Shop Talk: The heart of the AC

The Heart of the AC: Compressors

When an AC unit shuts down, there can be a number of causes, but the most painful offender is compressor failure as it is the heart of the system.  At HTS, our promise is to deliver successful projects and our commitment to helping our customers balance costs.  The best way to help our customers avoid a hefty price tag is our dedication to quality preventative maintenance.

Other Parts to Consider:

First and foremost, check for the initial causes of compressor failure during preventative maintenance calls.  If these are discovered early on by a mechanical contractor, a service technician, or the facility maintenance crew, then these replacements and/or quick fixes can ultimately help our customers save a pretty penny.

• Dirty coils can force the unit to work harder than usual by consistently trying to keep the space cool.
• Blocked suction lines can cause overheating from excessive build-up.
• Low refrigerant charge, too much refrigerant, or the wrong type of refrigerant
• Incorrect suction line size may have been installed.
• Electrical problems results in a buildup of acids. Inspect for damaged wiring, fuses, and contactors.
• Contaminates in the system comes from the location of our of the system and maintenance of the fluids traveling through the system. Sometimes a few creepy crawlies or debris can make their way in, and this only calls for a clean-up.
• Inadequate oil lubricant is prevented by checking lubricant levels and the condition of the oil pump.

Replacing a Compressor?

The most important factor when replacing a compressor is being able to correctly identify the part.  Request photos from the client of data plate from the unit and the data plate from the compressor.  This will help the process go much quicker and will be more accurate.

• If the compressor is a single phase then a compressor contractor should be installed with the replacement compressor.
• If the compressor is tandem it is best to change out filter dries and provide an acid test on the system to insure that no contaminants are in the system.  Contaminants, moisture and acid in the line could and will damage the healthy compressor in the tandem set.

Key Points

Locating a “like for like” replacement will ensure that the customer is saving time and money on the installation and will reduce consuming more time with retrofitting piping, mounting and start up.

Additional warranty when available through the manufacturer.  Extended warranties provide customers with further assurance that if a manufacture’s defect occurs on a recently purchased compressor, a claim could be filed outside the standard period of 12 months.

Have all your supplies? Ensuring that you have all items on hand will make your next replacement go as smoothly as possible:

• Compressor contactors
• Filter driers
• Additional oil and refrigerant
• Dolly, pry lever and chain hoist to help with the ease of installation and minimize risk of injury.