Air Conditioning Repair: Understanding The Signs Of A Failing HVAC Compressor | Frisco, TX
Air conditioning appliances are necessary during summer, as almost 90 percent of homes use them for cooling. One of the worst things to happen during the hot days in Texas is to have a failing HVAC unit and start searching for air conditioning repair services. Air conditioners break down if homeowners barely invest in maintenance and tune-ups and hire cheap services from quacks for installation and repairs.
Compressors, the heart of air conditioners, can also be the culprit when your AC fails to operate at peak performance. They need frequent servicing, cleaning, and inspections, at least bi-annually.
Without the tune-ups, the compressing unit can ultimately fail, halting the cooling process until an air conditioner repair expert arrives to fix or replace it.
Compressor failure is an emergency that qualified HVAC professionals can tackle if contacted on time. Otherwise, you might have to dig deeper into your pockets to get a new unit, which is very costly.
Therefore, it is wise to learn the following signs of a malfunctioning compressor to guide you when to call for urgent repair services.
Weak or Less Airflow
One of the essential responsibilities of a compressing unit in the air conditioner is to generate cold air. If operating seamlessly, the appliance supplies sufficient airflow that ensures thermal comfort indoors when the outside is scorching hot.
Sometimes, the cold air flowing from the AC can be less or weak, unable to satisfy the cooling needs of your family members. There are many reasons behind the less airflow, among them a failing compressing unit.
Once you realize the air conditioner is running, but your house remains hot with high levels of thermal discomfort, calling an HVAC specialist from a nearby reliable company for air conditioning repair services is necessary.
The experts in the HVAC field can start by finding the issue causing the weak airflow that eventually makes the compressor fail. They can link the insufficient airflow to the following problems.
- Leaking air ducts: If the ductwork has holes and cracks allowing conditioned air to flow outside instead of the intended space, the compressor struggles to provide enough cool air.
- Clogged air filters: dirty filters restrict air from reaching the compressor, making it strain to generate enough cool air that meets your cooling needs.
- Fan problems due to build-up dirt: They can also affect the optimal operation of the compressor, which operates at a reduced speed, generating weak airflow to your home, hence the hot and cold spots.
- Dirty condenser coils: These can also make the compressor fail to operate efficiently and provide inadequate conditioned air in your home. The accumulated grime, dust, and debris make it impossible for condenser coils to pressurize the compressor.
After pinpointing the root cause of the weak airflow, the air conditioning repair professional can clean the air filters, condenser coils, and fans to restore their peak efficiency in providing enough cool air. If the air ducts are leaking, the HVAC technicians will use the right tools and materials to seal them, ensuring all the vital parts of the AC, including the compressor, are seamless.
Weird Noises
Most high-efficiency cooling units operate more silently than the conventional types that produce some sounds. After hearing the same sound whenever your system is on, you get used to it with time.
Once you hear strange noises from your AC, you will immediately tell there is a problem that needs fixing. Mostly the weird noises from the compressor unit indicate issues that require immediate fixing by an air conditioning repair contractor.
Some of the sounds from the compressor include:
- Banging noise: loud banging noises from the compressor are a sign of loose parts, including a piston pin, screws, connector rod, and damaged components inside. They create a banging sound whenever the unit is operational by repeatedly hitting other parts.
- Squealing sounds: an irritating squealing noise from the compressing unit indicates high-pressure build-up and a looming explosion.
- Hissing noises: an air conditioning repair professional can link the hissing sounds from your compressor to leaks in the valves that control refrigerant pressurization.
- Shrieking sounds: the hissing noise in the compressor can change to produce shrieking noises that indicate higher pressure in the compressing unit.
- Clicking noise: the compressor can produce clicking sounds when the relay switch or capacitors are faulty. The clicks are a sign of electrical woes that can eventually lead to more electric issues and a failed system.
Issues affecting the compressor can turn severe faster, hence requiring urgent air conditioning repair services. The banging, clicking, hissing, squealing, or shrieking sounds from the outdoor compressing equipment indicate a problem you should never take lightly.
Failure to seek air conditioning repair services can lead to a complete breakdown. The loud squealing sound in the compressing unit that lasts up to 10 minutes is so dangerous that the technician you contact can advise you to shut your system down immediately to avoid an explosion.
If the compressor is old and worn out, the air conditioning repair contractors can recommend a new one before the one you have completely shut down. Since purchasing a compressing unit alone can be too costly, sometimes the expert can suggest you go for a more advanced and highly efficient system instead of replacing the compressor.
Low Refrigerant Levels
Another sign of a failing compressor that can take homeowners time to notice is low coolant in the system. It is an issue that happens behind the scenes. Still, its effects can damage the entire compressor and air conditioner, leaving you and your family to endure heat stress due to prolonged exposure to high temperatures. The refrigerant in the air conditioner is factory set to last as long as the system is operational.
When the air conditioning repair professionals notice it is insufficient to cool the compressor and run the AC, they know it is leaking. An undercharged compressor can suddenly break down because the coolant is inadequate to cool it down during the cooling cycle.
The root causes of refrigerant leaks in an air conditioner include:
- Wear and tears due to the aging system
- Pin holes forming in the copper tubing due to formic acid
- Corroded parts in the refrigerant line
Though noticing the leak might take a while for amateurs, the following indicators of an undercharged compressor can compel you to call for air conditioning repair services, regardless.
