20 gift no issue, and he gets to monetize other than ads.

[@T3hBeowulf]

Our AC company tried exactly this during the last maintenance appointment. I'm cancelling our agreement and shopping around again. The capacitor was fine, tested good. I'd personally changed it out three years prior.

[@wizardbysmell]

I got a quote for $1600 to replace the contactor, capacitor, and add a hard start kit. I just bought them all for $55 and did all the work in under an hour. Amazing what certification and knowledge gives a company the gall to charge...this video helped with the capacitor swap, and found a couple others on the contactor and hard start. Super easy. I will ALWAYS see if I can do work myself for any quotes for replacing something small.

[@HowToHomeDIY]

What?!?! That is outrageous!

[@pmo24]

As everyone else has said, thank you for this video. AC went out last night, I was able to watch this video, troubleshoot, drive to a local industrial store, purchase the capacitor (and a backup for next time) for $15 each, drive home and install safely in about 1 hour total. Try local industrial stores first before Home Depot/ ace hardware /Lowe’s etc. big box stores had large markups at $34, Amazon was the cheapest at $11 but had to wait a day or two for delivery.

[@dallasbartkowski3714]

As a single mom that would have most likely been charged hundreds of dollars I sooo appreciate this. Thank you

[@doubledelight6132]

I got a quote of $400 to replace the capacitor. I refused the repair and googled and replaced it by myself for under $40. Thank people like you teaching and sharing your knowledge.

[@darkenergy361]

I can’t believe people didn’t know this!! scam, but you’re 39 dollar capacitor was high I payed $4.75 for my friends capacitor. Last week he was quoted for $492

[@mudbugdude]

In my previous house I had a capacitor go out on a Saturday after the AC supply store closed. I always keep a spare capacitor on hand now. I moved into a newly built house last September. One of the first things I did was buy a spare capacitor.

[@LimboLizard]

I've replaced caps on mine, my parents and my sister's units, multiple times. I noticed they have a strange tendency to pick weekends and holidays to blow. If it's 95° out, your wife will tell you she doesn't care if it's $200, fix it NOW. So much better to buy a one at your leisure, at a much lower price than what you'll get on the weekend from a repairman.

[@kk6t]

Wonderful tutorial. Was trying to sell my condo and the A/C stopped in the middle of an open house! Great timing. Before calling a HVAC guy, I replaced the run capacitor. That fixed the problem and the open house was able to continue the next day.

[@wutangkillabee8598]

Thanks for this video. Lots of great detailed info, I had this issue, AC would turn on but no fan spinning. I got a capacitor replacement and did it myself. I feel like it saved me lots of money by doing it myself vs an AC repair service call.

[@gizmo7877]

Your directions are always so clear, precise and to the point. You are helping homeowners and DIYers learn how to properly fix things and save so much money. I’m glad I found your channel, even if some things don’t even pertain to me. The labor costs and increase in products costs are out of control. And…Just to walk in the door costs the homeowner 100.00-160.00!! Crazy!! You’re so valuable to us all! I’m not against anyone making a living, but really, it gets to the point where it’s just greed!

[@nighthawk8764]

My start/run capacitor in my condensor unit failed a few years ago. I had not seen a video like this at that time. My Heating and Cooling company that installed the system 5-6 years previously charged me $350 to repair on a weekend. Thankfully the parts warranty was still in effect (sarc).

[@seismojones]

A few years ago my AC unit went out on the 4th of July. Temps were in the 90s. I called a local guy guy and told him what was going on. He said he couldn't come that day but if I could go meet him where he was he'd give me a capacitor that was most likely the problem. He was right. Problem solved and it was a happy 4th.

[@Bigfoot14000]

Excellent video, I experienced this very failure last summer and, due to the extreme heat, wanted it fixed immediately and hired an A/C tech to do it, at a high price. I think it would be prudent to proactively purchase a capacitor so that if the problem occurs again I will be able to quickly fix it without having to source the part at that time.

