Homeowners Learn More Here About AC System Compressor Replacements
Before you spend thousands for a replacement compressor you need to evaluate the replacement financially.Learn what AC contractors should do to insure a successful replacement and long life of your system before giving any AC contractor your hard earned money.
There are a few things you need to know and understand about an AC system compressor failure first and I will explain in detail what the typical reasons are for AC system compressor failures.
AC system compressors are designed to give years of trouble free operation and service. Many AC system compressors have run for over 30 years without failures. This is especially true with home refrigerators and freezers. I have known of domestic freezers lasting 40 years! The difference in a compressor in a refrigerator and a home air conditioning system is quite important to understand. The refrigerator is built in a factory under careful quality control measures and supervision. The home AC system how ever is installed by a AC service technician and service company. One of the major problems in the home air conditioning industry is lack of qualified AC service technicians and AC service companies who want to perform quality work and have a high level of skill and knowledge. The pride of being a "Master Craftsman" has all but vanished from the AC industry. Much of the this problem lies with AC service companys who push their technicians very hard to perform in volume and not in quality. I see this all the time as I have inspected new home AC installations and AC systems that have been repaired.
AC system compressors fail for three basic reasons. Two of these reasons are preventable and one is not.
1) Electrical Problems due to problems from the utility provider and lighting storms. These problems cannot be eliminated completely no matter what anyone tells you. Lighting produces very high electrical surges and energy levels that can destroy not only AC system components but any electrical consuming device in your home. At my house I turn off all electrical power during very severe lighting storms by turning off the power at the main breaker in the electrical panel. Sounds pretty crazy! I have not experienced a failure from any electrical storms while my neighbor next to me had her AC unit compressor and disconnect destroyed during a very bad storm we had.
2) Incorrect Installation and Short Cuts- This is where service companies and service technicians create many problems with an AC systems function and useful life. Many service companies today continue to misapply AC systems by not sizing the system correctly and in most cases where I have inspected a home that has experience multiple system failures I have found the AC system to be oversized. This causes short cycling as well as the system operating many hours in a non-design condition. Another problem I see is mismatched system components that not only causes the system to operate poorly but has adverse impact on energy as well. One of the most common and serious items is the process of start-up after the system has been installed. For an AC system to operate at its full potential and efficiency the system has to be evacuated and de-hydrated for several hours. I recommend that a system be evacuated for no less than 8 hours with ambient temperatures in and above the 70 degree range to help with moisture removal from the system. Any mositure left is a AC system will created numerous problems over time. Moisture causes acid and sludge in the refrigerant system that can stop up metering devices and attack the insulation of the motor windings. Any degradation of the insulation of the motor windings can cause a motor failure by shorting the motor windings together or to ground. This in turns creates a very high level of acid and acidic compounds that will contaminate the entire system if not properly addressed during a compressor replacement.
3) Poor Maintenance and Ignoring Problems- This item should not be a surprise to anyone. Just like your home or automobile the AC system requires some level of maintenance to insure the longevity and performance of the AC system. The number one and most basic maintenance task a homeowner can perform is to change the air filter regularly. Keeping a clean filter in the AC system not only insures the proper air flow throughout the home it also insures that the compressor will not be damaged by what is known as " Refrigerant Floodback". When an Ac system has a dirty air filter the airflow across the evaporator coil is reduced. This not only causes a lower amount of air to be delivered to the home but also caused the evaporator coil to operate at a much lower temperature which can ice to form on the evaporator coil. If this occurs the compressor is mostly likely getting a mixture of refrigerant vapor and liquid to the suction side of the compressor. This will cause the suction and discharge valves to fail resulting in a total compressor replacement. Another area where homeowners can save money and the expense of a system failure is to have the unit serviced and the coils cleaned regularly. This simple and affordable maintenance measure can save you thousands of dollars in system repair bills but in energy as well.
Homeowners no matter what you have heard about different brands and manufactures of AC systems and components no AC system is designed to fail. But what you need to know and understand is that no matter how much money you spend on one AC system or another will NOT insure that you system will last longer than a system that cost a lost less verses one that cost three times as much. Any AC system can and will deliver good performance and last a long time if the system is selected correctly and installed with care and all manufacture guidelines followed. Anyone who is trying to sell you a complete AC system cheap and installing it in 4 hours is NOT doing you favor but rather setting you up for some expensive repair bills down the road.
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