A/C & Heat Pump Compressor/Condenser Repair FAQs

Q&A on less common A/C or Heat Pump repair snafus

Other Condenser Unit FAQs

Will a mini split work on both 60Hz and 50 Hz power?

Would 220/50hz mini split unit work with US 220/60hz apartment?

What is to check, its 50hz not 50/60hz. Somebody told me it will not give me as much cool as it suppose to be.

Is it correct? I thought 60hz will make compressor to work faster, not slower? On 2017-05-06 by Mark -

Reply by (mod)

Check the manual and data tag to see the voltages for which your unit is rated. Often, yes, the voltage and cycle rate have a small effect on motor operation and efficiency.

Chipped reed valve cannot be repaired or replaced, so I require a whole new condenser

I was told a chipped reed valve cannot br repaired or replaced, so I require a whole new condenser. I've been unable to find information here about repair or replacement of reed valves. Please help me find the answer. - On 2016-05-08 by Peg -

Reply by (mod) - a sealed HVAC compressor motor is not repairable - it gets replaced

Peg,

What you were told is correct. A/C or heat pump compressor motors are a hermetically sealed unit: the motor and components are in a "can".

It is not possible to repair parts inside the unit. The repair is to replace the compressor motor; there are perhaps other reasons why your repair person wants to replace the entire compressor/condenser unit instead.

Blue gummy substance used to patch refrigerant leak!

We had our air handler replaced just about 1 month ago but not the out side unit! I was surprised because the unit out side and in were put in when the house was bui!t in 1997.

There was a freon leak in the unit inside.

I was told there was no leak outside but there is a blue gummy substance where it looks as if the tried to patch a leak!

So why would someone not deem the whole system shot and replace the whole unit! Cause I seat here now with a non working unit again after dumping more than 800.00 into the unit on the inside and no freon in the unit yet again! On 2015-06-10 by Donna -

Reply by (mod) - if A/C refrigerant leak patch is not successful

Donna I can't diagnose this from just your e-text; no one would, however, be able to patch a refrigerant leak with an external black gummy substance that I know of.

More likely that's something else, perhaps sealing an opening where tubing passes or replacing damaged refrigerant tubing insulation.

IF your unit has lost refrigerant, indeed there is a leak to find and fix. Do not waste money by repeated re-charges of refrigerant (nor do we want to keep dumping refrigerant into the environment).

Surely the new work was warranted, right?

Building owner doesn't want A/C compressors installed anywhere that they can be seen

I am an architect with limited technical knowledge of the mechanics of A/Cs but based on past experience I have noted that compressors are normally located externally to provide air circulation around them or else they'll pack up.

On one of the projects one of my colleague is currently involved with is where the building owner has specifically stated that he does not want anything including compressors or satellite dishes installed externally where they are visible. the mechanical engineer has instructed the sub-contractor to install these in a stair well.

My opinion is that this is not the correct location as the stair-well will heat up due to discharge from the compressors - which means we'd need to provide mechanical extract! but more importantly due to lack of fresh air the compressors will within a short time pack up and the A/Cs will not function.

The mech. engineer who disagrees with these observations! Please advise if I am incorrect in my observations and what are the remedies.

Please also note contractually we've done the paperwork in informing the mech. engineer that the instructions are incorrect and any malfunction of the system as a result will be his responsibility - so that has been taken care of but what I'd like to know is whether we can go around this problem by introducing ducts or substituting outdoor compressors with indoor units which are more cost effective On 2013-01-18 by JR -

Reply by (mod)

In many buildings it's possible to install the compressor/condenser unit on the rooftop where it's not visible - but be sure to review noise control and noise issues for building occupants too.

Watch out: Avoid fencing in the condenser units and avoid locating them where they can't be readily inspected or serviced. Otherwise the future maintenance and repair costs may be quite high and may be a source of new complaints.

Compressor/Condenser Unit Won't Start FAQs

Moved to

COMPRESSOR / CONDENSER UNIT WON'T START or WON'T RUN FAQs

Condenser Unit Won't Stop FAQs

Moved to COMPRESSOR / CONDENSER UNIT WON'T STOP RUNNING FAQs