My outside fan (compressor?) will not turn on. I have a week or two before the weather gets warm so thought I would try fixing it before I hire someone.
Symptoms – I turn on the air. The blower turns on. Nothing outside makes a sound or moves. Now the last time I used the air conditioner in the fall it cranked up VERY loud outside. Where I went over to see what the hell was going on. Well it lasted for a couple minutes and then worked fine. Tried to turn it on a few days ago for the first time this year and nothing outside came on.
What I have done so far. All I have done so far is check that electricity is going to the outside unit. I tested it with a voltage meter and things are flowing correctly.
I am an air conditioner noob so please help. I can do whatever or take pictures if needed. The outside unit is only 3 years old.
Best Answer
Besides checking the fuses/breakers, the fan, and any connections on the controller, there's not a lot of user serviceable parts on an HVAC system. This is because the refrigerant lines require specialized equipment to test for refrigerant levels, a license to buy more refrigerant, and even more equipment to remove the refrigerant so you can work on the compressor.
When the outside unit doesn't turn on, checking the refrigerant is typically the first step because there's a safety switch in the system that prevents the compressor from turning on without enough pressure in the lines. Without that, the compressor would turn on and burn itself out since the refrigerant also includes the lubricant for the compressor.
Do what you can to get the warranty coverage from the manufacturer, but realize that this is a situation that will almost certainly require a professional to come out and repair for you.