DIY

[Del.]

My capacitor went out on my AC Sunday. It's hot as hell here so I called someone. Cost me $325 for a $10 part. I have seen different opinions on rather you should do this yourself. Have you guys done this?

[Smit]

Youtube has excellent videos on how to do it.

Watch carefully how to discharge the power from a capacitor before you remove the wires. 

[riverhunter]

Pretty easy to do.  problem is, I cant always trouble shoot the problem.  So usually have to call someone.  same thing with our well.  once i saw how to test a pressure switch.  now i know what to check and keep a spare in the well house.

[Incogneeto]

Youtube has excellent videos on how to do it.

Watch carefully how to discharge the power from a capacitor before you remove the wires. 

He'll figure it out.

[Incogneeto]

It's really not that difficult.

Out in the heat remove the panels.

Put ice on the wasp stings.

locate the capacitor.

Put Burn ointment on the burns.

Turn off electric to the unit.

remove capacitor.

Replace.

re-assemble back panel after you find the screws you kicked when you got shocked.

Turn electric back on.

[gcode]

Turn electric back on.

and when your AC unit lets all the smoke out, you can buy yourself a brand new AC unit and stay cool all summer.

[Del.]

I didn't know what was wrong with AC. I just let him fix it. I shouldn't have looked at price of capacitor after it was done. 😝

[mowens]

My capacitor went out on my AC Sunday. It's hot as hell here so I called someone. Cost me $325 for a $10 part. I have seen different opinions on rather you should do this yourself. Have you guys done this?

You have to decide what you dislike more: performing a household maintenance task that is not too hard but can turn into a pain in the ass, most likely out under the Kentucky summer sun, or, spending $300 to $400.

For me, these tasks never happen in the straightforward manor that I envision them being, so I pay to have it done if at all possible.

[Smit]

For me, these tasks never happen in the straightforward manor that I envision them being, so I pay to have it done if at all possible.

Yeah, especially in an older house, even things that should be quick fixes are rarely as easy as you think they should be. 

[beej]

my wife has a comfort zone of + or - 1 degree. If the AC goes out it is considered a top priority emergency situation. so the basis of whether to do it myself has nothing to do with money and everything to do with how long will it take either for the guy to come out, or me to get my own parts.

[SuperHoneyBadger]

my wife has a comfort zone of + or - 1 degree. If the AC goes out it is considered a top priority emergency situation.

Mine too, brother. And she's + nothing, -0.500 on the bore diameter, so I'm keen on performing my duties.

[Incogneeto]

It's really not to terrible if you are prepared for it.

yes you will be out in the heat.

getting all the numbers off the unit .

and take the capacitor with you.

Then you have to find the electric supply place in town and hope they have it in stock.

all goes well trips included couple hours and yea you will save. $$$

whether it is worth it or Not is up to you.

Having a Beautiful wife smiling as She is making a Sammich for her Saviour.....Priceless.

[Del.]

Yeah, especially in an older house, even things that should be quick fixes are rarely a easy a you think they should be. 

That's the truth. It seems nothing is easy anymore.

[Incogneeto]

That's the truth. It seems nothing is easy anymore.

Pretty sure I have told this before.(short version now)

We Had spectrum come out to install cable in the house.

Guys climbing our pole cracks the Box and is getting stung like from a swarm of wasps falls off the ladder and is hanging by his safety belt feet pedaling trying to get away 10 feet in the air.

His helper is trying to get the ladder back under him as He and the old guy are getting Stung.

I'm allergic to wasps soooo Nope!!

Next they are both down in the basement connecting my cable and look like they have been beaten with baseball Bats.

I'm only assuming they called into work the next day.

Sometimes simple and routine can be deadly.

[gcode]

I was having trouble with my 15 year old washing machine about six months ago
I called a guy I knew use used to be a Samsung repairman.
He put a new door switch and related parts in it for $350
It worked for about 4 months then started acting up.
The drain pump was not working properly and I found out that if I drained it, waited about and hour
and chanted the magic incantations it would run. That worked for about 2 months.
I called the guy again and he put a new drain pump in it for $240. That didn't work.
Then he decided it needed a new main board $500 new or $100 used from ebay.
It became clear that guy didn't know what was wrong and was going to throw new parts and my $$$ at it till
something stuck. I had $590 into it and no washing machine.
I sent him packing and bought a new machine.