Way off topic, but I have seen some HVAC advice shared, so I thought I would ask. Have an older (15 years old?) Carrier unit that came with the house, and for the 12 years I've owned it, usually starts with a bit of a bang. It seems to be getting louder though... Short video: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Nv7qDUmEouCyWhA28 I've done some googling, but other than figuring out it's a 12 SEER, 42,000 btu unit... I haven't found much in the way of troubleshooting. Appreciate any thoughts... TIA. Dave
First, disconnect power to the fan mtr. Push in the contactor to see if the noise is still there. My bet is the blades or the hub on the fan blade.
15 years out of a whole-house AC system in Atlanta? I'm impressed - next time I'll look at a Carrier system.
your a/c was built in 1998 { serial# 1298} that loud start up noise is the compressor. normal noise for its age 23 years old. a "hard start kit" will usually help start comp and make it less noisy on start up! plus they are very easy to find online and only take about 2-3 minutes to install. a no brainer if your worried about that start up noise. would rec a "time delay" also. charlie,,,, your friendly hvac guy!
hey briz, dont want to step on your toes but carrier started using puron {carrier trademark name for R-410} in about 1995 if i remember correctly . it was not very popular at the time but there were many units out there. carrier has been using date codes in there serial numbers for 50 plus years. the first 2 digits are the week, and the second 2 digits are the year. so his condensor is a 1998 unit. seeing how he is in atlanta i would say this unit has done VERY WELL for itself. not saying it cant last a couple more years with proper care. like i said in previous post, i would install a hard start kit + a time delay. cheers charlie,
From Wiki: R-410A was invented and patented by Allied Signal (now Honeywell) in 1991.[3] Other producers around the world have been licensed to manufacture and sell R-410A, but Honeywell continues to be the leader in capacity and sales.[4] R-410A was successfully commercialized in the air conditioning segment by a combined effort of Carrier Corporation, Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc., Copeland Scroll Compressors (a division of Emerson Electric Company), and Allied Signal. Carrier Corporation was the first company to introduce an R-410A-based residential air conditioning unit into the market in 1996 and holds the trademark "Puron."
Just replaced the circuit board on my carrier a/c, it was a little pricey, my unit is 18 years old and runs good, over the years I replaced the outside fan motor, capacitor, and the exhaust enhancer my self, saved myself some money on doing it myself, but I know I'm at the time phase I'll be needing a new furnace and a/c unit. I also heard everything is very pricey now.
yes furnaces and a/c equipment very pricey now. especially a/c {coil,cons,lineset} and with r-410 freon being phased out!
I'm on year 25 with Carrier gear in hot NorCal; did have to replace the heater though after my HVAC buddy and I discovered the homebuilder's sub installed a leaking (CO) piece of junk cobbled together from other crap. One of the dangers in buying the last new home constructed in the subdivision. But the evaporator and compressor/condenser all run as when new (excepting out start/run capacitor).
My Lennox system is in it's 28th year in west central Florida. I clean the evaporator, condenser every year and replace the run capacitor every 5 years. It has all copper coils.
I stand corrected. I started in the late 90's and there was only quiet talk about the possibility of a replacement for 22. Most of us never thought we'd see it.
Thank you all for the education! It's been a solid unit (knock wood).... It did need a dual run capacitor and electronic starter in 2016, and looking at the receipt, the tech noted a compressor start assist kit was not present. I was traveling at the time, and my folks were staying in the house and had it handled. Unfortunately, I need to take a sudden trip to see my folks in southern Florida tomorrow... before they stop assisted living visitations again. When I get back next week, I'll start with the contactor test as Briz mentioned as it looks easy enough and will eliminate the fan/hub possibility and then look into a hard start kit/time delay as charlierogers suggested.
How does it sound when it shuts off? Its safer to use your pinki than a screw driver or object when pushing down the contactor. A dry pinki too.
