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AC compressor replacement: repair or replace the system

The compressor is the most expensive part of an air conditioner. Whether to replace it or the whole system depends on three facts about your unit.

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Calls are answered by an independent provider that serves your ZIP code. You decide whether to hire.

The short version

What sets the price
Warranty status, refrigerant type and the size of the unit.
Check first
The age of the system and whether the compressor is still under warranty.
Compare with
The price of a new outdoor unit or a full system.

Find out before deciding

  • The age and model number of the outdoor unit.
  • Whether the compressor is under manufacturer warranty.
  • Which refrigerant the system uses.
  • What failed: the compressor itself or a part that starts it.

What pushes toward replacement

  • A system out of warranty and well into its service life.
  • A system that uses R-22 refrigerant.
  • A failure that contaminated the refrigerant lines.
  • Other large repairs in the last few years.

The three facts that decide it

  • WarrantyA compressor under warranty changes the bill to labor, refrigerant and materials. Ask the installer or the manufacturer to check by serial number.
  • Refrigerant typeThe EPA notes that since January 1, 2020, no new R-22 is made or imported. Existing R-22 systems can still be serviced from recovered and stockpiled supplies.
  • Age of the systemA new compressor in an old system leaves the old coil, fan and controls in place.
  • The diagnosisA system that will not start is not always a failed compressor. A capacitor or contactor costs far less and fails far more often.

How the job usually goes

  1. The technician confirms the compressor has failed and why.
  2. You get written prices for the repair and for replacement.
  3. For a repair, refrigerant is recovered, the compressor replaced and the system recharged.
  4. The system is tested, and any permit inspection is passed.

The EPA's guidance on older systems: "EPA does not require homeowners to replace their existing equipment." A technician working on one must hold EPA Section 608 certification.

Related guides

Sources

  • US Environmental Protection Agency: R-22 phaseout
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