Just realized how much faster I got at diagnosing a bad start capacitor after my first 50 calls.

When I started out, it took me almost 20 minutes on average to confirm a failed capacitor on a compressor. Now, after logging those first 50 service calls, I can usually spot the signs and test it in under 5. What specific symptom or test do you all find is the most reliable quick-check for a bad cap?

3 comments

3 Comments

richard_ramirez1mo ago

Read that a bulging top is a dead giveaway before you even grab your meter.

beth_butler7524d ago

@emma349 That humming sound is exactly what I key in on too, saved me so much time after about 30 calls.

emma3491mo ago

Bulging is a good visual check but it doesn't always happen. The fastest for me is listening for that loud hum and the compressor not starting. If I hear that, I'm pulling the disconnect and checking the cap right away. A quick capacitance check with the meter confirms it, but that hum is my first clue nine times out of ten.