Preventing Air Conditioning Failure

The key element in avoiding AC failure is the compressor. The compressor pumps refrigerant through the system to remove heat from your home. When an AC system fails, it most often is some problems with the refrigerant or compressor. An AC compressor should last 10 to 15 years.

 Dirty Compressors

Compressors can become dirty. They can accumulate a wide variety of debris, from wind-blown leaves and twigs to fouling from untrimmed vegetation near the unit. A dirty compressor can’t expel enough heat, so the AC runs constantly and the condenser can overheat and fail as a result. Keeping coils clean prevents this.

If the refrigerant lines are blocked, overheating can also result, with overheating and compressor failure. Cracks, or even holes in the coolant lines or other leaks can cause the coolant levels to drop too low, which means that the AC unit will have to overwork to cool the residence, and it may overheat and eventually fail. Over time, high temperatures and high pressures can degrade lines, sometimes causing leaks.

Level of Refrigerant

The proper level of refrigerant is extremely important. If an inexperienced technician adds too little or too much coolant, the unit will not function properly. Technicians may even add the wrong coolant, with unit failure likely. Sometimes the refrigerant lines need replacing. If the wrong size, either too large or too small, the efficient circulation of refrigerant is impaired and can cause serious damage to the compressor. Making sure any technician servicing your unit is qualified through training and experience goes a long way to preventing failure.

If the oil lubricant is too low, damage or failure can occur. If the electrical system in the residence is inadequate for the AC unit’s need, compressor failure is also likely. This can be checked before a unit is installed.

Paying attention to your AC unit is the best way to avoid expensive and inconvenient failure. Check with a professional like Brian’s Heating and Cooling for AC installation.