What Is the Purpose of a Capacitor in Your AC Condenser? | Prestige Air Fort Worth

What Is the Purpose of a Capacitor in Your AC Condenser?

Prestige Air – Fort Worth, Texas If your air conditioner won’t start or is making a humming noise without blowing cold air, a faulty capacitor may be the cause. But what exactly does a capacitor do in your AC condenser, and why is it so important? At Prestige Air Fort Worth, we believe in educating our customers so they can make informed decisions about their HVAC systems. In this post, we’ll break down the role of the capacitor in your AC condenser and how to know when it’s time for a replacement.

1. What Is a Capacitor in an Air Conditioner? A capacitor is a small cylindrical component that stores and releases electrical energy. In your air conditioner, it’s responsible for delivering the initial jolt of electricity that starts key components like the compressor and fan motor. Without a properly functioning capacitor, your AC unit can’t start, or it may struggle to keep running efficiently.

2. Start vs. Run Capacitors Your AC condenser may have one or two types of capacitors:• Start Capacitor – Provides the initial electrical boost to start the compressor and fan motor.• Run Capacitor – Maintains a steady flow