A bad AC compressor can turn a nice day into an overheated nightmare. Your compressor is one of the most important parts of your cooling system and a common point of failure when things go wrong. Below are just a few symptoms that could indicate that your system is failing.
Signs of a Failing Compressor
In most cases, the first sign that you’ve got a bad compressor will be the fact that your system is blowing warm air. There are other causes, of course, but systems that are on the verge of compressor failure often start to blow warm air instead of cooling down your home. If you notice a sudden change from cold air to warm, there’s a very good chance that you’ll be dealing with a failed compressor in the near future.
You might also notice some power consumption problems if your compressor is in bad shape. If your circuit breaker is frequently tripped when your air conditioning unit is turned on, there’s a very good chance that your compressor is overheating and drawing in too much power. It’s very important that you don’t keep resetting your circuit breaker in this case – if your compressor stays in the state, you might be looking at a catastrophic failure.
Other signs are a little more dramatic. If you notice that your condensing unit is violently shaking every time that you turn on your air conditioning, there’s a chance that your compressor is having trouble turning on. Likewise, a nosy condensing unit can often be a sign that a compressor is starting to struggle. If you’re dealing with either of those signs, there’s a good chance that you’ll need someone to look at your air conditioning unit quickly.
The most dramatic sign of compressor failure, though, is that the compressor stops working altogether. There’s not a problem with the power supply and your indoor fan will keep blowing, but the compressor simply isn’t making any noise at all. If attempts to lower the thermostat aren’t met with any success, you’re probably looking at a compressor that has already failed.
If you think that your compressor isn’t in good shape, it’s better to call for AC repair sooner rather than later. As you can see from the information above, some of the problems that indicate a bad compressor can actually be quite dangerous. If you want to make sure you have a cool home and a working AC compressor, don’t delay – call O.C. McDonald at 408-295-2182 to get the help you need today.