It’s that time of year again when your AC system must work especially hard to keep your Lorain home comfortable. All of that hard work takes a toll on your AC and could lead to malfunctions and breakdowns if your AC isn’t well maintained. One of the primary parts of your AC unit responsible for home cooling is often one of the most misdiagnosed when something goes wrong with the AC. Have you been told that a new AC compressor is your best option? Here’s what to consider:
What Does the AC Compressor Do?
The AC compressor prepares refrigerant to transfer and release the heat energy absorbed from the warm air in your home to the outdoor air. By compressing cold refrigerant in a gaseous state, the refrigerant becomes superheated and changes to a hot liquid as it enters the outdoor condenser and releases heat.
A Bad Compressor or a Misdiagnosis?
There’s a very important component of your AC system called the thermal expansion valve (TXV) that helps the compressor do its job more efficiently. The TXV precisely controls how much refrigerant is released into the evaporator and helps prevent liquid refrigerant from entering the compressor and damaging it.
Your HVAC technician must correctly diagnose the problem, whether it’s a bad compressor, a bad TXV, or some other problem like low refrigerant. If the root of the problem isn’t addressed, you’re going to be in the same boat again very soon.
Considerations for a New AC Compressor
If you do have a bad compressor, your options tend to be to install only a new AC compressor, install a new compressor/condensing unit, or install an entirely new AC unit both inside and outside.
If your AC system is still under warranty, you may be best served installing only a new compressor and paying only for labor. If your warranty has expired, you’re probably better off installing a new compressor/condensing unit or a whole new AC system. Replacing only the compressor will just give you a one- or two-year warranty.
For an expert eye to determine if you need a new AC compressor, contact Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning!
Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area