The compressor is arguably one of the most essential components of an HVAC system. It dictates your comfort quality and ensures other aspects of your system work harmoniously. If you’re asking, “How do I know if my AC compressor is bad?” you may be worried about recent symptoms.
BVS Home Experts’ leading AC repair technician in Katy, TX, offered a detailed response below. Find out why your compressor might be on the fritz and what you can do about it.
What Is a Compressor?
Like the human body, HVAC systems rely on numerous components to function properly. Think of these parts like organs. While you have a heart, your air conditioner has a compressor.
The compressor assists in processing refrigerant. Located in the outdoor air unit, it takes low-pressure liquid refrigerant and compresses it into a high-pressure gas. From there, the condenser removes heat from the gaseous substance, allowing it to move through your air conditioning system once more to gather excess heat.
If compressors are the hearts of AC systems, then refrigerants are the circulating blood. When either of these elements works incorrectly, it affects the entire system’s performance and prevents it from cooling effectively.
What Causes an Air Conditioner Compressor to Fail in Katy, Texas?
Katy, Texas, has mild, short winters and intense summers. Heat indexes are in the triple digits from July through August. Therefore, you want to ensure your Katy residence’s HVAC system can cool your home.
As residential air conditioning units navigate Katy summers, they often need more frequent repair and maintenance services. Thus, compressor problems aren’t uncommon for homeowners who skip professional assistance. You’ll find some of the most common reasons for compressor issues below.
Exposed Wires
The outdoor air conditioning unit is not spared from the Texan elements. The sun beats down on it, and rain and temperature fluctuations can also influence its materials’ integrity.
Electrical wires feature a tough, protective coating to prevent wear, tear, and disconnection. However, that coating will eventually succumb to the hot Katy summers and cause:
- Electrical shorts from the copper wires touching other metal materials.
- Wire corrosion that leads to electrical disruptions.
Both issues can make your compressor work improperly or stop functioning.
Overworked Components
One or multiple components may have small issues that you don’t immediately notice. As time passes, these problems grow, decreasing the affected parts’ functions and putting more stress on others. This snowball effect can culminate in an overworked blower motor or capacitor.
As you fight the intense Katy, Texas, heat, your HVAC system already works overtime. Couple the hard work with a lack of consistent maintenance, and you have a recipe for disaster. After all, the compressor works in tandem with numerous components, and any malfunction can send it into a tailspin.
Refrigerant Leaks
Since the compressor primarily processes refrigerant, it makes sense that low refrigerant levels or leaks will influence its performance. Refrigerant transports cool air throughout your Katy household and removes heat. When levels are too low, the compressor will work harder than necessary to push refrigerant through the system.
Quickly addressing refrigerant problems can keep you from shelling out lots of money for a new compressor.
How Do I Know If My AC Compressor Is Bad?
The average compressor can last up to 20 years. Therefore, you shouldn’t have to replace it until you install a new HVAC system. However, a lack of AC maintenance, lackadaisical repairs, and persistent use can significantly shorten its lifespan.
Ask an HVAC company, like BVS Home Experts in Katy, Texas, for an evaluation if:
- Your HVAC breakers keep tripping: If the compressor or any other component works too hard, it demands more electricity. This can overload your electrical network, triggering routine breaker trips.
- The vents blow lukewarm air: Your air conditioner might cycle even with low refrigerant levels. However, the air from your ducts won’t significantly impact the internal temperature.
- The outdoor unit vibrates during cycles: If you walk outside and hear rattling or rumbling, look around the corner to check the outdoor unit. Your compressor may fail shortly if the whole unit vibrates.
- You discover puddles around your outdoor unit: The outdoor unit produces a small amount of condensation that should quickly evaporate. However, puddles of stagnant water that never fully dry can indicate frozen or dirty parts caused by or contributing to compressor problems.
You might notice other less obvious concerns like restricted airflow and uneven cooling throughout your home. Each symptom is a signal from your air conditioner. If you want to beat the summer heat in Katy, Texas, contact a reputable HVAC company to evaluate and repair the compressor.
How to Protect My Air Conditioner Compressor
Although only air conditioner experts should handle repairs and most maintenance duties, you can add a few housekeeping tasks to your chore list that may circumvent avoidable compressor problems. The below-listed suggestions might protect your air conditioner while maintaining your indoor comfort:
- Filter replacements: Fresh filters are essential for indoor air quality and system performance. Consult with a technician about the optimal replacement frequency for your home.
- Housecleaning: Regularly dust and sweep your house a few times a week to eliminate debris that might make your filter prematurely dirty. You’ll also eliminate particles that might enter your system and clog various components.
- Giving your system a break: Rising temperatures put increasing strain on air conditioners. This goes double for households in Katy, Texas. Let your system rest during mild spring and autumn weather by turning it off and opening windows and doors for air circulation instead.
- Proactive landscaping and lawn maintenance: Clean up grass cuttings and fallen branches near the outdoor unit. Avoid covering the system with shrubs and other foliage to ensure it can adequately breathe.
