How Can You Tell That The Capacitor To Your HVAC Is Damaged?
As the weather gets colder, homeowners are preparing to retreat indoors and enjoy the comfort of their heating appliances. However, before the cold sets in, you should consider checking your systems and ensuring they will serve you efficiently through the cold months. Since the heating system is critical to your comfort, you shouldn't take chances with it. Note that one of the issues affecting this system is when the capacitor stops working as it should. Moreover, you might not know that the broken component is why your system has stopped working, so you may try to diagnose the issue without success. That said, here are signs that can help you recognize a damaged capacitor.
Frequent Power Shutdowns
The capacitor stores charge and facilitate the operation of the motor. If broken, the component will not release the power the motor needs. Hence, the entire unit will shut down completely. In such a case, you should check the fuse connected to the heating unit to see whether it is the origin of the problem. Alternatively, tune the thermostat setting when the furnace is on and check whether the blower motor is working. If it has stopped working, the capacitor is damaged and needs a technician to fix it.
The System Keeps Making Humming Sounds
Humming sounds are another common sign that something might be wrong with your system. Typically, your heating unit should operate with little to no background noise. So, if it hums, check whether the capacitor could be causing it. To do this, crank up the reading on the thermostat when the unit is on. If the humming sound gets louder, you have capacitor issues. Given this, you should schedule a professional diagnosis and repair immediately after you notice buzzing sounds from the unit.
When the Motor Works Erratically
Erratic motor operations are another sign that your system might have a faulty capacitor. The motor switches on and off because it doesn't have a consistent current supply. On the other hand, the blower might also run slower than it should or become excessively hot because it isn't getting the power it needs for proper operation. Hence, call a technician to assess if it keeps short-cycling and behaving erratically.
Complete System Shutdown
With time, parts of the system affect the functionality of the entire unit. For example, issues with the capacitor will eventually damage the blower, overheat the system and make it shut down. When this happens, you should hire an HVAC expert to check the system since a furnace that doesn't turn on can leave you in great discomfort.
Repairing damages to the capacitor is best handled by an HVAC contractor. They understand the common causes of the complications and the ideal solutions without risking further unit damage.
For more info, contact a local HVAC contractor.
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