How Do I Know if My AC Compressor is Bad?

Signs You Need a New AC Compressor

The AC compressor in your air conditioning system can be compared to the heart of the human body. Without it, it is impossible to blow cool air inside your home just as it would be impossible for your body to pump blood without a heart. It is extremely vital to keep your compressor in good shape to make sure that your AC system runs properly. AC compressors are not only crucial to a well-functioning system but are also one of the highest-priced AC repair services. Here are the biggest signs that your compressor is near the end of its life and how to extend its life expectancy.

It No Longer Blows Cool Air

The main job of the compressor is to pump refrigerant throughout your AC system to make your home cooler. Much like your car needs coolant to run properly, your AC can’t blow cold air without refrigerant. The refrigerant’s role is to absorb the heat from the inside of your home, and the compressor’s role is to help transfer this heat outside.

If you notice that warm air is coming out from your vents, it could be a serious issue with the compressor. Your AC system should not be working overtime to cool down your home. The warm air is likely caused by a refrigerant leak or a problem with the compressor.

High Electric Bills

If you notice an unusual increase in your electric bill, it could be your compressor that is causing this issue. When your compressor is not working properly, your AC system is working twice as hard to cool down your home. Since your compressor is constantly trying to cool the inside of your home, your AC is always on. When your AC is constantly on it doesn’t run as efficiently- or at a lower cost. Instead, it is using extremely high energy to be able to keep up with your desired indoor temperature.

AC Won’t Turn On and Is Making Strange Noises

If you hear a clicking or ticking noise from your outside unit, your compressor may be malfunctioning. A properly functioning compressor should never make a rattling or clicking noise. It is also unusual for an outdoor system to shake before it starts up, so watch out for this warning sign too. If you notice that the compressor is shut down completely and isn’t working at all, that is when you should be alarmed and call an AC technician.

How Can You Prevent Your Compressor from Failing?

The best thing that you can do to prevent a compressor failure is to never ignore the warning signs. If you notice that your compressor is struggling to cool your home, call an HVAC professional. As a recap, the biggest red flags that something is wrong with your compressor include:

• Strange noises
• Rattling
• Warm air coming out of vents
• High electric bills

If you catch these warnings early enough, you can avoid the hundreds or even thousands of dollars that it takes to repair your compressor. With regular AC maintenance services and tune-ups, it is likely that you won’t run into these issues for a very long time.

Contact Express Air for the best AC services Pensacola has to offer.