My AC stopped working and the HVAC did a repair to replace the circuit board. While inspecting other parts of the furnace, he noticed that my capacitor needed to be replaced in order to prevent the fan motor from overheating. I told him to replace the capacitor because I did not want to worry about my AC during the summer. A few days later a plastic burning smell was coming from the AC vents so we shut down the AC. The next day the same HVAC guy came over and said the fan motor was overheating probably because the original capacitor did damage to the fan motor. My question for this message board is this: Is it possible the new capacitor installed damaged the original fan motor and caused it to overheat? Or was the HVAC guy right in stating the original capacitor caused the damage. The HVAC tech told me there was no way the new capacitor he installed could have caused this and that it may look like he caused the fan to overheat. He then gave me the option of getting a new furnace or replacing the Fan motor. I was a bit irritated because the reason I got the new capacitor was to prevent the original motor from overheating. I think I would have been a little less upset if he told me during the first visit to also replace my fan motor along with the new capacitor. Thanks.

Was the new capacitor the same or close microfarad rating? Voltage?

While inspecting other parts of the furnace, he noticed that my capacitor needed to be replaced in order to prevent the fan motor from overheating.

Get a new repairman. You can not look at a capacitor and tell its condition. It either works or it does not. When it fails the fan will not start or run.

I think you are being conned.

Call the service man for this problem because he will help you and tell the perfect reason all about this.

He had a reading device to show a number. He said the number was 10% less than it should have been. Sorry that I don't know HVAC terminology.

Was the new capacitor the same or close microfarad rating? Voltage?


Here was his description in the invoice:
Upper-found circuit board not bringing on blower motor and blower capacitor weak. Furnace is almost 20 years old.Recommend replacing furnace. Customer does not wish to replace furnace at this time. Air conditioner is new. Replacedcircuit board, replaced capacitor, and checked operation. System is cooling properly at this time.

Here was the item about the capacitor in the invoice:
H2140 Single Power Factor Enhancing ComponentReplaceSingle Power Factor Enhancing Component, Inspect/Tighten ElectricalConnections.Verify that Unit is running within Manufactures' specifications

Hope that details everything better than I can. Thanks again for looking at my question.

Find a new service firm.
That description tells you nothing and it is designed to tell you nothing.
A faulty circulation fan motor would not create a plastic burning smell.
His boss pays him big bucks if he sell you a new furnace.
Turn thermostat to fan only and see what happens.