Your air conditioner not only keeps you cool and comfortable but also safe from dangerous heat and humidity in balmy St. Louis months. While periodic maintenance keeps your AC in good working condition, you may face a couple of issues over the unit’s lifetime due to wear and tear, aging, and power surges to name some. This includes problems with the compressor, an important part of your air conditioner. Galmiche & Sons has over 70 years of experience fixing AC compressor issues in St. Louis homes. As HVAC experts, we can explain the reasons behind your AC compressor not working and carry out timely, cost-effective repair.
If you are in need of air conditioner repair or want to learn more about our heating and air conditioning services, contact us today.
Why an AC Compressor Stops Working
The compressor is the boxy unit at the back or side of your home. It connects to the indoor part of your AC through a copper tube. The indoor and outdoor units work together to keep your home cool. The job of the compressor is to move the liquid refrigerant between the evaporator and condenser coils. The refrigerant, as you may know, is the chemical compound that picks up heat from the air in your house and dumps it outside. You can think of the compressor as the heart and refrigerant as the blood of your AC.
A problem with the compressor can lead to insufficient cooling, clanking or hissing noises from the unit, and the compressor taking more time than usual to turn on, which is called a hard start. When people ask us “Why is my AC compressor not working?”, the answer can be any of the following:
- A blown disconnect fuse: The disconnect has two fuses that supply electricity to the AC’s compressor. If one of the fuses blows, the compressor does not receive adequate electric power and fails to turn on.
- Thermostat not on the right ‘cool’ setting: The right thermostat setting signals the AC to cycle on. It needs to be set to a ‘cool’ mode and the air to a temperature lower than the room temperature. Only then will the AC cool the air.
- Breaker trips: Your AC can trip the circuit breaker when there is a short circuit or one of the parts is malfunctioning. When this is the cause behind your AC compressor not working, repairing the trip becomes necessary. If you try to run your AC anyway, the damage can grow.
- Bad AC run capacitor: Your AC’s run capacitor acts like its battery, ensuring a constant supply of power to keep it running smoothly. When the run capacitor is out, the AC hard starts and does not blow cold air. Short circuits, power surges, wear and tear, and high outdoor temperatures are some reasons why run capacitors go out and the AC compressor stops working.
It is not normal for fuses to blow and breakers to trip often. Frequent issues may signal a bigger problem that only experienced HVAC technicians can diagnose and remedy correctly.
We Restore the Comfort of Your Indoors
Galmiche & Sons is proficient in resolving problems with compressors across all makes and models of air conditioners. If you are experiencing problems with your AC compressor not working, our technicians can tell you why your AC compressor is not working and perform the necessary repairs efficiently and correctly. In St. Louis, talk to our heating and air conditioning professionals today or request a quote online to learn more.