[@____MC____]

Its important to think about the causes of failure too. Sometimes they dont last because they are so cheap, burning out condensor fan, low charge, compressor going out, or its high loads being put through it caused by lack airflow across the coil in the attic or outside. Keeping your air filter and ac clean is the most important thing you can do in times of high usage. The 400$ qoutes should include checking everything else to make sure your not gunna keep buying caps. Not just a cap swap.

[@RetiredSignDude]

I did do that. It''s a $12 bet that the most frequent HVAC problem that occurs will eventually happen to me. Worse case? I die with functioning HVAC, and the next owner sees the spare inside the unit and sighs a sigh of relief.

[@wilcoxdaniel9825]

Capacitors have shelf life of 5 years or so... careful buying and storing for too long.

[@Bigfoot14000]

@@wilcoxdaniel9825 Thanks for that.

[@Viper81766]

​@@wilcoxdaniel982515-20 possible lifespan.

[@jeffcuomo6659]

In Arizona tonight and came home to a warm house......it's 115 today........saw your video and changed the capacitor myself.....a/c works great now! You saved my family and I!! Thank you so much!!

[@DrJackalPhD]

Our 4 year old capacitor (house is only 4 years old) blew up last night. Like, actually blew up. The top blew off and there was oil everywhere. Instantly came to this channel and searched for it and boom, was able to order a new capacitor from Amazon and have it delivered, installed, and working all within 3 hours of waking up this morning. I did buy a cheapo one I think, but that's ok for now while I research if there is a better brand, but I will also order a second capacitor as a backup and just keep it in the garage. Thank you How To Home! You saved me hundreds of dollars today.

[@alschroeder1724]

I thought I was the only one that got screwed on this very thing. I was originally charged $800.00. After a few phone calls and mentioning the BBB I was refunded $650.00 Still too much but for the service call, and other cleaning and checking. it was okay. I chalked the over price to the company taking advantage of an old guy...something that HVAC companies and plumbers seem to like to do. Thanks for the info!!

[@baronnucleus401]

So you ended up out of pocket $150 for a service call, capacitor, and cleaning? Sounds like you got a hell of a bargain at the end

[@azjoe_6310]

Thanks so much! I don't mind paying someone a fair price for a fair job but many AC companies are off the chain. In Arizona I have an evaporative cooler to use when the humidity is low. The cooler I have is rusting and the bearings went bad so I decided to replace it. The very model I have on my roof can be bought at Home Depot for about $750. I would hire the local company to do it if it was like $2000 just so I don't have to mess with it. Their quote? $4000!!!! I just had one delivered and will install it this weekend since it is just a swap out.

[@TheWilferch]

You can replace a capacitor with a HIGHER or SAME voltage rating....but never LOWER. If you see 440V, then 370 or 380V is no-go. If your orginal is 440V and if the replacement is dual-rated....like 440/380....then it's OK too.. If your original is ONLY rated at 380V, a 440V is OK.

[@silvasurfer100]

My AC went out Friday night in the middle of summer heat. This video not only helped me fix the issue the next day, but also saved me a bunch of money by doing it myself instead on calling someone to fix it!

[@XelsGirl]

Just wanted to thank you! My AC quit cooling unexpectedly Saturday, and I cannot afford to pay someone to come out and troubleshoot and repair at this time. Bad timing all around with our temperatures reaching into the 90s now. Fan inside was working, so was the fan outside. Couldn't tell if the compressor was working though. There was a "rumbling" but I still wasn't sure. My capacitor also wasn't muchroomed or rusted. It looked flat. I took a chance, found the exact capacitor I needed and spent 15$ on Amazon. It arrived today, thankfully in the morning. I now have working AC! Measured the capacitor I took out and the reading was 0.0066 uF. I'd say that's deader than dead! Fan side was also on its way out, it was 3 uF instead of 5uF. But my compressor must be the quietest compressor ever. There's barely a difference between just the fan and the compressor running.

