What cases the outside unit of a central air not to kick on when the inside is blowing air?

It could be several things. If you can listen to it outside while someone else turns it on inside and you hear a lugging sound it probably compressor related, but if it clicks and nothing else it could be a capacitor and if nothing happens it could possibly be the wire that leds to the thermostat inside your home but if the blower inside is working it is more often one of the first two. In any of these cases it is prob gonna require a technician. Beware most times they want to fix more than just the broken part. $$$$What cases the outside unit of a central air not to kick on when the inside is blowing air?
If it's cooling the house it's working properly. It's kind of hard to explain but if the refrigerant in the unit is cold enough to cool the house, the outside unit wont come on until the refrigerant needs to be cooled to work.What cases the outside unit of a central air not to kick on when the inside is blowing air?
It might not run if it is too cold outside. It might be in defrost. I say that because we had a dusting of snow last night and I can't remember when that last happened in April. Some years we have no snow. So if you are testing in the cold, it might be too cold.





Other than that remember the outdoor unit is powered up separately to the indoor air handler. There is a separate box on the outside with a breaker or fuses and on/off. And on your breaker box there is a dedicated breaker, very large double, 50-60 amp likely.





Start there.





Good Luck