We have a second house in Nashville where my son lives while going to College. The HVAC man told my wife that the capacitor on the inside air handler motor probably needed replacing. I told her to not do it as I feel that is a gimmick HVAC people use to make extra money. They pulled the same thing on her when I was out of town here at home and charged a LOT. A mechanic friend told me those capacitors rarely need replacing and when we have had a mild winter and the HVAC people have not sold many new furnaces that they'll try to use "add-on's" to increase revenue. He also tried to sell her a "float switch" and something else when I have never seen a problem with condensation drainage, plus it already has a simple cut-off switch on the drainage pan. I told her "no" to all of it. My main question, though, has to do with the capacitor and if they need replacing very often. Thanks. JWJ

Here's the thing. Capacitors are cheap, usually less than 15 bucks, and normally they can be changed out in a matter of minutes. Here's the other thing. If the tech is really a tech, they should be able to test the cap in less than a minute to know if its good or bad. Now, you can look at a cap and know if its bad, because if its bulged at all, its bad. However, many times a cap will be weak or bad (and yes, it actually is somewhat common on residential heat and a/c motors, but not as common as bad motors in my experience) without being able to tell if from the looks of it. In this case, we simply test them (need a good multi meter or special tester to do this). Im guessing that the tech either noticed the cap was bulged, or heard the motor having a hard time starting up (which indicates a bad cap, or a weak motor). Any trained tech can hear if a motor is running like it should. And if its not, they should suggest checking it out. I like to think most of us are decent folks, and would never sell a part that is not needed. That being said, Im sure there are a lot of rip off artist out there. You will know if you blower stops working in the near future.

(quote) That being said, Im sure there are a lot of rip off artist out there. You will know if you blower stops working in the near future.This from Mr. mygirlsdad,, so if it does turn out to be bad,it will cost you a big whole lot more than the 15 bucks for the part,cause you will have to pay another service call to go along with parts cost

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Thanks for your answers. The tech last year that pulled the same thing on my wife at home when I was out of town charged something like $150 each for the two systems. I KNOW capacitors are not that expensive! I will take a look at it when I go to the Nashville house. My son that lives there and is going to school is a geek and I am pretty sure that he has the necessary instruments to check the capacitor beyond the visual inspection. It's just that he has to be pushed to get away from his books and the things HE is interested in and go upstairs and check it, but when I am there, we'll get it done. He has re-capped quite a few old sound boards, so if it is bad, we should be able to change it out ourselves!

Johnj19

Sounds good John. The uf rating will be on the side of the cap and should say something like 10uf +or- 10% or something along those lines. You can test with a multi meter that has a uf setting. Just make sure to short between the two terminals with an insulated screwdriver to discharge the cap before you test or you could ruin the meter. Also, there are actually some spendy caps out there, but usually they are dual capacitors. But even duals don't usually cost even close to 150. Was the 150 apiece just for the caps, or what it labor, etc also. Most times you only see dual caps on the outside condenser. I just can't imagine an air handler blower motor cap costing more than maybe twenty bucks, probably closer to 10. Please let us know how things turn out. Oh, maybe while you have your son there to check things, have him do an amp draw on the motor. Ratings should be located on the side of the motor or on the furnace rating plate. Good luck.

Thank you for your comments. Mygirlsdad77, I am sure we can do an amp draw on the motor---what should we be looking for? In other words, what kinds of situations would you be looking for if you were doing an amp draw on a blower motor and what would you do to correct or change these situations.

I stand corrected on the costs we were charged for replacement that I previously said I thought it was. I went back and looked at my records. Date was January 8, 2009. The tech replaced one 7.5 MFD, 370 V, capacitor on one unit for a total cost of $121.00 (parts and labor) and one 10.0 MFD, 370 V, capacitor on the other unit for a total of $251 (parts and labor.) The sheet had on it "You saved $135 due to having a maintenance agreement," so theoretically, if we had not had the maintenance agreement, the cost would have been $386.00! Yep, that is a little high for $15-20 capacitors.

Of course, I replace my own media filters at a cost of $21.06 each instead of paying the company $69 apiece. To their credit, they told me that I could go down to Yandle Witherspoon Supply and buy the filters and save a lot of money -- this was many years ago that they told me that and I have done it ever since. This is one of the most popular and well-thought-of companies in the South Carolina Upstate, so what can I say? One thing is that their mark-up is pretty big! I have done business with them for years and they have served me well except when they try to push an "add-on" on us. That "float-switch" add-on was quoted around $260 and I am sure that there is no way it is worth that much, whatever it does. That is another thing I will look at when I go up there and see if there is any problem with the condensation drainage, realizing this is winter. There should be signs of a problem if there is one, though, even though this is winter. A hack-saw, a new T-piece and a cap may solve some issues, if there are any. Oh well, I'll just check that out and in the summer, really check it out!

Thanks, again, for all your help.

Johnj19

I'm in Mesa AZ - I called the SRP (electric Co) for their special $29.95 check to make sure our unit is ready for summer. They sent someone from Climate Pro - the result was that it cost $187.71. He changed the blower motor capacitor (which he said was out of tolerance - 14.09 MED when it should be 15 MED) whatever that is. And that it was making the motor work harder and if I didn't change it out the motor was at risk and it would be a larger fee to replace that.
So - was I taken to the wood shed?

The best way to check if the cap is to purchase voltmeter that have capacitor tester and look for the number on a capacitor usually mark with uf10 uf15 make sure the number match the rating on a meter
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Yeah, MSABBY, I'd say you were taken. Sorry to hear that, but you had a good idea to begin with.

It will be a while before I will be in Nashville. My son is do involved in his studies that I doubt that he will go check the capacitor and motor himself without me prodding him or doing it myself.

I'll let you know. Thanks again for all the suggestions and stories of personal experiences!

John

Man,

I hate to hear this crap. I am in Phoenix and SRP does their endorsement of preventative maintenance every year, you pay the 29.95 and they re-imburse the contractor the other 30$.

I am an HVAC residential tech and I can tell you for a fact the target ticket now for contractors is $200. These clowns will replace contactors, capacitors, fan motors (if you will let them get away with it) and any other part they have on their truck. I don't want to paint all of these guys with the same brush but really, this is a racket. They will almost never leave your home with a check for 29.95 unless you chase them out, and they will leave claw marks on your doorstep, why?

Most residential A/C techs in the valley are paid in part or all commission based. Simple conflict of interest. This is why I started by blog and site - to educate, inform and call BS on the industry. I do this for free because I am sick of hearing about all of the rip-offs out there. In this information age there is no reason for anyone to be taken for a ride.

Good luck to everyone out there

Last note:

Just so everyone knows this fact. Your unit should be operating with a 'load' on it for any real accurate info on refrigerant charge, motor health etc. Checking this stuff out in Phoenix on a 75 degree day will tell you nothing. I advise everyone to wait until at least we get some solid 90+ degree days to really be effective.

Tech just came to my house for inspection,, told me the capacitor was weak,, told me the part was 68.00,, checked the same ge part on the net and found it new at calco for 12.00,, absurd

Then you have to pay labor.
If you can Safely do this yourself, you just pay $12.00?

Toby, that is an absurd quote for the capacitor itself, but are you sure they were not quoting a service call along with the cost of the cap? The only way I could see a quote like that for a cap replacement would have to involve labor, drive time, etc, etc, etc, (also know as a service call).