T2
Thermostat is set to cool and low, the indoor fan comes on but not the outdoor AC or heat pump
Check that you have power to your outdoor AC or heat pump. First check your home electrical panel. There will be a double pole 240v breaker that controls your AC unit. If it is tripped flip it all the way off and back on. Next there is a disconnect box located near the outdoor AC unit. When you open the front of the box you will see a black handle “pull out” piece. This part has to be inserted properly and in the ON position. Flipping it or turning it over 180 degrees and pushing it in will put it in the OFF position. There may be a breaker in the outdoor disc. box instead, ensure it is ON. If you have electrical experience, you can follow the next steps. Contact a local HVAC contractor if you do not feel comfortable or do not have electrical experience. To check for voltage in the unit open the side panel of the AC unit and check for 240v on the LINE side of the contactor (L1 / L2).
Check to see if the contactor is engaged. Some contactors have covers, so you can’t see the middle piece that draws closed when engaged. Check for 240v on the LOAD side of the contactor (T1 / T2). This will let you know if the contactor is engaged and bridging power to the unit.
Sometime a contactor will engage or close but not bridge power to the LOAD (T1/T2) side. This can be caused by a faulty contactor or may be caused by ants and insects that have crawled inside the contactor and died which blocks the electrical current from flowing across to the unit. I don’t recommend trying to clean and reuse a contactor that is clogged with debris or bugs as they will continue to malfunction and could short out. Replace a contactor that is faulty or damaged
How to Replace a Capacitor Buy Capacitors
Back to Troubleshooting
