Heat pump not cooling

[472scout]

Tonight I noticed that my heat pump for the house was extra loud. Normal droning/vibration sound, but extra loud. Went out side and nothing amiss except the noise. Fan on the outside unit was not running.

Went back inside and checked the thermostat which was set to 71, but the inside temp was 74. So not cooling.

I shut it down and opened the windows. Being the weekend it'll take a while to get a HVAC guy here I expect.

Any suggestions on what I should check tomorrow (Sunday) morning?

 

[Bert_]

Capacitor

 

[Wrench97]

Outside fan not running but compressor was, it could be a cap, bad fan motor, burnt wire, etc.
But if the compressor was running the fan should be.

 

[samss]

Quick and simple thing to check....
With the power off, try to spin the propeller with a screwdiver. If it won't spin the bearings are siezed.
If it will spin, most likely a run cap.

 

[472scout]

Thanks for the help.

The fan spins easily.

Popped the cover and there is a "Comfort Alert" box with a flashing diagnostic light.

Chart on the cover says the 6 flashes indicates 1. "run capacitor has failed", 2. "Open circuit in compressor start wiring", or 3. "Compressor start wiring is damaged".

Cap might be slightly bulged on top. Maybe some are made that way.

Don't have a capacitor function on the meter so I'll ohm it out.

 

[yeldogt]

Sounds like the cap failed -- should be no bulge.

A compressor winding could be the problem -- but you would need to know some numbers. Some units have one duel cap and other two.

 

[472scout]

Tested the cap and it won't charge.

 

[472scout]

fixed

 

[Milton Shaw]

Buy a spare cap, then it will never fail again. If you don't some Sunday afternoon it will blow again.