AC Advive please

[jrobby]

  This web-site is the best I've found.  I think my question might be similar to a few other posts I read, but I want to clarify.  About a month ago, my AC started making a high-pitch squealing noise in the middle of the night.  It kept working, but was very loud and abnoxious.  I turned the thermostat up to turn it off.  Every time I would turn it back down, it made the noise.  I left for vacation the following day and it has been fine since I got back.  Last week, when I got home from work, I could hear it as soon as I got out of my car in all the way from the front of the house.  The noise stopped again.  Tonight, the outside unit was on, but the fan stopped blowing.  I shut it off for a bit, then tried again.  The fan looked like it was trying to move, and when prodded with a screw driver, started up again. (the blade did not spin freely / easily when I used the screw driver, but did move without to much effort)   Can you tell me what is going on?  Is it my fan motor?  Is it freezing up?  I live in Florida by-the-way.

It's been  running again for about an hour now.  Is it something I can fix, or do I need to call in for repair.  Sorry for so much detail, but wanted to explain fully.

Any advice / help would be appreciated.

[Rrey199]

 Hello all. I just found this forum & decided to join. I am a senior HVAC technician for a large plumbing, heating and AC company. I enjoy the forum and figured I have something to offer. 

 

I sounds like your condenser fan motor is bad. It may have been caused by a bad run capacitor. General replacement motors go for around 70 bucks, but spend the extra $5 for the capacitor. It's probably a 1/3 or 1/4 horsepower 230 volt motor. If you decide to attack the job I can help you through it.

[applianceman18007260692]

the high pitch squeal you heard was the condenser fan motor its an easy fix

welcome to the forum ray:dude:

[jrobby]

Thanx Rrey199,

It's been on all day, but I know it's only a matter of time.  I'm going to look into getting the parts, and would really like to switch it myself.  Doesn't "sound" incredibly hard, but I'm a novice.  I would appreciate your advice / guidance, if I go forward.

And welcome to the forum also.

Also,  thanx  Applianceman,

 your and ahammer's previous advice to others is what decided it, for me to join.