Best heating and air conditioning pros near Mcleansboro, IL

AC capacitors have a wide lifespan, ranging from five to 20 years, with an average of about 10 years. Many capacitors will last for the entire life of the air conditioning unit, and most homeowners only need to replace one once. A capacitor should only be replaced if an HVAC professional diagnoses a problem with it. Premature failure can be caused by overheating, power surges, or short circuits. You can help extend the life of your AC capacitor by scheduling regular AC maintenance each year.

A new air conditioner capacitor will cost less than replacing the entire air conditioner system. While a capacitor itself will cost between $8 and $25, paying a professional to replace an AC capacitor will cost $180 on average. It’s not safe to replace an air conditioner capacitor on your own. 

Signs that your air conditioner capacitor is bad or failing include a range of symptoms. The AC unit may not turn on at all, or it might struggle to start before shutting down randomly or in the middle of a cooling cycle. You might hear a humming or banging noise when it attempts to start, or the compressor might hum without the unit actually running. Other indicators include a smell or smoke coming from the unit, the blower circulating room-temperature air instead of cold air, and an unexpected increase in your energy bills.

DIY is possible for basic cleaning. Professional services handle advanced maintenance like recharging the refrigerant.