III. Motor Hums
Why does the motor hum? Because it doesn’t know the words…. Sorry, just had
to say that.
Humming motors is typical of a failed motor. Can internal parts be replaced? If a
tech was trying to save the motor he might start with a new discharge capacitor.
But other parts also can be near failure including bearings. Because of the
possibilities, most techs will opt to replace the motor rather than having it rebuilt.
A major reason is economics; both for the tech and the homeowner. If the
customer pays the cost of removing, rebuilding, and installing the motor and then
a couple months later it fails, who is to blame? The homeowner will place the
fault on the techs shoulders. So in an effort by the tech to save the customer
money turns out to create friction between tech and homeowner. Whereas
replacing the motor with new makes the failure a remote possibility.
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