• Biltmore AZ Central Air Conditioning Services
• Biltmore AZ AC
• Biltmore AZ Heat Pumps
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• Biltmore AZ Water Pipe Leaks
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• Biltmore AZ Hot Water Recirculation
• Biltmore AZ Air Conditioning Contractor Repairs
• Biltmore AZ AC Coil Cleaning Tips
• Biltmore AZ Drain Sewer Cleaning Toilet Un-Plug Tips
• Biltmore AZ Sewer Service Main Sewer Line Repair Tips
• Biltmore AZ AC Repairs Air Conditioner Compressor Tips

COMPRESSOR CONDENSER - A/C Compressor & Condenser Inspection, Defects, & Compressor Replacement

• Air conditioner compressor defect diagnosis
• Air conditioning compressor noises
• Air conditioning compressor hard-starting
• Lost of cooling capacity
• When is a compressor at or near end of its life?

This chapter of "How to Inspect the Central Air Conditioning or Cooling System" discusses the detection of defects in air conditioning compressor and condensing units, including evaluation of air conditioner compressor noises, hard starting, lost cooling capacity, and detection of a burned out compressor or A/C compressors at or near end of their life. Maintenance tips including attention to compressor support pads and avoiding air conditioning refrigerant leaks are addressed.

If readers return to the first chapter or view the A/C chapter index, the major components of an air conditioning system are described, sketches and photographs are provided, and common defects for each component are listed along with visual or other clues that may suggest a problem or probable failure of A/C components. We explain how an air conditioning service technician will diagnose certain common air conditioning system failures or defects. We include photographs to assist readers in recognizing cooling system defects.

This paper describes the inspection of residential air conditioning systems (A/C systems) to inform home buyers, owners, and home inspectors of common cooling system defects. Example home inspection report language is provided to describe common air conditioning system defects. We continue to add to and update this text as new details are provided. Contact us to suggest text changes and additions and, if you wish, to receive online listing and credit for that contribution. © Copyright 2007 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use the links at page left to navigate this document or to go to Other Website Topics. Blue links at bottom show where you are in our document & website. What are the Components of the Outdoor Portion of a Central Air Conditioning System - the Air Conditioning Compressor Unit?

The (usually) outdoor half of a typical air conditioning system is a unit containing the refrigerant compressor and condensing coil. The compressor draws refrigerant gas from the building's inside components, and compresses the gas to high pressure. The condenser coil then cools the high pressure high temperature gas to a liquid state. The heat produced in these steps is transferred to the outside by a fan which blows outside air across the condensing coil. The liquid refrigerant is then able to return to the indoor components for cooling and dehumidifying the building interior. The diagnosis and repair of various defects in the air conditioning compressor/condenser unit are discussed in detail using the links provided at the left of this page. Here is a little more detail about the components of the compressor/condenser unit:

1. The Air Conditioning Compressor Itself - on residential units the A/C compressor motor is most often a hermetic motor-compressor combined in a single sealed unit like the Carrier(TM) unit shown at above left. If a ductless split-system is installed an outside compressor unit is still required, typically looking like the Sanyo(TM) unit shown at the top of this page. The compressor is a basically a pump which moves refrigerant gas to the compressor via the larger refrigerant "suction line" returning it from the in-building air handler and evaporator coil. The compressor compresses the refrigerant to a high pressure gas and moves that gas into the condensing coil described just below. The refrigerant gas leaves the compressor at high pressure and at high temperature (since compressing a gas will raise its temperature.)
2. Refrigerant lines: the larger diameter refrigerant suction line connects the indoor evaporator coil outlet to the compressor inlet.
   The smaller-diameter high pressure refrigerant lines connect the compressor outlet and the condensing coil inlet and also move refrigerant liquid in it's cooled, condensed and now liquid state from the outlet of the condensing coil to the thermal expansion valve (basically a refrigerant metering device) and the evaporator coil inlet in the air handler unit in the building.
   Service valves or ports are usually present on the refrigeration lines near the compressor. to permit testing the condition of the air conditioning system and permit removal, replacement, or additions to the refrigerant in the system.
3. Condensing coil receives high pressure refrigerant gas from the compressor and cools this refrigerant gas back to a liquid state.
4. Outdoor cooling fan moves outdoor air across the condensing coil to cool it and assist in condensing the high pressure, high temperature refrigerant gas back into a liquid. It is this process which completes the transfer of heat through the refrigerant from indoor air to outdoor air as the compressor/condener unit compresses and then cools the refrigerant back to a liquid.
5. Electrical shut-off switch(es) for service at the unit are provided to permit maintenance and repair of the equipment. Circuit breaker(s) at the electrical panel protect the circuit supplying power to the air conditioning system.

These components are discussed in detail throughout this website using the links at the left of these pages.

Minimum Air Conditioner Compressor Unit Observations for an Air Conditioner Report

The compressor and fan operated normally. The rated cooling capacity, estimated age and general condition of the unit are reported below.
OR ... We did not operate this equipment because ... so you should…

  COMPRESSOR CONDENSER
  INSTALLATION ERRORS
  CONDENSING COIL FINS, SUPPORT PADS
  COMPRESSOR NOISES
  HARD STARTING
  TIGHT or SEIZED AC COMPRESSORS
  COMPRESSOR PRESSURE READINGS
  BURNED-OUT COMPRESSOR
  REPLACING A COMPRESSOR
  A/C CAPACITORS

10/21/2007 - 01/31/2006 - Created 3/28/95 www.inspect-ny.com/aircond/aircond15.htm - Content © 2007 Daniel Friedman All Rights Reserved