Revised:
April 26th, 2023
It’s a nightmare when it’s the hottest part of summer and you’re dealing with your AC compressor not turning on. Your home starts heating up; and it seems that nothing can stop the sweating. You need your A/C unit fixed fast!
Hi, I’m Jimmy from Fire & Ice. As a residential service technician, I have helped thousands of Central Ohio homeowners get the most out of their HVAC system. At Fire & Ice we believe in giving our customers as much information as they need. In this video, we’re going to go over why your AC compressor isn’t turning on.
What Is An AC Compressor?
The compressor in your AC system works in a similar way to your heart, it is the “pump” that drives a liquid known as refrigerant through your AC. The AC compressor compresses the refrigerant and then pumps it to the indoor unit. Once there, the refrigerant absorbs the warmth that the house’s return air vents have pulled in and the now cooled air is recirculated. The refrigerant then passes back to the outside and the condensing unit expels that unwanted heat outdoors. Sort of like how your body sweats when you are hot.
How Long Does An AC Compressor Last?
AC compressors should last 10-15 years...but only if the air conditioner is regularly maintained. The compressor works hard and therefore deals with normal wear and tear, but it must work much, much harder when the air conditioning isn’t well-maintained. That increases the chances of you ending up with a failed compressor over time.
How Can I Tell If My AC Compressor Is Not Turning On?
There are several ways you can tell if your compressor isn’t working. The first and most obvious is that it’s silent. You will hear it when it’s running. It will sound like a mechanical pumping sound. The condenser fan stopping is also a sure sign of a failure. The next sign your compressor isn’t working right is that the circuit breaker keeps tripping. This could also be a sign of some larger electrical issues. Another warning sign is that room temperature air is coming from your vents.
Why might it stop working?
There are many reasons why your A/C compressor might stop working.
-Your compressor could shut down as a safety precaution if your system detects a major issue with the compressor or condensing coil.
-Your filter could be so dirty that it’s inhibiting the evaporator coil from working correctly.
- And speaking of coils, the condenser coil can become so dirty that it loses its ability to radiate heat from the indoor unit.
-Your refrigerant levels not being right can also cause the compressor to shut down.
- Finally, there could be electrical problems with your unit or you could have a capacitor that has failed.
-No matter the reason, we recommend you call a professional to handle any repairs. Some elements of your A/C systems can be incredibly dangerous to service if you don’t know what you are doing.
How to prevent breakdowns
Annual maintenance can catch a lot of these issues before they become serious. Once your compressor fails, repairs can range from $3,000 upwards. Which is why we recommend you have your HVAC system serviced twice a year. Once for the heating season and once for the cooling season. We also recommend that any major maintenance be performed by a licensed professional. This protects you and preserves your HVAC system’s warranty.
What are the next steps?
I hope by now you have a better understanding of why your AC compressor may not be functioning properly. If you’d like to schedule a service appointment for your system, click the schedule service button at the top of the screen. Thank you for watching and we look forward to making your day better.