[@midnighthexlore]

I used to own multiple rental properties and this was one of the things I would change out before a new tenant moved in. There are MANY unscrupulous people out there whether they be HVAC, plumber , car mechanic etc. If you don't enjoy getting screwed then learn to fix things yourself...if anything at least learn the basics..it's actually pretty rewarding and you'll save yourself a small fortune

[@NoSpam1891]

You changed the capacitor each time?

[@midnighthexlore]

@@NoSpam1891 Most tenants were in there around 3 years so they would run low

[@NoSpam1891]

@@midnighthexlore It's illegal for anyone except a licensed person to work on the electrical in any rental or condominium property. You're only allowed to work in a stand alone house you live in. We've seen too many terrifying examples of why.

[@midnighthexlore]

@@NoSpam1891 Owner is allowed to work on the property when it is vacant...which it was.

[@NoSpam1891]

@@midnighthexlore Nope. In most places it's forbidden. You're only allowed to put your own family at risk. I am a licensed person.

[@michaelm4021]

Excellent video, and very helpful!! Thank you so much for posting it. I was not 100% sure if the problem with my HVAC unit was indeed a bad Run Capacitor, until I watched this video. Earlier today, I installed a new capacitor (which was a fast, easy job), and my unit is once again blowing ice-cold air. Thanks again for providing us DIY homeowners with this incredibly helpful video. BTW, the new capacitor cost $41, still much better compared with paying hundreds for a service call (:

[@jamesszalla4274]

I did HVAC repair for 25+ years. I retired last year. At that point, the company I worked for was changing $125 per hour for calls during normal business hours and $187.50 for nights, weekends, and holidays We also 0:04 changed for drive time to the job and parts. Companies generally change more for after hours service because the technician has already worked their 40 hour week and on is on standby. There generally isn’t enough after hours work to have 0:04 a technician solely dedicated to it. I can understand how a company might charge $400 for a capacitor replacement if it was an after hours call, depending upon how far the technician had to drive. Additionally, we often find other things wrong with the system beyond the capacitor being bad. HVAC systems require yearly maintenance that often gets neglected and can impact system performance. I very often found horribly plugged condenser coils, extremely dirty air filters, etc. If we just replaced the capacitor without noting the other problems, people would complain that the system still didn’t work properly after the capacitor was replaced. People would often decline the other work, so we have to cover ourselves. A high quote for a repair may include things beyond a simple capacitor replacement. I’ve also had situations where people attempted to do DIY repairs and made things worse. A customer tried to repair his unit after watching a DIY video. He ended up burning up other components because he didn’t know what he was doing. Most companies are honest and try to do a good job. That said, there are some bad apples out there. Avoid companies who advertise "flat rate” pricing and / or claim they don’t have a higher after hours rate. Those companies are generally the ones that charge exorbitant prices. Their regular rate is usually the same as other companies’ after hours rates I briefly worked for such a company a few years ago. If you have questions about a repair, ask the technician to show you what’s wrong and explain how it impacts system performance. An honest technician should be happy to do so.

[@timehrler2686]

Here is my take: When people push back on the price, offer them to do the job at a lower rate. I think we can all agree that $400 is absolutely highway robbery. If my tech lowered it to $250 I might have said yes. But he didn't and I got the part for $30 and did it in 10 minutes!!!

[@Davidbodyspam]

The town I work in there are no companies that don’t do flat rate. It’s extremely expensive to send a skilled tech to a home and do repairs/installs. Most customers have a 3rd grade understanding of economics and have never ran a business.

[@Davidbodyspam]

@@timehrler2686ou are ignorant

[@timehrler2686]

@@Davidbodyspam I have two advanced degrees in finance. And I used to work on electric motors in a different life so I know what run capacitor is and how much it costs and how easy they are to change!

[@Davidbodyspam]

@@timehrler2686 but yet you are too selfish and ignorant to understand how companies are run. A technician going to your home has to have built in costs attributed to them. Gas, insurance on the truck, all their tools, parts, liability insurance on the technician themselves, paying the person who answered the phone, pulled the parts, advertising. So yeah when you add all that up that’s why a capacitor can be $500-1500 depending on area. Like I said ignorant.

