3 Signs That Indicate Your Air Conditioner Compressor May Need Repairs

Consider the amazing design and engineering that goes into an air conditioning system. There are many components that work together to enable your air conditioner to keep your home or business cool, even during the hot Arizona summer months. One of the most important features of your air conditioner is the compressor. If it begins to malfunction, it’s only a matter of time before you will experience significant cooling issues.

The Role of the Air Conditioner Compressor

Your air conditioner compressor’s role is to compress refrigerant that is circulated through the evaporator coils located in your air conditioning system. The refrigerant is released from the pressure which makes the evaporator coils cold. Then, a fan blows the warm air from your home over the coils, cooling the air. The cooled air is pushed into your home while the warmed refrigerant is circulated to the condensing unit where the heat is exhausted into the outside air.

Something’s Not Right

Often, a compressor will begin to gradually fail. The signs may be subtle. Yet, they can quickly become more obvious, even resulting in a complete system failure.

Insufficient Cooling

If your compressor isn’t compressing refrigerant effectively, your air conditioner won’t cool your home or business. You may find yourself turning the thermostat lower or discovering you have a higher than normal utility bill.  Your air conditioning system requires refrigerant to flow into the evaporator coils under very high pressure. If this isn’t happening, the air can’t be cooled sufficiently.

Hissing Sounds

One of the telltale signs of a major compressor problem is a hissing sound. This means that pressure inside the compressor is too high. If the hissing turns to shrieking, turn off your air conditioner immediately to prevent further damage and schedule an appointment right away.

Circuit Breaker Short Outs

A faulty compressor can trip a breaker when the air conditioner is turned on. If you are finding that your AC unit’s circuit breaker shorts out on a regular basis, it’s time to schedule service.

Regardless of the cause of a compressor problem, it’s important to have an expert technician who can accurately diagnose and repair the problem. Call Bruce’s Air Conditioning & Heating today at (480) 968-5652 to ensure you’re not left with an uncomfortably hot home during the hot summer days that will soon be here.