Hi, I am having a problem with my home a/c. Ive been having to reset the high press. control reset button on the side of my outside condensor unit lately. Ive noticed that the fan is having difficulty starting up and requires a push to start. Does this mean my fan motor is on its way out, possibly a dead spot in the motor, causing it to trip the high pressure control function? or do I have other issues? Its a Reem 14 seer, model # rapa-042jazThanks Darrell

The red button in the outdoor unit is a manual reset high pressure safty switch. It means something is causing excessive pressure within the system. A dirty outside coil will cause excessive pressure. Has it been washed out lately ?? Also a condensor fan motor that is overheating and stopping will also cause excessive pressure.

You have a condition that needs to be addressed by a different service company than who you've had looking at it before. They are overlooking the obvious.

If you are talking about the condensor that sits outside,there are high pressure and low pressure devices that have a red button on the top of them, turn off power and push the button. They are sometines located inside the unit under the fan. Generally there are none and the unit has internal overloads that kick it out. they reset themselves after the compressor cools down. If it resets after cooling down then ask yourself why it got hot. use a hose and clean the coils around the unit.sometimes helps. make sure fan is running on the condensor outside. It should come on first.

Hi,
What you are hearing is the contactor clicking...trying to turn on the compressor...
Check for 220v power across the 2 poles of the contactor on the incoming side and then check the out going side if you have power...thinking that there is no power to the unit..

heatman101

Hi, there is no reset button for your high pressure switch. You need to see if you have lost power to the unit. Check the circuit breaker. By the unit, you will have a electrical box, disconnect. Raise the cover and pull the plug. You should have 2- fuses there, most do. If you can't see any go one step further by removing the plastic cover and see if they are in there. If so, try replacing both fuses. This is where you need to start. You will have high voltage to the unit such as 208/230 and control voltage from the stat and indoor unit of 24 volts. Find out and make sure you have high voltage first and let me know. Use my user name below, and get back to me, we may have to go into it more.
Sincerely,
Shastalaker7
A/C, Heating, & Refrigeration Contractor

if it is a split system that is permanently installed in your house the reset button will always be near the compressor so that means on the outside unit somewhere, you probably wont need to remove any screws to get to it. but before you press that button and think all is well, why did the reset button trip? answer> because it is a high pressure cut off. your unit probably reached over 350psi on the high side line or possibly even higher. that is not good. you may have a dirty condenser coil (outside) and you can just hose that out with a garden hose (pull the disconnect first). or you may have a rotting out coil if your unit is old or you live less than 5 miles from the ocean. Or you may have a bad condenser (outside) fan motor. check that out. if it overloads again after hitting the reset (which this unit may not even have, not all units have these just the higher end ones) well if it does overload again call a licensed ac guy trust me it will cost you less in the long run.

outside fuses are blown on condensor unit at dissconect

The older unit have a High pressure reset at the outside unit, About center bottom by the copper lines. Push to see if it starts. If it resets you may have a dirty condensor coil. Wash good with water hose. Turn power to outside unit of first.

press and hold the 2 outside buttons( the quick freeze and chill)

You need to pull the condenser shroud and hose down the outside unit really, really well and I can't stress that enough. The pressure switch helps protect the outdoor unit. There are only two things that will cause this to trip.....dirty condenser coils and a blockage in the high side of the unit. On a Ruud, to clean it good, you have to remove the shroud.

turn fan switch at stat to on . does fan run? it should within 2 to 3 minutes if not sooner. if it does then you know you have low voltage and high voltage a blower and electronic brain . go outside and see of you hear a hum like a faint buzz. that is the contactor being closed and energized. check to see if outdoor disconnect has power ,usually 220 volts and then remove service panel and see if 220 volts arrives at contactor. see if spring loaded contactor points are pulled in and check to see if voltage is feeding through contactor . this will be hot! be sure you know how to use a meter and work live power. if contactor is not pulled in then you have a control voltage problem and you have to get 24 volts from stat to indoor blower to outdoor condensor. with and insulated screwdriver you can simply mash in on the contactor points and fan and compressor should run . only do this for a second or two, but it does simply say hey contactors open, ive got power and it will run but no controll volytage.IF ITS A RUUD OR A RHEEM SOME OF THEM HAVE A RESET BUTTON DOWN WHERE THE REF LINES GO IN . MASH IT IN AND IT MAY RESET, THEYTRIP OFF HIGH PRESSURE, DIRTY FILTER OR COIL IN HEAT OR A BAD FAN MOTOR OUTSIDE IN COOL.