A Little Help From My Friends

Help is Found online By Do It Yourselfers:


I have a 10 year old trane unit and I heard a humming noise outside this morning . The compressor fan was trying to spin but was binding up. When I turned the unit off, and opened the unit to check the fan motor it turned freely. When it is powered back up, the fan is binding and will not turn.

Any ideas ?

When I power it up, all the motor does it try to spin. It moves about 1/4 inch then locks down. I can not get the blades to turn even when I push them. I checked the voltage going to the motor and get a reading of "290". Why is the reading so high?

When all power is off, the blades on the motor turn freely.

Try with the unit calling to run . Give the fan a push to start.
If it takes off and runs get a new capacitor for it . If not and it does get 220V to it . Id say time for a new motor. make sure you get the same Hp and RPM also that it turns the same way CW or CCW.


AC Repair Condensor Fan Motor
When a motor does that it has too much end play meaning one of the bearings has worn on the inside allowing the rotor to move too close to the front plate you will need to replace when you get a new one make sure to take the old one off and get a replacement that has the same characteristics all the info is listed on the data plate and any good supply house should be able to match you up.
If they sell you a universal one the wiring diagrams will walk you through the retrofit they will give you options for a three wire or four wire aplication and you can choose rotation and make sure to get a new capacitor

mxmom
Member Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 15

Unfinished heat runs...
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We have been in the (slow) process of finishing part of our basement. We currently have the bedroom & bathroom done and the heat ducts (returns in the bedroom and living area) are installed/functioning properly in there. (Sheetrocked ceilings in the bed/bath rooms.)

The "living room" area ceiling is not completed (we are installing a drop ceiling in that area-eventually!). But I do have a question about the "heat runs".

We have 2 runs that currently run along the floor joists/ceiling in that room (we have 10' ceilings in our basement). They are connected to the main duct and do have heat coming from them.

However, because they are not "finished" (they blow straight out). Would adding 90° elbows to the ends of these runs help direct the heat downwards? (This would only be temporary until the ceiling was finished). Or wouldn't it necessarily make any difference? (Due to the height of the ceiling.) My husband & I disagree on this issue....I say it would help, he says it won't make any difference.

What do the experts recommend?

Thanks!



mike n
Member Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 38

Heat Down Your Basement
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Your hubby will hate me for this he probably knows your right he just doesn't want to put the 90's an there because it's more work and he already has enough to do.

Yes you know that heat rises in air conditioning this would not be an issue but in Heating air distribution it is important to get the air to the area you want to condition.

In cooling the air falls down by itself and starts what is called the convective loop (cold air falling, warm air rising)
in heating the warm air either needs to come from floor vents or be forced down to effectively condition a space.
You should put 90's on and a piece of pipe as long as possible without interfearing with head room.

You don't have to tell him you know this because it is more important to have a strong marriage than it is to be right.