[@c0wbait]

THANK YOU FOR THIS VIDEO!! I was quoted $500.43 and I replaced mine for $18.93 myself within minutes. This is an easy fix. Please don't let them scam you.

[@kingmanzhang]

AC short cycling yesterday, right before the heat wave in the coming days. I already booked a service appt. After watching the video, I went ahead and opened up the condenser cover. Turns out a baby mice got in, electrocuted itself with one leg on one pin and body on the other, causing a short circuit. Removed poor dead mice and AC back to normal. Thanks a lot!

[@MCW1955]

Great video. Concise and to the point. I keep a capacitor and a contactor on hand at all times. Saved me several times.

[@RetiredSignDude]

YES! You are smart. I keep a cap inside my unit, ready for swap out

[@RonHoma]

As a retired electrician, I can attest to the fact, that this guy "KNOWS WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT" !!! This is a Great Video. Some of the others on KZbin should watch this!!!

[@richardsmith4187]

Great step by step video showing all you need to know about replacing the capacitor ! Mine went out a couple of years ago and the AC company gave me a price of $ 385.00 to replace it. I protested at the high price and told the service tech the part was no more than $ 15. - $ 20. He advised that's the cost for parts and labor and that a capacitor is NOT that cheap. ???? I passed on his repair and purchased my own and did the repair for under $ 20.00 . Really sad when cost of repairs are really inflated to the point where you feel your just getting shafted.

[@mnmn1665]

I agree, since the capacitors are so cheap, why not just have a new on on hand? I'll be buying a spare. Thanks.

[@klarsen1101]

Awesome video. We have a 20-year-old Lennox HS29-024-2P that "died" last night. I found this video, replaced the run capacitor, and the unit is back running. The manual referred to the capacitor MFD, but it was rusted so now way to tell. After some research, I found that this unit needs an 89M77 Dual run capacitor ( 40+5uF +/-5%, 440v, can dimensions 4"H, diameter 2 1/2"). about $20bucks. it took less than 15 min to replace it. Hope other Lennox users can benefit for this info. Thanks so much!!

[@Irishrebel092]

My capacitor just went out and thank god the service tech didn't have the right one on his truck. He quoted me the part and it was $209 for a 70+5 capacitor, not including the 2nd service call for him to come back out to install it. I paid the $75 service call charge and drove 20 minutes to the county supply, bought it for $35, and slapped it in myself. Thankfully the tech was cool about it and gave me the information for what size/rating to buy.

[@thetayz72]

That would be messed up to charge a 2nd service call just because the tech didn't have the right part. Especially for something that he could easily make sure he had on hand based on your model over the phone in advance.

[@Irishrebel092]

@@thetayz72 the only consideration I'd give is that it was an after hours call at 6pm so the guy was probably coming from his house and not the shop. Otherwise he would've have charged for that trip. but there is no way they didn't have it at the shop where he could have gone and gotten it. And to upcharge a common part for $200 when it costs $35 is insane

[@joseaferrer24]

Hi, just for safety reasons in terms of preventing others from restarting the electrical connection at the switching box, outside of the house, you just showed us at the beginning of the video. Recommendation: never leave alone and accesible the little plug handle (peace of plastic), that connects the company's powerline to the house. Take it with you or put it in a locked place beeing you the only one who can get it. That is a safety rule that everybody must apply when working with electrical installations.

[@sthilon98]

Lock out, tag out

[@clarencewiles963]

Thumbs up 👍 I did mine too! 😊EDIT: A SOFT START may help your AC to run longer and work better for your Backup Generator this is not a Hard Start setup. Maybe this could be a future topic of conversation 😊

[@VikManuel]

Fixed the issue!!! AC fan was spinning compressor not running and no cold air slept in 84 degree temp. Watched videos for 2 days during lunch breaks and your video was detailed and to the point thank you sir wife is happy!!!! Followed your steps on changing the capacitor and also cleaned the unit and changed the filter for added measures.

