Springtime is a good time of the year to do preventative maintenance on your air conditioning system. Taking care of small problems before it gets too warm may keep the equipment operating trouble free during the hot weather.

While you are performing these checks make sure the power has been disconnected.

The first order of business is to check the air filter and change if needed. This simple item can prevent the coil from  freezing up due to a lack of airflow. If your furnace or air handler uses a 1″ standard air filter we recommend using a good quality pleated air filter. We do not recommend using a 1″ filter with a merv rating higher than 8 as this type of filter may cause airflow restrictions and this can lead to inefficient system operation and in some cases cause damage to the equipment.  If you have a high efficiency filter cabinet we strongly recommend installing the correct air filter for the cabinet. This style filter is usually marketed in a nominal size. The filters do not all have the same outside  dimensions and a generic filter or an incorrect filter may lead to leakage around the filter which prevents all of the air from being filtered.

While looking at the air filter is a good time to make sure the condensate drain for the coil is clean and free. This simple step may prevent water damage if the drain is partially restricted or clogged.

While you are checking the indoor unit make sure the blower spins free and take a look at the circuit board for any hot spots or loose connections. Also examine the copper piping for any signs of oil or rubbing marks. Copper is a soft metal and rubbing on other copper lines or the sheet metal cabinet may cause a refrigerant leak. If you see signs of oil you may already have a leak that will need to be addressed by a technician.

Condenser fan motor replacement is another easy do it yourself repair. Bearing failures are usually the reason the fan motor needs changed.

Always replace the capacitor when changing the motor. The capacitor is usually a dual type that services the motor and the compressor. When bearings start to fail the motor windings heat up. This heat is also generated in the capacitor and can cause damage to the capacitor. A damaged capacitor can cause failure of the new motor or the compressor which will be a very expensive repair. Capacitors are not expensive items and sometimes saving a small amount of money will lead to spending a large amount of money.

Before attempting any repairs make sure the power is shut off. Verify with an electrical meter. Mark the location where the wires terminate paying close attention to wire color. If you have ordered the new motor from Shortys HVAC Supplies the wiring will be exactly the same in most cases. Remove the wiring after marking and remove the cover with the fan motor attached. Turn it upside down and spray the shaft with penetrating oil. Do not tap on the shaft with a hammer or punch. Remove the locking screw in the collar of the fan blade. If there is any rust on the shaft beyond the fan blade sand this down to shiny metal so the blade will pull off easily. Reach between the blade and motor with pliers and hold the shaft. Gently twist the fan blade from side to side to get it to spin on the motor shaft. As it starts to spin gently pull the blade away from the motor. In most cases it will come off with no damage if you are patient. If not you can order a new blade as well. After the blade is off turn the assembly back over and remove the three or four locknuts holding the motor to the shroud.

Reassemble in the reverse order. We recommend greasing the motor shaft before installing the new blade to make it easier for removal if the motor fails again. Be sure and tighten the fan hub locking screw on the flat spot of the motor shaft. This flat spot is specifically machined on the shaft for this reason. If you tighten the screw down on the round part of the shaft it may slip. It will also be very difficult to remove later.

Carrier Corporation has several brands that use the same part numbering system. The brands are Carrier, Bryant, Payne, Day & Night, Resco, BDP. The parts used in this line of equipment are identified by the product number located on the unit nameplate. Sometimes there will also be a series number on the nameplate. All of these numbers and letters are used for parts identification. If you look at the picture of the nameplate below you will see a serial number, product number and a model number. If you look at the model number and product number you will notice they are very similar. The model number is PA13NR024-H. Carrier made several versions of this model and designated any change in parts used during the manufacture of the equipment with the product number. The product number is PA13NR024000AHAA. The additional letters in the product number designate changes during the manufacturing process. With this number we can see the exact part required for your application. You can contact Shortys HVAC Supplies at parts@shortyshvac.com with the information from your equipment nameplate and we will be happy to identify the factory replacement part for your repair.