AC Not Cooling in Ancaster: Grounded Compressor Replaced Under Warranty
Updated: Sep 15
We recently received a no-cooling service call from a homeowner in Ancaster. The air conditioner was approximately eight years old and had stopped cooling the home.
One of the first signs of a serious problem was that the breaker would trip every time the air conditioner was energized. Instead of repeatedly resetting the breaker, we performed electrical testing to determine what was causing the system to shut down.
Our diagnosis confirmed that the AC compressor was grounded, causing the breaker to trip whenever the system attempted to operate.
Diagnosing a Grounded AC Compressor
The compressor is one of the most important components of a central air conditioning system. It circulates refrigerant between the indoor evaporator coil and outdoor condenser coil, allowing the system to remove heat from the home.
When a compressor develops an internal electrical fault and becomes grounded, the electrical protection can trip as soon as the compressor is energized.
A breaker that repeatedly trips when the AC starts should not simply be reset over and over. The cause should be properly diagnosed, as the problem could involve the compressor, wiring, capacitor, contactor, or another electrical component.
In this case, testing confirmed that the compressor itself had failed.
The AC Was Still Under Parts Warranty
Although the air conditioner was already about eight years old, the unit had a 10-year parts warranty.
Before recommending replacement of the complete air conditioning system, we checked the warranty status and were able to arrange a warranty replacement compressor for the homeowner.
This made compressor replacement a much more practical option compared with replacing the entire AC system.
For homeowners with an air conditioner that is less than 10 years old, it is often worth checking the manufacturer's warranty before making a major repair-or-replace decision.
Recovering the Refrigerant
Before removing the failed compressor, the refrigerant had to be properly recovered from the system.
Using professional refrigerant recovery equipment, we removed the existing refrigerant so the sealed refrigeration system could be safely opened and the failed compressor removed.
Removing the Failed Compressor
After refrigerant recovery was completed, the grounded compressor was removed from the outdoor condenser.
The failed compressor was then replaced with the approved warranty replacement compressor.
Compressor Installation, Brazing and Nitrogen Testing
After installing the replacement compressor, the refrigerant piping connections were brazed.
The refrigeration system was then pressurized with nitrogen and checked for leaks before being placed back into operation. Leak testing is an important part of opening and repairing a sealed refrigeration system because even a small leak can eventually cause refrigerant loss and another no-cooling problem.
Once the system passed the leak test, the system was prepared for refrigerant charging.
Recharging and Testing the Air Conditioner
After the repair was completed and the refrigeration circuit was confirmed leak-free, the system was evacuated and recharged with the proper refrigerant charge.
We then operated the air conditioner and checked system performance to make sure the new compressor and the rest of the AC system were operating properly.
The repair restored normal cooling operation without requiring the homeowner to replace the complete eight-year-old air conditioner.
Photo 4 caption:The repaired air conditioning system back in operation after the warranty compressor replacement.
Repair or Replace? Warranty Can Make a Big Difference
A failed compressor does not automatically mean an air conditioner needs to be replaced.
The decision depends on several factors, including:
Age and overall condition of the AC system
Whether the compressor or other major components are still under warranty
Cost of labour, refrigerant and other required materials
Condition of the indoor coil and outdoor condenser
Whether additional major repairs are likely in the near future
In this Ancaster case, the AC was approximately eight years old and the compressor was still covered by the manufacturer's parts warranty. After reviewing the options, replacing the failed compressor made sense for the homeowner.
AC Breaker Keeps Tripping? Have the System Checked
If your air conditioner trips the breaker when it tries to start, avoid repeatedly resetting the breaker. A tripping breaker is a symptom that should be diagnosed rather than bypassed.
The problem may be relatively simple, but it can also indicate a compressor or electrical failure.
AirPro Heating & Cooling provides AC repair and diagnostics in Ancaster, Hamilton and surrounding areas, including compressor problems, refrigerant issues, electrical faults and no-cooling service calls.
If your air conditioner stops cooling or repeatedly trips the breaker, professional testing can determine whether the system can be repaired or whether replacement makes more sense.
Comments