[@mrmichaelthomasortizyesiam8725]

While you're at it change the contactor and prevent future service call the silver on the contacts can be pitted

[@tomkallas3321]

Thank you for this video. I changed mine out based on what you said, and it cost me $14.00 and 10 minutes of time. Great info. Thanks again!

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Excellent! Really glad you liked it. Thanks a lot for the feedback Tom!

[@trippplefive]

The AC stopped blowing cold air... I went outside and saw that the fan wasn't turning, and there was a humming noise coming from what I'm guessing is the compressor. I followed your advice, but didn't test the old capacitor since I didn't have the proper equipment... I thought it was cheap enough to just replace it (the 'parts cannon' approach). The unit looked pretty good for a 10-year-old one... no corrosion on the connectors or anything, no bulges. I got a similarly spec'd capacitor from Ace Hardware and saved who knows how much money... it took me less than 45 seconds to take the old one out and put the new one in, and I have no clue what I'm doing! You, sir, are a gentleman and a scholar. Those HVAC people must be making a killing, charging $400-$500+ for 2 minutes of labor

[@trippplefive]

@@davidsanders6957 If you earn $500 ( probably on the low side) for 2 minutes of work and extrapolate that to an hour, it would be $15,000 per hour. Does that seem reasonable to you? Or do you expect everyone to be Elon Musk wealthy? lol

[@johnnelson8049]

​@trippplefive you are forgetting like 15 things that are in that 500. Given 500 is a bit much it's around 300 near me. There's a ton of overhead involved it's not just labor and part.

[@Charles.Wright]

@@trippplefive I just had mine replaced for $200, even though I was relatively certain that I knew the solution. The guy showed up in less than half an hour (on a weekend) and had us running in no time, freeing me up to take care of the wife and kids rather than having to source the part and install it myself. When one of the connections to the capacitor broke off, I was even more grateful because that's just one more thing that would take me 5x longer - once I found my wire strippers! Not even sure if I own any...

[@gborhegyi]

Watched a few of your videos this morning, all of them were excellent! Everything you've presented here is true and accurate, and just so nicely produced. I can see you put a lot of thought and work into them, congrats on an excellent outcome. As for my personal experience, I wish I had this years ago; you are 100% correct - I got totally ripped off on this particular repair. I've been able to do much servicing myself, a bit before and more since, but the rip-off I experienced on this particular "repair" (really, minor maintenance) still irks me. 😊 Thanks for doing what you do to help people! 👍

[@gregbaptista823]

Awesome video! This reminds of when I was an HVAC helper about 21 years ago. My ex-boss told me I was very smart and learning fast, but now as a homeowner I referred to you. Wasn’t scared to get my hands dirty, and I self diagnosed. I was thinking solenoid or switch. I struck out. You kind sir are a GRAND SLAM. Thank you!

[@namelessentity8045]

My Man!!! A sincere thank you for this video. AC went out again and my hvac dude told me I could replace the capacitor myself and thanks to your video, I’m able to to get this done today and without paying 100s of dollars I don’t have. Thank you so much!

[@timdeboer8804]

Like you, I've been quoted very close to the same for replacement. And also like you I was not going to pay that huge bill! I replaced mine for about $15 which left me plenty of cash for an after the job Fat Tire ale! LOL Love the channel sir! Keep it going please

[@LandonYoung-x2z]

A/C companies rip people off on all repairs. After my first $375 charge for capacitor replacement I did it myself after that for $15. What a joke.

[@burgie03]

As an electrician, your safety all around was comforting to see! Especially with the capacitor having potential charge!

[@Fenderstratosphere98]

It’s the start caps you have to really worry about, you can touch a run cap and just get zapped. Start Caps will blow out a limb

[@richj011]

Turning off the inside house breaker is the same as from outside?

[@Drummermuss]

@@richj011 From a power standpoint, yes, the power can be interrupted from either location. The disconnect near your condenser or unit is a code requirement of having the disconnection device within view of the unit. It is there for the safety of the person working on the unit and, therefore, is the best/safest place to turn the power off.

