Failing Capacitor - Why?
I have owned my home for two years. The Lennox HP26-036-7P is 10+ years old. After being here for a year, I figured I should have the system checked out (routine maintenance). The technician installed a hard-start kit and replaced the dual run capacitor, after explaining the existing capacitor was weak. I can only assume the existing capacitor was the original, but I don't know for sure.
Fast forward several months. I noticed the compressor would start and very shortly thereafter, shut down. When this occurred, the fan was not operating.
I called the same HVAC company and they determined the dual run capacitor had failed. This is the capacitor they installed a few months prior. The system was working fine when they replaced the capacitor. The technician agreed to replace the capacitor under warranty (plus a charge for the service call) but said the new replacement part will not be covered unless I allow them to install a $250 surge protector. I quickly determined the surge protector was available online for less than $50, so I declined.
Last week, about three months from the previous occurrence, the capacitor failed again (same symptoms as the previous failure, so I assumed the problem was the same). I sourced a replacement capacitor locally and replaced it myself. The system is working fine again.
Admittedly, I have not yet installed a surge protector but could this really be what's causing these capacitors to fail? I can only assume the original capacitor survived for 10+ years and now two (Chinese) replacement capacitors have failed within a few months time.
Basically, I'm trying to determine why these capacitors are failing. Could the fan motor be on its way out? Is it really the lack of a surge protector? Could it be inferior Chinese replacement parts?
TIA.
Tipsy
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