Your air conditioner has three main components that are critical to its operability. Those are the evaporator, the condenser, and last but not least, the air compressor. The compressor works like a bridge between the evaporator and condenser, so needless to say, it’s pretty important.
When the compressor runs into problems, your AC faces even bigger issues. But can you fix a leaking AC compressor? Does it require complete replacement? Let’s take a look.
Air Compressors Can Be Repaired … Sometimes
An air compressor undergoes a lot of strain in any air conditioning system. If your compressor is broken, your fans will still operate, but no air will come out of them. The source of the problem isn’t always clear, and your compressor can run into several different issues.
- Air Leak: This happens when tubing splits. If this is all the problem is, it can be repaired with little to no problem. You replace the tube, make sure it’s affixed properly, and that should be it. Of course, finding out which specific tube you need is another endeavor entirely.
- O-Ring Damage: Air compressors have O-rings that act as a seal. These are rubber and aren’t expected to last a very long time, but thankfully, they’re also not that expensive to replace. Just inconvenient.
- Low Refrigerant Levels: Your air conditioner has a closed-loop system of refrigerant. That means it runs through the same line over and over again, and there’s no room for any of it to evaporate or spill. Unless there’s a problem with the refrigerant line. Low levels of refrigerant can cause damage to your air compressor.
So How Do You Know if it’s the Compressor?
There are a few different ways you can tell if your compressor is the problem or not. These include, but aren’t limited to:
- Your AC Blowing Warm Air: Without sufficient air compression, you don’t get cool air. If your vents have warm air coming out, this could be it.
- Odd Noises: When air conditioners make strange clanging sounds and bumping noises, it’s never good. It could be indicative of a loose or broken part.
- Circuit Breaker Trips Often: If your AC is trying to run the compressor and it fails, it might draw more power than necessary just for that attempt. Then it pulls so much power that it trips the circuit breaker.
It Can Be Repaired, But It’s Not a DIY Job
Your air compressor might be able to be fixed, but it’s definitely not something you should run out and try to do yourself. It’s still a task that needs to be carried out by professional HVAC technicians.
However, it’s not uncommon for an air compressor to have enough damage that a replacement seems like a better option. Your technician will need to inspect your AC to be able to know for sure. Call us today to schedule an appointment so you can find out.
Contact us today to schedule your air conditioner repair as soon as possible. If your home had a voice … it would call First Choice!