Central head/ac question, safety question

[vontar]

Just minutes ago my Central AC just died. Need to know a few things

While watching Pawn Stars about 10:30, there was a large sudden draw on the eletric power, enough to cause my computer UPS batteries to start beeping and I heard my central AC unit making a strange nosie. I knew the 2 where related.

1. I turned off the AC at the switch and went outside to check

2. I could not smell anything but there was a sound like compressed gas escaping, I believe the compressor or tank just went out.

I have waited until the sound has quit, nothing is smoking, I stood by just in case I needed to call the Fire Dept.

I found the correct breaker for my central Heat/Ac unit and have turned it off, I went back to my heat/AC Fan switch and confirmed I can not turn it back on.

Anything else I need to be concerned about before I can get a repair guy out? I have to go to work first thing in the morning, will it be safe while I am at work the way it is, with the breaker turned off?

[vontar]

well from what I can tell, it is completely quite now, it has no power so nothing should be able to happen with it now. I have no choice but to get some sleep.

yes, batteries in my fire alarms are good. Night all.

I will get the repair guy called on this soon as I can't live with out my AC in the summer.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

I just got through replacing the compressor on my unit. Fun. When you get up in the

morning, turn everything on and go outside and see what's up. If it doesn't start, turn the outside(condensor) breaker or fuse off(open). Unless you're crazy like me and do everything yourself, call the AC guy. It may just need a hard start capacitor. Maybe more, a decent AC guy will give it a try. If you feel like doing it tonight, close the

inside breaker and open the outside one. At least you can run the fan and get a breeze.

[buck1032]

I wish I could offer some advise, but alas I am sitting here sweating my bum off. Our AC died this morning, again. Every year it has been one thing or the other and the folks who put it (its 15 y/o) in hasnt returned my call. I am tired of it, so now I am on the hunt for a new system. Anyone have a opinions about brands, models they would like to share?

[oldogy]

Brownouts can be death to AC or other units that take lots of power. Motors try to run but can not with reduced power. I always turn power off to such units any time I detect a brownout. You may have saved your unit. The noise you heard may have been the refrigerant passing through the orifice. I would certainly turn all back on and see if it runs. Try throwing the inoperative breaker all the way off and on a few times.

oldogy

Edited June 15, 2010 by oldogy

[vontar]

Update, the unit was pretty much shot.

I have a new unit being installed Next Wednesday.

The heat has been horrible, but they are beinging me temp window units to help until then.