The compressor is essentially the crux of your HVAC system. They are responsible for the transfer of refrigerant from evaporator to condenser coil — ensuring that refrigerant gets converted to gas or liquid. But given that compressors hold such high priority within your HVAC system, how do you know if they’re operating at full capacity? Here’s how.
You’re Receiving Cool Air
If your compressor is operating at full capacity, you’re 100% going to be receiving cool air inside your home or office.
Compressors serve as the heart of your HVAC system. The purpose of compressors is to facilitate the heat transfer process out of your home/office. It pushes hot pressurized refrigerant to the condenser coils while pulling vaporized refrigerant from the evaporator coils.
This streamlined process ensures that a dwelling receives cool air while pushing hot air to the outside. Of course, this means if you are not receiving cool air, it’s a sign that your compressor — aka the heart of your system — may be failing.
Another possibility, however, is that you have a leak somewhere in your HVAC system — which would cause some of that precious chilled air to escape into other parts of your home rather than flowing through ductwork into rooms where people actually need it.
No Overheating from Your Compressor
If your compressor is overheating, guess what? We’ve got some bad news.
Overheating compressors can be caused by any number of factors. For HVAC units located outside, it can be caused by…
- Sunlight landing directly on the unit
- Dirt blocking the ventilation
- Leaves blocking the ventilation
- Other outside debris obstructing your HVAC system’s operation
- High voltage
- Lack of refrigerant
Avoid these at all costs and your compressor won’t overheat!
No Hard Starts
Have you ever heard your compressor make a loud “jump” kind of sound? Perhaps it’s a sign of hard starts creeping onto your compressor. You should make sure that your compressor isn’t making any loud noises, hard starts or unusual sounds. If you notice a hum coming from the unit when it’s running, this could be an indication of trouble. If there are vibrations at any point during operation, it’s possible that compression failure is impending.
Your Condenser Coils Are Clean
As previously stated, there is a relationship between condenser coils and your compressor. If your condenser coils are not clean, the debris blocking them can cause the condenser to overheat — thus putting excess pressure on the compressor itself.
Inspect for signs of wear-and-tear such as dents in coils; leaking refrigerant lines; rusting metal components like screws; damaged electrical wiring connectors including switches and circuit breakers; corroded compressor shaft bearings; low refrigerant levels caused by evaporation due to condenser coil leaks from lack of maintenance over time (this happens more often than people realize!).
Compressor Maintenance at XTRAIRE
Making sure your HVAC system is in good working order is a core tenet here at XTRAIRE. Serving Long Island since 1986, our trained technicians are devoted to helping you achieve the best indoor air quality possible. To learn more about our services, please visit our website and get in touch with us today!