[@samrusoff]

THANK YOU!! I watched this video and three others when my AC died with exact symptoms of capacitor failure. I was able to safely diagnose it with a multimeter and replace it thanks in part to your tutorial! Saved me money and misery of waiting three days at 110 degrees! You're the man

[@DanSaleem]

What did you buy the part from? I have the same issue and I'm having difficulties locating nearby stores or identical online item

[@Sashazur]

Thank you!!! This saved me sweat and money!!! It was 95 and my Bryant AC died. The fan in the outside unit was running but no cooling. I scheduled a service call for the following day but the house was so hot I decided to look into DIYing it. I saw this video and decided to try replacing the capacitor, it was in stock at Ace down the road. I figured I could afford $30 to give it a try. Now an hour later I'm getting cool again! The hardest part was getting the panel on and off. I pulled the power and discharged the capacitor but skipped the multimeter stuff. The old capacitor looked OK, but it was 9 years old. P.S. If it hadn't been so hot I absolutely would have waited for the tech. The last time my AC died it was the blower motor, something I quickly realized was way beyond my DIY abilities.

[@frankyam5341]

I followed the instructions to a T and $20 later, I have a working AC. Really appreciated the video.

[@donrobin8845]

Just had my HVAC Contractor tell me that my capacitor is approaching 6% but still okay.However, he told he could replace it during that service call for a mere $250 or a separate call out for $400. So glad I found your videos before they came out!

[@flintcoat2596]

You should also have the novice look at the voltage rating of the capacitor! I have changed capacitors that we're changed recently and failed again, that had only 110 volt ratings! The voltage range can be higher then what the air conditioner is using, but it cannot be lower!

[@RayleighCriterion]

You want capacitors that are in the 330 to 370 volt range for a run capacitor.

[@work4rsl46]

Glad to see the word getting out. The company that installed my AC unit wanted 250.00. I've got hvac guys at my work to ask questions. Mine went out last year on the day it hit 100. After some testing with my meter off to the parts place and replaced it for 44 bucks. If I could have ordered it online and waited it was cheaper but I needed it now.

[@JP4A]

I received a quote for $1200 to replace the capacitors on three units. After a quick trip to ACE hardware and 30-mins of my time I saved $1186 ! Thank you!

[@unclebrucelive]

Great video, wish I had seen it a few days earlier! I was just charged $660 for the capacitor and a contactor. Only the capacitor was actually necessary, the other part was a 'precaution' the tech recommended. Biggest single ripoff Ive ever encountered. No auto repair scam comes close to the outrageous margin and BS these hvac guys do. I am still sick over this.

[@livingaboard]

I call them the HVAC mafia really. They like to monopolize everything and proof of that is the inability to buy many hvac systems. They only sell to licensed people.

[@JeanPierreWhite]

At least you know to call someone else next time. No need to feel bad, Dave Ramsey says we all do something dumb from time to time and end up paying "stupid tax" as he calls it. It's a learning opportunity, one you won't forget anytime soon.

[@sprockkets]

You might not have needed it, but a contactor failing can cause all sorts of issues, even compressor failure. That is though I guess the running prices now, unfortunately.

[@rickbonifasi5269]

Love your videos. It is amazing on how you keep it simple. Thanks again.

[@drsnooz8112]

That's a great repair! Since most people don't have cap testers in their toolboxes, the cost will be quite a lot more than $11.72. Still a lot less than $400 though. I think the only worse repair is a furnace fan that "goes out." The tech will replace the fan when usually all you need is a few drops of oil to get it working again for another 10 years.

[@55classic1]

if you don't have a cap tester...buy the cap and try it...worst case you lost less than $15

[@neilkurzman4907]

If you don’t have a capacitor tester, and the compressor doesn’t start, or the compressor starts, and the fan doesn’t, it’s very economical to just replace the capacitor. And doesn’t cost anything to look for leakage or swelling. By the way, a multimeter with capacitance is still going to be nowhere near $200 unless you’re going to buy a fluke

[@55classic1]

@@neilkurzman4907 thanks

[@Snarkapotamus]

@@neilkurzman4907 - I have two in the drawer to my left. Together they weren't $50 and have been working fine for years...but yeah, a Fluke would cost ya but be complete overkill - price wise. Kind of like SnapOn tools...yeah, they're good tools, but they're WAY over-priced!

