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AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS A/C COMPONENTS CONTROLS & SWITCHES A/C DATA TAGS A/C TYPES, ENERGY SOURCES RATED COOLING CAPACITY AIR CONDITIONER BTU CHART SEER RATINGS & OTHER DEFINITIONS OPERATING COST SYSTEM OPERATION OPERATING TEMPERATURES OPERATING DEFECTS LOST COOLING CAPACITY COMPRESSOR CONDENSER INSTALLATION ERRORS CONDENSING COIL FINS, SUPPORT PADS COMPRESSOR NOISES HARD STARTING TIGHT or SEIZED AC COMPRESSORS LOST COOLING CAPACITY COMPRESSOR PRESSURE READINGS BURNED-OUT COMPRESSOR REPLACING A COMPRESSOR A/C CAPACITORS AIR HANDLER UNIT AIR FILTERS for HVAC SYSTEMS CONDENSATE HANDLING CLEANING & Legionella BACTERIA DUCT SYSTEM DEFECTS FAN AUTO ON CONTROLS A/C REFRIGERANTS A/C DIAGNOSTIC FAQs INSPECTION LIMITATIONS CRITICAL DEFECTS Air Conditioning "How To" Books FURNACES WARM AIR HEATING SYSTEMS More Information InspectAPedia TM Home & Site Map Air Conditioning InspectAPedia Bookstore Accuracy & Bias Pledge Contact Us |
This chapter of "How to Inspect the Central Air Conditioning or Cooling System" discusses the Diagnosing Tight or Seized Air Conditioning Compressors and how to re-start a tight air conditioning compressor. Contact us to suggest text changes and additions and, if you wish, to receive online listing and credit for that contribution. © Copyright 2008 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website. Diagnosing Tight or Seized Air Conditioning CompressorsSometimes a compressor may be internally damaged or worn in a way that makes the piston(s) run tight in the cylinder(s) rather than loose and worn (loose or worn air conditioner compressor diagnosis is described at LOST COOLING CAPACITY). A tight or seized air conditioner compressor might occur, for example, if the compressor ran while low on oil. Or perhaps if the compressor is old and has not been run in some time. The A/C compressor may refuse to start at all, or may be hard-starting depending on when it last ran and what it's temperature is. A "hard starting" "tight" air conditioner compressor will probably draw excessive current (Amps) during startup, so that measurement may be used as part of the diagnosis of this problem. Re-Starting a Tight or Seized Air Conditioner CompressorThe service technician may try re-starting a hard-starting or tight air conditioning compressor by trying to move the motor backwards and forwards. If the compressor can be freed up enough to start at all and the oil level is made correct, the technician may install a "hard start kit" such as we introduced at HARD STARTING and see A/C CAPACITORS for photos, wiring diagram, and installation instructions for air conditioner compressor, fan, blower, refrigerator motor, freezer motor, or other electrical motor starting booster capacitors. If these steps work the compressor may continue to be used. If these steps do not get the tight or seized compressor running, it needs to be replaced. But even if these steps do work, the compressor has probably been damaged and you should not count on its long future life before it needs to be replaced. How We Measure Amps or Current Draw at the Air Conditioner CompressorBasic air conditioning compressor operation check: after the air conditioning system compressor/condenser unit has been running long enough to stabilize at its normal operating temperatures and pressures (typically 10 to 20 minutes), the service technician may measure the compressor's current draw in Amps using an ammeter or amp meter or multi-tester and appropriate connections. The current draw in AMPS is compared with the unit's specified FLA or "full load amps" found on the data tag or in the service manual for the unit. Remember that the FLA number includes the current draw of not only the compressor motor itself but also the condenser fan motor as well as the compressor motor base heater if a heater element is installed and operating. | |
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AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS A/C COMPONENTS CONTROLS & SWITCHES A/C DATA TAGS A/C TYPES, ENERGY SOURCES RATED COOLING CAPACITY AIR CONDITIONER BTU CHART SEER RATINGS & OTHER DEFINITIONS OPERATING COST SYSTEM OPERATION OPERATING TEMPERATURES OPERATING DEFECTS LOST COOLING CAPACITY COMPRESSOR CONDENSER INSTALLATION ERRORS CONDENSING COIL FINS, SUPPORT PADS COMPRESSOR NOISES HARD STARTING TIGHT or SEIZED AC COMPRESSORS LOST COOLING CAPACITY COMPRESSOR PRESSURE READINGS BURNED-OUT COMPRESSOR REPLACING A COMPRESSOR A/C CAPACITORS AIR HANDLER UNIT AIR FILTERS for HVAC SYSTEMS CONDENSATE HANDLING CLEANING & Legionella BACTERIA DUCT SYSTEM DEFECTS FAN AUTO ON CONTROLS A/C REFRIGERANTS A/C DIAGNOSTIC FAQs INSPECTION LIMITATIONS CRITICAL DEFECTS Air Conditioning "How To" Books FURNACES WARM AIR HEATING SYSTEMS More Information InspectAPedia TM Home & Site Map Air Conditioning Contact Us |
AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS Chapter IndexTo continue reading this air conditioning inspection guide, use links to the document chapters at left or below. Links shown in green font indicate where you are in this document.
INSTALLATION ERRORS CONDENSING COIL FINS, SUPPORT PADS COMPRESSOR NOISES HARD STARTING TIGHT or SEIZED AC COMPRESSORS LOST COOLING CAPACITY COMPRESSOR PRESSURE READINGS BURNED-OUT COMPRESSOR REPLACING A COMPRESSOR A/C CAPACITORS Technical Reviewers
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AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS A/C COMPONENTS CONTROLS & SWITCHES A/C DATA TAGS A/C TYPES, ENERGY SOURCES RATED COOLING CAPACITY AIR CONDITIONER BTU CHART SYSTEM OPERATION OPERATING TEMPERATURES OPERATING DEFECTS LOST COOLING CAPACITY COMPRESSOR CONDENSER AIR HANDLER UNIT AIR FILTERS for HVAC SYSTEMS CONDENSATE HANDLING CLEANING & Legionella BACTERIA DUCT SYSTEM DEFECTS FAN AUTO ON CONTROLS A/C REFRIGERANTS A/C DIAGNOSTIC FAQs CRITICAL DEFECTS More Information InspectAPedia TM Home & Site Map Air Conditioning InspectAPedia Bookstore Electrical Environment Exteriors Heating Home Inspection Insulate Ventilate Interiors Mold Inspect/Test Plumbing Water Septic Roofing Structure Accuracy & Bias Pledge Contact Us |
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07/06/2007 - 01/31/2006 - Created 3/28/95 www.inspect-ny.com/aircond/aircond15i.htm - Web page design & content © 2007 Daniel Friedman All Rights Reserved
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