The need for an air conditioner in summers is obvious. Nobody wants to roast in the heat at home or, for that matter, even in the office or anywhere else. Now, you don’t really have any control over what happens in places other than your home. So trying to create the most relaxing and comforting ambiance in your abode is the best possible solution. An air conditioner is the center point of this cool comfort. It becomes extremely frustrating if the AC conks off at this time. However, if you are vigilant and pay heed to the signs that the AC displays, such situations can be avoided. Usually, an air conditioner will give several warning signals of problems developing inside it. If ignored, these issues escalate in proportion leading to the shutting down of the equipment.
One of the most common problem areas of the air conditioner is the compressor. It is the heart of your cooling unit and is tasked with pressurizing the refrigerant. When the refrigerant is adequately pressurized, only then can it absorb the heat from the air and make it cooler. A broken or faulty compressor is an expensive repair, one that may force you to buy a new cooling unit altogether. Therefore, it becomes all the more important to understand those signs, which indicate a failing compressor.
5 Signs That You Need AC Compressor Repair
If at any time your cooling unit displays any or more of these symptoms, it’s time that you need an AC compressor repair. But before we begin, remember that you need to get a qualified HVAC technician to validate the problem.
1. The Compressor Shakes On Starting – Under normal circumstances, the compressor does not jolt or shake the unit when starting. If the one in your AC is doing that, it means the compressor is finding it difficult to turn on. This phenomenon is also known as “Hard Starting”. If you ignore the problem at the onset, there is a very high chance that it will damage some costly parts of the unit, so much so that your only option remaining would be to buy a new compressor to replace the busted one. Sometimes the problem is as simple as a faulty relay switch, so it makes no sense to let the issue fester until it completely destroys the compressor. At the first sign of this trouble, switch off the AC and call your local HVAC contractor for AC compressor repair.
2. Warm Air Blows From The Unit – Despite the correct thermostat settings, if the air coming out of the AC is warm and cool, it points towards the fact that the compressor has lost its cooling efficiency. Mostly, this happens when there is a refrigerant leak. There could be other reasons as well, but in either case, you will have to call in the experts. Only a qualified and experienced technician can figure out the exact cause and take remedial actions. Even in the case of a refrigerant leak first, the source of the leak will have to be identified and plugged. Once that is done, the refrigerant will need topping. Both these activities can only be undertaken by an HVAC technician.
3. Abnormal Noises – Rattling, rumbling, and other similarly strange noises coming from the compressor are cause for concern. These indicate that there is some loose part inside the unit, which is thrashing around and damaging other components. It could even be the fan motor, which has somehow got dislodged from its original position. If you ignore these sounds, the strain on the system could become a cause for the compressor failure. The good news is that usually, this is not a very expensive fix, so it must be addressed posthaste. The bad news is that it is not a DIY activity, so you will have to call the AC technician to repair the fault.
4. Circuit Breaker Trips Frequently – When the compressor overheats, it trips the circuit breaker. As a result, the outdoor unit loses power. The reasons for overheating could be many like a power surge, refrigerant leak, loose wiring, malfunction of the fan motor, and so on. The important thing is that the circuit breaker trips to prevent any fire. Constantly resetting the breaker is, therefore, not a good solution. What you need is a full and final fix so that there is no tripping. The first step in ensuring that is to switch off the power supply to your AC so that there is no potential hazard. Next, call your technician to come and fix the problem. Once AC compressor repair is done, the air conditioner should work as well as before.
5. Compressor Fails To Start – The thermostat is set correctly, and the fan of the indoor unit is running fine, but when you go out to the condenser unit, the compressor appears to be completely silent. If that is the case, first go back to your thermostat and try lowering the temperature a couple of degrees. If the compressor still does not kick in, it could have already failed. Then again, this is a decision that you cannot take on your own. An HVAC technician will have to validate your finding. Once the technician agrees, your next step is to make a repair or replace decision. In the case of aging units, “Replace” is a more viable option.
Conclusion And The Lesson
AC compressors do go bad in spite of regular maintenance and adequate care. Mostly, the faults are small and quickly dealt with. The real problem arises when we ignore the signs of abnormal activity and let matter become more complicated. So the lesson is to never ignore any untoward noise or occurrence in your AC. At the very first sign of trouble, call the experts. The quicker you take action, the lesser is the repair cost and vice-versa.
Residents of West Palm Beach, Florida, need not look any further than Aztil Air Conditioning for all their cooling needs. Our expert technicians will take care of all the maintenance and repair needs of your home or office air conditioner. You can reach us anytime at +1-888-729-8452.