- Less or significantly reduced cooling capacity coming from the unit unable to cool your home.
- The AC takes longer than usual to provide sufficient coolness
- Ice builds up in the system due to freezing evaporator coils
- Unusual and high-pitched hissing or bubbling sounds
- Water leaks around the unit
- Higher indoor humidity levels
An air conditioner repair expert can fix the low refrigerant levels by refilling it to the factory-set limit to restore the optimal efficiency of the compressor and AC. The professional can choose from diverse coolant options, including chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), and Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), giving more weight to the types with minimal effects on the ozone layer.
After refilling the coolant, the HVAC specialist can check the compressor discharge temperature, outlet temperatures of the condenser and evaporator, and compressor in temperature, amps, and volts to ensure they are optimal to run the AC efficiently. Homeowners who get unqualified technicians to fill the coolant risk having an overcharged system due to adding excess refrigerant.
Overheating Compressor
Moreover, you can tell your compressor is almost failing when it overheats. Before burning out, you will notice your AC has performance issues such as low cooling capacity that need air conditioning repair services. Numerous aircon issues can make compressors installed outdoors in homes have excess discharge pressure and irregular suction in the system, leading to overheating.
The compressing equipment overheats as a result of the mishaps below.
- Dirty condenser coils:
- Inconsistent condenser fan
- Undersized condenser
- Poor installation or fitting of the discharge line
- Failed metering devices
- Clogged air filters
- Low refrigerant
- Inadequate cooling space for the compressor to vent
- Worn-out compressor due to frequent use that overworks to meet your cooling needs.
- Installing the system directly under the sun
- Lack of lubrication makes metal parts strike each other as the system operates.
- A faulty thermal valve leads to heating problems in the compressor.
Burning-out compressors require air conditioning repair services that prevent the unit from a complete breakdown. Since detecting if a compressor is overheating can take time for people who rarely check on their outdoor HVAC units, they should never overlook the following signs.
- The compressor does not turn on as expected
- The unit takes long durations than usual to complete cooling cycles
- Tripping circuit breaker to prevent electrical fires
- Smells and noises indicate oil erosion and insufficient lubrication of moving parts.
Qualified and skilled HVAC contractors can use their knowledge, experience, and expertise in air conditioning repair to rectify the compressor before it malfunctions due to overheating. They can improve ventilation around the outdoor unit, refill oils for adequate lubrication, and ensure the air ducts are operating seamlessly.
The experts can replace all worn-out parts, clean dirty and clogged components like air filters and condenser coils, replace the lost coolant, and fix the metering devices in AC.
Warm Air from an AC Unit
When your air conditioner system supplies warm air in your house instead of cold air during summer, it indicates a problem with the compressor that needs fixing as soon as possible. The warmth from the unit increases thermal discomfort and heat-related deaths and illnesses, such as heat exhaustion and heat strokes during the summer heat.
Calling for air conditioning repair services immediately after you realize your AC is not providing the much-needed conditioned cold air can lower the risk of vulnerable members of your family suffering from the disease. There are multiple reasons your compressor can malfunction and affect the optimal performance of the air conditioner, including:
- Frozen evaporator coils
- Dirty or clogged air filters that limit the air reaching the refrigerant
- Unclean condenser coils
- Fan problems that can affect the performance of the compressor
- Clogged drain lines
Fortunately, experienced air conditioning repair professionals can clean the dirty parts, replace damaged parts that are beyond repair, and fix minor issues affecting the efficiency of the compressor. Failure to make the necessary tune-ups and cleaning or replacements can ultimately lead to the sudden malfunctioning of the compressing unit.
High Energy Bills
The last sign of failing compressors in homes is skyrocketing energy bills. HVAC units consume a lot of power, which accounts for barely 6 percent of the electricity produced in the country. However, when the air conditioner is inefficient due to a failing compressor and other issues, it increases utility bills.
Noticing the problems early for timely air conditioning repair services can lower energy costs. Your electricity bills can skyrocket due to the following issues.
- Clogged or dirty air filters restrict clean air from getting to vital parts of the unit.
- Failing capacitors, motors, and other electrical issues in the compressing appliance.
- Decreasing refrigerant in the system leads to an undercharged compressor
- Worn out units
- Poor installation
- Too much refrigerant in the unit
- Lack of periodic maintenance
All the above issues can make the compressor and other AC components work harder to provide thermal comfort on hot summer days. As the system overworks, it consumes more energy to meet your family’s cooling needs. That’s why people keen on their monthly electricity usage can notice a problem and seek air conditioning repair services than those that don’t.
The HVAC technicians from the best company can fix the problem perfectly, saving your unit from failure and you from spending too much on cooling bills.
Do You Have Any AC Issues That Need Quality Repair Services?
If your air conditioner is not performing at its peak, you should not hesitate to call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas for premier air conditioning repair services. We are an HVAC company addressing the cooling and heating needs of residential and commercial clients since 1988.
Our skilled, licensed, and insured air conditioning repair contractors receive ongoing training on the latest developments in the HVAC industry and use more advanced tools to provide exceptional services. So, whenever you experience a hitch with your heating and cooling appliances, One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas is here to help.
See our recent blog on this topic here.