Can this compressor be saved?

[dancarne]

I have a Rheem Mod furnace. When I had it installed I elected not to upgrade the coil and the outdoor compressor. My cooling cost for the whole year is under $350, so I don't want to invest in a new unit.

Last year, the compressor on my Trane XE1000 wouldn't run so I had it serviced. (It would try to run for a few seconds and turn off.) The external unit was cleaned and .5 pound of refrigerant was added. The unit cooled well all summer. This season the compressor wouldn't run again. Eventually after enough tries it did. It's cooling well now. I want to keep this compressor running for a long time. I have a tech scheduled to come out who will look at the capacitor and whether a hard start kit is warranted. Is there anything I should ask him, be aware of when he comes?

Thanks,

Dan

[amd]

Nope.

A hard start kit is a patch - adventually the compressor will fail. Get one put on if the run cap is good - it could die tommorow or last years.

[beenthere]

A hard start kit, may or may not prolong the life of your compressor.

No way to tell.

Could be several reasons for it to have a problem starting.
The tech will have to check it, to find out.

[rooftop tech]

As mentioned a hard start if pretty much a band aid. I have had them bring a dead compressor back for many years...I've also had them lock back up that afternoon. Worth a shot though.

[dancarne]

Thank you for your replies. Why do A/C compressors fail in general? Why is it that this one doesn't want to start at the beginning of the season? I just want to understand.

Thanks, Dan

[beenthere]

Many times its an installation isssue.
Other times, its an electrical issue with the home.
And some times another componet fails and causes teh compressor to operate outside its desgned parameters, and it fails for that reason.

Several possibilites, and some are misleading.

[docholiday]

your problem sounds like (without looking and judging from what you said) a tight compressor. This may just be a result of age. Not to say all compressors fail with age. It could also simply be a weak run capacitor, which is easy to check. In the life of that compressor, if oil is not returned consistantly or superheat maintained, or occasional flooding the pistons and rings can score the psiton sleeve. All these things eventually take their toll on the compressor. As been said, a hard start kit is like a putting a pacemaker in an old man. (not quite but I am working on a visual here).

What you should consider is whether the combination of reliability, repairs and operational costs warrant consideration of a system replacement. Fortunately for you, you already have the furnace, and a good one at that. Upgrading to a 16 SEER cooling system or better yet a heat pump you can replace it, enjoy a tax rebate, which is like a free upgrade. The new system will have a new warranty.

350 for the summer sounds ok unless of course your summer is running it for the equivelent of 60 or 90 days, then you are paying alot. (IE Summer in Florida is alot different than summer in upstate NY).

[dancarne]

Thanks for the explanation, Doc. I appreciate it.

[Airmechanical]

As mentioned a hard start if pretty much a band aid.

then why do the manufacturers use them on high end systems?



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[francosair]

Hard start will help, nobody can tell for how long.

[Shophound]

then why do the manufacturers use them on high end systems?

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This is why there should be distinction between "hard start" and "start assist". "Hard start" kits are often not true capacitor start/capacitor run (CSCR) setups. They are some variation of PTC, which amounts to shorting out the run cap until the PTC heats up and the short is eliminated.

A "start assist" is the tried and true potential relay and properly sized start capacitor. Commercial refrigeration reciprocating compressors with TXV metering devices run for years with CSCR configurations. I've also seen them go for years on residential a/c. The PTC setups...the letters should actually be POS.

[spymoocow]

perfect example of a weak capacitor. No cool call. Go out and find the breaker tripped. Pull the cap, discharge, and test it. tests bad. replace it. start system. it cools great for about 10 minutes until the compressor locks up solid. sometimes simple fixes turn into bigger problems. A hard start kit is a band-aid over a open wound. it will eventually go out. just no telling when.

[Airmechanical]

A hard start kit is a band-aid over a open wound.
i hate to break it to ya, but you have been misinformed, your band-aid analogy is quite INaccurate

it will eventually go out. just no telling when.
everything breaks Chief, what is your point

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