how old is the unit? sounds like the blower may have overheated/seized up. best to have a tech come out and test it. if you had water on the bottom maybe the condensate like is plugged and backing up

Is there a way for me to test the blower? Several years ago it was more obvious that was the problem (blower was humming when power was given so it was pretty clearly seized), and I replaced the blower myself so I could do that again. Just don't want to buy one before knowing that would fix it. Could it be the motherboard?

The unit is 10-11 years old

My heat pump has a 3 amp fuse that I understand many HVAC units have. You can identify it by the "3" on the edge of the fuse (it looks like an "E"). If it blows, the unit won't run (in my case a failed thermostat caused that to happen).

Though I have replaced a blower motor and stuff, my scope of knowledge is limited strictly to the exact things I have researched and repaired unfortunately. Is the heat pump inside of the furnace unit, by the blower motor or do I need to look elsewhere?

Appreciate your time

Heat pumps and furnaces are different HVAC units that heat a home. A heat pump is not inside a furnace; you don't have a heat pump. Your furnace may have a circuit board to which the fuse holder is soldered. The photo below is of a furnace circuit board that has an orange, 5-amp fuse plugged into the fuse holder on the board. If you can find the fuse, pull it out and check if the little wire (shown inside the purple fuse above) is broken.

This kind of equipment problem is easily diagnosed and usually easily fixed by a trained tech with the right test equipment and experience. You've fallen into the usually wasteful and unsuccessful strategy of throwing random new parts at an unknown problem to see if you've guessed right. Maybe you didn't need a new capacitor, functionality is easily measured and assessed with a multimeter in less than 60 seconds.

Call an HVAC pro.

Ok, thanks elmer. I'll take your advice and just call someone. I have time so I usually like to solve stuff myself, and this is a currently vacant house so no rush. But in this case it would probably be prudent. Definitely don't want to waste money, so far it's only been about $15 so all good there.

ty

@Elmer J Fudd: "This kind of equipment problem is easily diagnosed and usually easily fixed by a trained tech..."

• Heat pump auxiliary heat stops working. Trained Tech measures disconnect voltage: 0. Says I need new fuses which I buy. Shortly thereafter heat strip stops working again. I check voltage: 0. Remove fuses. Disconnect contacts are dirty. Clean contacts, replace fuse. System works fine.
• Buy new two-stage heat pump. System operates only in second stage. Trained Tech visits who tells me the unit automatically switches between stages. I say ok. Unit continues to operate only in stage two. I check installation instructions and wiring. Installer had connected the stage-one and stage-two thermostat wires together instead of connecting each to the thermostat. I wire the unit properly. Heat pump operates in stage one and stage two.
• Replace thermostat with new model. After awhile heat pump stops working. Engaging contactor turns on HP. Check 24-volt circuit; 0. Replace fuse which promptly blows. Check wiring diagram; there's nothing in in it other than the thermostat. Disconnect thermostat, fuse doesn't blow. Put back old thermostat. System works fine.

There are incompetent people in all lines of work. You've had bad luck, that doesn't mean calling a contractor is a mistake. I hope these were all different companies. Keep trying, the good ones are out there to find. I know very little about any of this and look at HVAC equipment with hands in my pockets but these "issues" are pretty basic. If they weren't, you wouldn't have found them.

There's a trite saying that anyone who acts as their own lawyer in a court trial has a fool for a client. The same can be said about people who as untrained amateurs think they can act as their own skilled tradesman, without the training and experience licensed pros have that provide the know-how needed to do the job.

Well ya lost me with the last statement. i have done numerous diy projects and all have saved a ton of money and turned out well. Including previous work on my furnace. To make such a sweeping statement that no one should do their own work unless they are a trained professional is very poor advice imo.

wdc, I’ll look for the amp fuse tomorrow lol. ty sir

The old "licensed pro" canard, as if a license from some government agency (designed to reduce competition by reducing supply thereby keeping prices high) we're any guarantee of knowledge or quality. Pffft.

It may cost you $100 to get a hvac guy to come out and tell you what needs replacing. That doesn't mean you have to let him fix it for and charge more for the part and more labor. You can find a new or used part and look on YouTube for how to replace the part yourself.

Here's something on the fuse.

Try this first.

The water could be a corrosion whole in the part of your furnace that collect moisture when your AC is running and sends it to the drain. If that happens the water can fall on your control board and short it out. You'll have to look at it for the fuse. Look for any burned components. You'd need to replace it and not use AC.

"The old "licensed pro" canard, as if a license from some government agency"

Yeah, what a waste of time it is. Required education, apprentice programs/experience requirements, pass a test. Who needs it? All that's needed is a screwdriver and a crescent wrench, that's the prep you have.

For those interested in the conclusion, it is quite humorous.

The interior switch, pressed down by the door/panel that covers access to the blower etc, was bent inwards. So the panel was no longer pressing it down when closed. Every time I tested one of my repairs, I put everything back in place being confident it would fix the problem, never chose to test it just by pressing the switch lol. So needless to say replacing the fuse didn't work.

Repairman came out and first thing they did was press that just to see what happens, probably a normal first step in preparing to diagnose. And it turns right on...I was not pleased when I witnessed that haha.

Anyway, thanks for everyone's time and effort, even wdc"alwayscallapro"cruise. Though I disagree, and would encourage anyone comfortable and confident with their problem solving skills to try DIY tasks, it can be fun, rewarding, along with saving money. Still, thanks all for the time. Cheers

The knowledgeable person didn't resolve anything. On the contrary, he told me he arrived "sure it was going to be a thermostat problem". And when he pressed the switch he still did not know what this meant, as he had not done all the previous work I did. After seeing the switch turned it on, I was the one that told him perhaps the switch plate was bent inward and not being pressed by the door panel. Your post exudes nothing but elitism and judgement, if that is how a professional conducts oneself, I certainly would not return to your business. The gentleman that came to my home commended my efforts and I now have one more experience for myself and all those I know, if I run into further furnace problems the rest of my life which need to be resolved. There was nothing ignorant about my efforts of trying to fix the problem, the only ignorance is in your attitude and misplaced confidence (ego).

Best of luck to you

You are welcome to see it as you wish. You can be sure no ego at all is involved in my views. It's the opposite, it's personal humility to recognize what I don't know and what I'm not qualified to deal with. When it's clear that the consequences of not calling an expert leaves one with having to navigate in the hit and miss darkness of personal ignorance. I don't fool myself into thinking it's otherwise.

How many days were you without air conditioning while muddling along without progress? Anyone who convinces themselves to pursue they know nothing about, with the attitude "how hard could it be?" will usually be shocked to know indeed just how hard such things can be.

Hahaha wow, this little fella just doesn't quit. Ok here we go...

The house is vacant, I'm fixing it up to sell so I have as much time as I want. Days without AC are of absolutely no consequence. I'm more concerned about not spending money I don't have to. For this reason, I also painted the entire house myself (never done that before), fixed up some wooden posts on the porch with woodrot for about $30-40 after I was quoted at $1k (!!!) to do the job (never done woodwork), painted/repaired/installed some bi-fold doors, and replaced a toilet. Oh also did some landscaping. And besides all the money saved, it was quite enjoyable and rewarding work.

But yeah you're probably right, I should forget all that nonsense and just call "pros" to do everything! Because like you, I am made of money and completely incapable of learning! You know what they say happens when you make assumptions. I guess that's just another thing you went through life not learning, maybe there's an expert you can call for that too.

Thanks for the laugh :)