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AC Compressor Problems

Signs of AC compressor trouble, why the capacitor and contactor get checked first, and what a compressor replacement costs.

Safe things to check

• Turn the system off if the outdoor unit is clanking, tripping the breaker repeatedly, or smells hot or burnt.
• Write down what you see and hear, and when it started. It helps the technician.

Stop here

Do not reset a breaker that keeps tripping. Repeated tripping is a sign of an electrical fault that needs a technician. Federal rules require anyone who adds or removes refrigerant, or attaches gauges to an AC or heat pump, to hold EPA Section 608 certification, and refrigerant for home AC and heat pumps can only be sold to certified technicians. (Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

What a technician checks

Before condemning a compressor, a technician checks the parts that start and power it (capacitor, contactor, wiring) and the refrigerant charge. Angi notes that a failing capacitor can lead to other parts failing if it is not replaced. (Source: Angi)

Typical cost

Angi: compressor replacement about $800 to $2,300, and up to about $2,800; evaporator coil replacement $600 to $2,000. When repairs approach the cost of a new system, Angi says replacement is often the better long-term choice. (Source: Angi) National figures; not a quote.

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