Central AC Condensor Having Trouble Starting

[tjpavlov]

I have a central AC system in my house. Occassionally, I can hear the condensor struggling to turn on. The thermostat will trip and I can hear the condensor begin to start, but then shut down after about three seconds. About thirty seconds later, it will try again. Sometimes, it does this three of four times before the condensor will kick on and stay on.

The house is about three years old and the system has done this since new. It doesn't always happen though. I had a service tech out to look at it from the installer, and they couldn't get it to happen for them. These things always temporarily fix themselves when you pay to have someone look at them...

I am concerned that the false starts are bad for the system. It had been happening a lot recently, but I might just be noticing it more since it has been so hot and our AC has been on constantly.

Does anybody have any idea of what the issue is?

 

[pop pop]

Can't say what the root cause is, but sounds like you're about to replace the compressor, not condenser. You may want to install a "hard start" on it to make it last a bit longer.

 

[Jagmandave]

Have they changed the fan's capacitor? Fairly inexpensive....

Mine was doing something similar, and I thought it was the thermostat - it would start and run for up to a minute, then shut off, wait about 5 minutes and start again. I should have known what it was.....in my case the compressor would run, but since the fan wasn't running the head pressure went too high and it shut it off again.

lather, rinse, repeat till the fan started working, then all was normal.

Since I finally got smart (well, actually the fan wouldn't run altogether, so I had to fix it) and found and replaced the bad run cap, it works perfectly again.

The next time stand outside and have someone kick it on for you and see if the fan runs, if not that could be all it is.

 

[brewchief]

Make and model?

I've seen more then one unit that needed a hard start kit added because it was designed to be used with an orifice and was installed with a TXV coil instead.

 

[Milton Shaw]

You need a short cycle preventer, these keep the unit from trying to restart after a power blink. Normally they have a 5 minute timer that resets every time the compressor comes on. A compressor is always hard to start if it has not had the pressure equalize on the system for a few minutes and will burn out the compressor eventually. The compressor overload is the part that opens when you hear it strain three seconds and quit.

 

[tjpavlov]

Sorry about the mixup with the words "compressor" and "condensor". I don't know what I was thinking.

I have a York YVJF or YCJD. I can't remember that exact model number, but it is part of the LX Series.

A service tech was in the neighborhood yesterday and stopped by and actually saw the problem present itself. I think that he is ordering a timer, like Milton Shaw suggested.

To me (and I don't know much which is why I am here asking for all of your help), the compressor just sounds like it is having a hard time starting up. Once it is up and running the thing works great. It has been very hot and we haven't had any issues. I just worry that all of these false starts will wear something more expensive out. I would love to get 10-15 years out of these (I have two and one works fine).

Thanks for all of your input, everyone!

 

[Basskiller]

Just based on what you say is happening I would check the start/run cap(s) and see if they are in spec mfd. Visually see if they are distorted, oil leaking.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Check the voltage at the junction box when the compressor is trying to start. It should not drop more than about 10% while starting.

Assuming that is good, I would suspect a capacitor also,

 

[pop pop]

No offense, but the solution you are offered is a band aid that will not prevent early failure. He needs to dig deeper.