THANK YOU. Our AC stopped working recently and we had a despicable "repairman" come out and tell us that our furnace control board was likely bad, and then try to price us out a whole new system for $13k. Using this video I learned what I needed to know to determine that I just needed to reset the low pressure switch. Fixed my AC for zero dollars. Very much appreciated!
They'll do that...that's why I will fix or try to fix anything I can before I call a technician...educate myself so that they won't even try to BS me..
Thank you, Craig. I have been pleased with your educational videos and have started my education toward work in the HVACR field. Early this summer, the utility power to my house went off and the outdoor unit would not power-on. the contactor switch was fried. I replaced the contactor switch. About a month ago, the power failed momentarily, again. The contactor fried, again. At that point, i replaced my disconnect at the outdoor unit with a FUSED disconnect, and i added a surge protector to the circuit at the disconnect. Today, the power failed momentarily, again. But this time, the event caused a fuse on one line to blow ($3 loss), instead of a $20 contactor to be fried. And the fuse change was much more quickly done. In this video, Craig arrived at the cause of my unit's no-start condition in the first two minutes. Thank you again, Craig.
Craig, Just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate this video. As a home owner and a System Engineer, I hate to have a service tech come out just to bill me for something I can fix myself. Took less than five minute to troubleshoot the fault and less than 20 to replace the thermostat control wire. you are time and money saver. God bless and thank you for sharing your knowledge!
Craig, My AC went down and we are starting a 100+ degree heatwave. I followed this video and found a bloated capacitor. Ran down to Grainger and bought a new one for 20 bucks (could have got one for $12 but I bought a good one)! Had it back up in a hour. You saved me hundreds!!!!!! You're the Man!!! Thank you!!!!
24 degrees outside. Come home from a weeks vacation and no heat. House is 40 degrees! Watched your video. Cleaned contacts on outside disconnect and Voila!!! Thank you soooo much!! Michael Paxton
Clear, concise, understandable instruction. No "Uh's" or "ah's" in the final product. Kudos. I think so many people see youtube videos as something anyone can do. Well, anyone can, but there's so much difference in quality and presentation of content. The majority of these videos are trash in my opinion....a distraction in my quest for good quality content. So, hats off my friend in producing a truly high quality video to help folks who just need a little basic information to remedy a problem.
So glad I seen your video before I just started throwing parts at my air conditioner. The contactor was dirty, cleaned it off and it's working now. Going to buy a new one and replace it tomorrow. Thank you so much.
Thank you so much for all your videos. you saved me a system replacement and it was only a contactor issue. I managed to clean/sand the burned surface to make it work again until I get the replacement part. Great video. Thanks again.
Man. I did so much searching a couple years ago to put together all this info for myself. What a helpful video. Following this will troubleshoot 90% of problems you can easily fix yourself. Outside of these, it's time to call a repairman in my opinion. Great video. Kudos. Wish I found this back when I needed it!
You are awesome...you covered 80% of the issues in just one video, this includes even systems that have different fittings/connections. I watch the "Word of Advice TV' who is the best and you are next. Awesome!!!..
Excellent guide. In my case, it was a corroded 24V connection to the contactor. Pulled the contacts off to measure coil resistance, confirmed coil ok, put low voltage connectors back on, and the contactor immediately tripped and turned on the condenser. Now I can get me a new contactor to have a spare just in case, with my ac still working. Thanks!
Really nice, Craig. Years ago, in Florida, I had an in-line condensate switch in my pvc pipe that used gravity to get rid of condensate. It had a p-trap in it and the switch was mounted there. We were in the home for about a half-hour when I realized it was a little stuffy in the home. I went to the thermostat and saw it was blank. Ugh. Luckily I had some tools and an electrical meter there. Using the schematic on the inside panel, I discovered it was the condensate switch opening up the power. The piping had shifted and wasn’t draining properly. Long story longer, knowing the things you teach here really makes you the hero when the chips are down! And the temperature is up.
