Should I Consider a Home AC Compressor Replacement?

When any major appliance system works intermittently, many of our more handy homeowners begin to think about diagnosing their system themselves and replacing important parts (like your air conditioner compressor) piecemeal. In this article, we’ll explain some of the reasons we don’t recommend performing this delicate procedure on your own, and how your overall AC compressor replacement cost can often exceed that of replacing an ac system entirely.

AC compressor replacement

In your air conditioning system, the air conditioner compressor is the part that increases the pressure and temperature of vapor refrigerant exiting the evaporator coil. Raising the pressure of the vapor refrigerant at the AC compressor facilitates its flow to the lower-pressure refrigerant in your evaporator coil and back again allowing for a continuous cycle of heat exchange from the inside of your home to the outside.

The first problem with replacing the AC compressor on your own is even finding the correct component for your system. Many manufacturers won’t sell components intended to be professionally installed directly to homeowners. Aftermarket resellers will take advantage of this and sell new components at many times the cost that a dealer can obtain them.

Another issue is the actual installation of the AC compressor. When you remove the compressor, you’re exposing your AC system to all sorts of contaminants. Introducing foreign materials into your vapor refrigerant system, even water vapor, will damage other parts of your HVAC system. It’s best to have this kind of delicate procedure performed by an experienced, NATE-certified HVAC technician.

The last major drawback to installing a new AC compressor on your own is considering your HVAC system’s warranty. If you already have a warranty on your existing system, any service performed on it outside of manufacturer-approved HVAC technicians may void its warranty. If you don’t already have a warranty, a new system will guarantee efficient heating and cooling for years to come.

Think about these things before replacing any important parts in your HVAC system. An AC compressor replacement is a routine procedure for us, but we’re established HVAC experts. If your system is older, or isn’t running as efficiently as it should be, give us a call at (251) 626-9231 or schedule a sales appointment with us online today.

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