Never Replace a Compressor Without Finding Out Why It Failed
When a compressor fails, it seldom happens due to a defect in the compressor itself. In fact, 90% of compressor failures occur as a direct result of issues found elsewhere in the system. If a new compressor is installed without identifying and fixing the root problem, the new unit will likely fail as well.
Loss of lubrication is the single most common reason compressors fail, and there are a number of causes. Incorrectly-sized piping on split systems can trap oil and prevent it from returning to the compressor properly. Suction lines must be sized properly – large enough to minimize pressure drop, but small enough to maintain required velocity for oil return. The same goes for liquid lines, which must be large enough to minimize pressure drop and small enough to avoid undercharging the system. Always follow factory guidelines for piping and accessories.
Another leading cause of compressor failure is flood-back, which occurs when liquid refrigerant returns to the compressor through the suction pipe during the running cycle, washing oil from bearing surfaces. This dilution can lead to excessive wear in bearings, pistons, cylinders, rotors, and stators. Flooded starts result when refrigerant migrates and condenses in the crankcase oil during the off cycle. On startup, crankcase pressure drops and the refrigerant bursts from the oil, carrying oil out of the crankcase and washing oil from bearings, journals and rods. Both flooding and flood-back are caused by a wide variety of issues.
About E.P. Homiek
E.P. Homiek Sheet Metal Fabrication & HVAC Supply, with two convenient locations in Lakewood, NJ and Union, NJ, provides one- to two-day turnaround on all residential and light commercial ductwork, as well as one- to two-hour emergency fabrication service, rapid delivery, and competitive prices. HVAC parts, supplies, and equipment lines include Goodman, Honeywell, Bryant, Bradford White, Crown Boiler, Daikin, Weil-McLain, Sea Breeze, Generac, Fantech, ZM, A.O. Smith, Hart & Cooley, Malco, Mueller, and many more.