[@neilkurzman4907]

@@Snarkapotamus My point was you can find a cheap home grade multimeter for less than a service call would be. Or you can just change the cap. Flukes make great meters, they also last a long time, are rugged, and pretty expensive

[@richardgoff6739]

I have sent this video to all my sons and friends. Even those who are not mechanically/electrically inclined. They are very grateful.

[@user-zn7lz8tv8s]

Over the past 10 years I have replaced the start/run capacitor on the HVACs at two of my homes, several times. No other problems with the units. Just the capacitor. I now keep a spare on hand.

[@miguelpalacios264]

He did a great job explaining this video step by step and straight to the point with clean visuals.

[@leealtmansr.3811]

I would hope a professional would also check the contactor and clean the coils (& more) for $250 or more. Remember, this is NOT for everyone to try! There can be voltage of up to 400 vac present. You also forgot that most professionals are trained, that costs money.

[@Cody8P]

If its a side job than i agree but if its a business with techs, dispatcher, sales man, business owner 250 for the cap and thats it. Coil cleaning ia extra.

[@tgriebe]

It is flunky vocational training, not heart surgery. Testing and replacing a capacitor is a 15 minute job that an average chimp could do.

[@robertcuthill8484]

Thanks! I was told the capacitors in both the heater and ac unit were "over amping" and needed to be replaced by a local HVAC company that was running a $ 59.00 system checkup special. They gave me a quote for $740.00 and told me I was lucky b-c he just so happened to have the correct parts on the truck.

[@Snarkapotamus]

Hallelujah, it's a damn miracle I tell you!🙏

[@HowToHomeDIY]

😂

[@robertcuthill8484]

@@Snarkapotamus It was like the scene from Pulp Fiction- divine intervention.

[@shajahanpm]

Great Video. Very helpful. It was 95+ today in Dallas and my outdoor unit fan stopped spinning. With 0 knowledge, this video helped me greatly and gave me confidence to do it myself instead of calling Home Warranty for $100 as service fee and that too waiting for next business day. With infant and toddler at home, avoided spending whole night without A/C in this hot temperature. Couple of things, Capacitor was $44 and no longer $10 :( and I did not use multimeter for any checks. Rest of the steps, I just followed as you mentioned and Bingo!. 🙌🙌👌👌👌👌

[@itspersonal3351]

Thanks so much for this video! Every single time my AC stops working, the capacitor is the first thing I check. I’ve had to replace this part three times in the past 20 years. I can tell it failed whenever the top of it looks swollen. (Like a soda can expands when left in the freezer too long). I’m an old lady and I do it myself each time. It’s 110 degrees where we live and we cannot go without a working AC!

[@stopxthisxfall]

This saved me $375! I was really apprehensive about doing this myself, but it was incredibly simple with your tutorial. Thanks!

[@jimray4210]

Great Video! Informative and easy to follow. Best wishes on your continued success.

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Really glad to hear you liked it. Thanks a lot for the kind words Jim. I really appreciate it!

[@michaeldezelar6264]

I bought a spare capacitor last April after watching this video. I assumed it would be one of those not-likely-to-be-needed but good-to-have sorts of things, since the appliance guys I use just replaced it two or three years ago. Think again!! The AC quit working yesterday. After verifying 240v as expected at the contactor, I got it to try starting and just got a hum out of the compressor. I immediately thought "capacitor"... and then noticed the domed top on it. Five minutes later... spare capacitor installed, and all is well! New spare capacitor ordered and received! Unfortunately, the price jumped from $12 last April to $18 now... obviously still worth it, of course.

[@marthareynolds5545]

Thank you for this step by step video. Saved me hundreds of dollars.