Man you are a lifesaver. I wasn’t getting the 24 volts combo from the indoor unit. Turns out the float was stuck to the flood pan. Amazing job…. Thank you again
Wow thats alot! And thats why HVAC is a specialty and people go to school for it. Im very mechanically inclined but I dont mess with ac. Im calling my ac guy to comeout lol. Great video.
Genius. Problem number 9 for me. I replaced capacitors and fuses. Made sure thermostat was ok. Then went down to condensate pump and I shook it slightly and boom it started pumping out a ton of water. Turns out it’s filthy inside and clogged and cut the ac. Problem solved. Thank you sir.
I'm sold on your knowledge! I ordered your books.My only source for hvac info.My main interest is charging correctly,not by guessing with pressure alone.Thanks very much!
Good info! I appreciate the in depth diagnostics. I found my contactor to be bad. Replaced it and now it's pulling in and running perfectly. Thank you for your help.
Thank you for the in-depth diagnostics guide, as opposed to just telling us to call a repairman. Being able to do basic troubleshooting on your home utilities is practical and can save a ton of money.
Awesome video, our upstairs unit was not cooling, air handler was running but outside unit not running. After checking the breakers and thermostat settings I had relinquished myself to having to call a HVAC guy on the weekend. Watched the video and was reminded that my unit has a condensate pump in the utility room on the first floor, sure enough it was unplugged, as soon as I plugged it up, it ran( reservoir was full of water) then the outside unit started running once it pumped out the reservoir. Thanks for providing an excellent video and saving me an emergency service call.
Craig, thank you for putting this video together. I was able to quickly use my voltmeter and troubleshoot the problem and got it fixed. I still had a tech check the work and he said it would have cost you $580.00 for the contactor install. I only paid for parts and service call for 200.00. I enjoyed getting to know a little about hvac. I feel proud of fixing the unit with confidence, confidence you gave me with this video. Thanks!!
Thanks for posting this helped us out. We had power at the quick disconnect and long and behold the internal circuit tripped. We reset the Unit and now we have cold air. Keeping a close eye on it for now. Thanks again for posting. 👍🏼 subscribed.
Thanks for vid Craig..! I have an ancient Comfort Aire by Heat Controller Inc. that still uses R22 ("liquid gold"). It had power at outside contactor but 24v contact was not pulling in. I pressed it in manually with screwdriver and compressor and fan kicked on. So that led me to follow the thermostat wiring like you say in vid. It led me all the way back to the older air handler unit (in conjuction with the old gas heating furnace) which is where I found the blue wire, of the inside thermostat wiring from the actual thermostat, loose and barely hanging off the transformer terminal screw. Screw must have loosened due to vibration at older air handler. Talk about a simple repair with no cost to me except for my time (not an expensive tech. that would have cost me hundreds). It's all about starting at the source and having a good multimeter. Wanted to attach a photo of the wiring at air handler (furnace), but don't see that option. Hope this brief trouble shooting scenario I added here may also help others with getting ideas of what could be the problem and a simple solution. 😊
Shoot Craig I’m a dollar short and a day late, I came across a outdoor unit that would not come on I checked everything but the pressure switch and misdiagnosed a bad board cuz the herm and common did not read 24 volts on the board.A senior tech came behind me and figured it out in 1 minute but I’m glad I made a mistake cuz that’s how I learn best🤓👍
I love your videos, and once again you have gotten me out the heat, I unplugged the power cord to the condensation pump during the winter to use the outlet to plug in my wet-vac and forgot to plug it back in. It is equipped with a 24v switch to avoid spillovers, with your Top 10 Problems troubleshooting guide I was able to solve this issue. I'm an electrician by trade but have found myself being asked about AC Units more, I will be purchasing your content. Thank you
Thank you for your detailed explanation. One of my 24v wired was disconnected and chewed by a rodent. I reconnected and put an electrical tape on the wires that were expose and it work!
Thank you for the video - had 240 to the contactor but nothing on the other side. Turned out to be the plates. Once they made better contact - it fired right up. Appreciate the help!
