Raise your hand if you like living in Florida! Raise it again if you don’t mind when your AC breaks down. While being a Sunshine State resident has many perks, it also comes with brutally hot summers. This is why it’s essential to learn how to identify potential issues before they turn your home into a miserable sauna and you find yourself in dire need of air conditioning repair.
The AC contactor is one of the parts you should familiarize yourself with. It’s an AC component that needs to be replaced every now and then, but it’s a relatively easy fix.
What is an AC contactor?
The contactor is the part of the air conditioner that controls the flow of electricity into the unit. When you turn off your AC, the contactor goes up, blocking power. By the same token, every time you turn on the air conditioner, the contactor is lowered, allowing electricity to power the system. Once your home reaches the temperature set on the thermostat, the contactor goes up again.
Bad AC Contactor Symptoms
Over time, contactors experience wear and tear. This can lead to overheating. As a result, your AC won’t turn on. Since you don’t want the air conditioner to fail during the hottest months of the year, pay attention to these symptoms of a bad AC contactor:
1. The condenser unit never shuts off
This could be a sign that the contactor has melted, leaving the air conditioner with no means to block electricity.
2. AC hums and won’t turn on
When you turn on the AC, you may hear the air conditioner humming, but it won’t fully power on.
3. AC makes a chattering noise
Another sign is a chattering sound coming from inside the air conditioning unit.
How to Test an AC Contactor
Before removing the contactor, shut off the power to the air conditioner. Do it at the thermostat AND the breaker level. Failing to do so could lead to electrocution.
Once the power is turned off, walk over to the condenser unit. The side of the unit connected to the wires is where the AC’s control panel is. Use a screwdriver to remove the side cover. You’ll see several colored wires connected to a black rectangle that’s positioned vertically. That’s the contactor. Take a picture of the wiring and contactor, so you’ll know how to reconnect the wires once you replace the defective part.
Unscrew the contactor from the side of the condenser unit (while still connected to wires). Proceed to remove the wires.
To test the contactor, you’ll need a multimeter (available at any hardware or big box store). Set it to the “OL” setting. Connect the multimeter to the low-volt terminals on both sides of the contactor. If the contactor is working properly, the multimeter will show a reading between 5 and 20.
If you get a lower number or no reading at all, the contactor is not functional. Purchase a replacement and rewire, using the picture you took for reference.
Reinstall the condenser’s side paneling, and turn on the power to your air conditioner.
Professional AC Maintenance and Repair by Sansone
At Sansone, we have an entire team of skilled technicians who can help with your air conditioning in West Palm Beach and the surrounding area. From AC repairs to AC installations and replacements, contact us today for all of your AC needs in West Palm Beach and South Florida.