Thank you for such an informative video! Definitely saved me some money and helps me to know when a technician is not just changing parts. As an aside for those like me that know the basics but not the nuances I believe all of the volts are AC. That may seem obvious to some but most of us think of house voltage as 120 and 240.
You covered everything, including the problem I found: a corroded splice in the thermostat wire from the furnace to the outdoor unit, which had been spliced and twisted together 15 years earlier! Thanks
I love these videos I remember the days you had to go to the library and hope to find a book to fix something or spend half your paycheck for someone to come rip you off..My a.c. stopped working today it was 95 out watched half your video and figured out the problem and made it to get the part 15 minutes before the parts store closed.. So this guy get a like and a subscribe from me.
Thank you for the video, I managed to figure out what happened to my outside unit thinking it only needed a deep cleaning, which didn't work and end up being my fault.
Excellent video. You covered several problems spot on. You do a great job! I can’t imagine why anyone gives you thumb down. Please keep teaching us. Thanks
Outstanding video. Thermostat wires are top of my list as I recently replaced blower motor and control panel on the indoor unit, but this tells me what else to check if that's not it.
Wow that was a very good video that will help me figure out my ac problem . It’s very hot here in Texas and I can’t get anyone till Thursday Thank you !
Great video, went through many common problems and helped me solve mine. The one I had ended up being rather silly, our unit had many unlabeled switches and one must have got bumped to the off position.. it ended up being the power switch for the furnace LOL.
Thank you for your video. Yesterday i have silence from attic handle unit, and ac pump. Thermostat was blank, i do not using batteries. I put batteries, that not fixed issues, therefore display is come back on. I was outside hauling my dog walking neighbor in the dark, and shared, they said, recently they have tech cleaned overflow valve. I thankly climb in to the attic, previously exposed ac pump and inspected wiring, brakers, and condenser. I found overflow censor with brown liquids and used near laying cleaning brush to purge it all. Moving sensors i heard first clicking. Got it all back. But silence due to delay probably. About to remove air handling panel to inspect for fuses, etc., and unit is kicked on. I was satisfactory climbed down, where found outside pump is silent. After witching your video next morning i will use my power tester to see currents on the wires, and see if i can trace issues. Yesterday i should not touch pump, and sensor outside, that just below lid on TH4B3021SA - Luxaire, as i think problem was overflow sensor, and i cannot believe i could have 2 issues at the same time. Will purge and see if gas is in the system with screwdriver. Thanks a lot for your video. Hope this morning will be successful. Any comments highly appretiated.
Thanks, was told needed whole new system, and i might, but after replacing bad contactor im back running again. 240v on bottom and nothing on top, so i replaced it and bingo, great vids
Great video, as always! My problem is intermittent. Three time in 13 months my new outside unit was not running when inside unit was calling for cooling. Restarted after I raised the set point so indoor unit shutdown and then lowered the setpoint. Ideas???
Good instructional video. I would have closed the disconnect door when checking the fuses, particularly in your case since you “talk” with your hands. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
Thanks for breaking it down 101. My condensor went out on my last night. Question. The fan motor has gone bad. Do I need to change out the capacitor as well?
hopefully this helps me. I installed an Ecobee over the winter. When I turned on the furnace, the a/c would turn on, too. I did some changes for the a/c high voltage to not turn on, but the 24 volt kept running when the furnace was on. I didn't want to make any more changes until it started warming up, but today I put in my old thermostat and the a/c is not doing anything. I think the video will help me trace the issue. (I didn't have 240v outside when testing)
Great job! Keep up the good work. I was able to understand everything you was saying. I just need help with finding the right parts for my 15 year old Rheem Ac unit. How can I a mother or timing board? I do not see the S# on it, just a big black box on it Help if you can.
Very good video. Good content and presentation. Well organized. In the case of the spider egg in the contactor, switch can you just blow out the egg and try again before doing a full replacement of the contactor switch?
