Average old age for walk in hermetic compressor?

[mjohnson2981]

How long do walk in cooler/freezer hermetic compressors last?

I know it's life is the real decision... TXV problems... bad condensing fan motors, dirty condenser... all will certainly shorten life...

If serviced routinely is 15yrs a good run? 20? Or am I too optimistic?

[ehsx]

If I remember correctly, Hartford Insurance, semi hermetic recip, 10-12 years ac, 8-10 yrs refrigeration.
Proper pm should easily + 30- 50%

[GenesisRefrig]

I have one running on R-22 that’s going on 32 years. Running perfectly. Only maintenance is keeping the coils clean. When we did the install, we evacuated to 150 microns and had a new filter/dryer installed.

I’ve got a semi-hermetic running that I installed 33 years ago.

If sized and installed correctly, and kept reasonably clean, I think they should last indefinitely.

I’ve got a customer with a Scotsman gourmet Cuber from the 60’s still producing ice.

[ehsx]

Parents deep freezer lasted over 60 years. After their death I moved it and it died the next day.

Some cars don't last 100,000 miles, some have gone 5x or more than that. Original build, operation, and maintenance can make a big difference.

[kklobas]

I’d say 10 yrs is good anymore

[GenesisRefrig]

I’d say 10 yrs is good anymore

I’d say sizing and installation practices determines longevity.

[pecmsg]

I shoot for 12 - 15 years Average. Have some over 30.

[pecmsg]

Local Apple Orchard. Id guess early 60's, still on a belt drive compressor.

[2sac]

Sized and maintained properly they will last many years

[icemeister]

When I was with a supermarket chain, during remodels we'd pull out perfectly good compressors that were 30 years old or more. They were Copeland, Dunham-Bush (semi-hermetic & belt drive) and even York horizontal hermetics.

One big factor that decreases longevity in addition to improper installation and poor maintenance is heat. Compressor from these older stores were primarily water-cooled.

[mjohnson2981]

I appreciate all of the replies.

I have a couple units 14 years old that I maintain. I see no immediate reason to replace them, but I know they are getting older and try to plan ahead. They have let the coil on the freezer get dirty a few times and the internal electric overload has tripped a few times (that I know about - maybe more) but the last time the compressor wasn't hot anymore and took a good whack with a hammer to reset it.

[Out in the cold]

As mentioned, heat and coil cleanliness are big factors in lifespan. I'd like to add electrical service reliability to that. Around my area we have frequent power outages - especially in summer. Brown outs, lightning strikes, flickers and phase losses have resulted in a lot of motor burnouts & groundouts, start pack failures and compressor failures from residual effects like contactors welding closed. Frequently, nobody notices it until the compressor locks up. I have seen a lot of compressors with many years of life left fail prematurely because of recurrent power supply problems. If a storm rolls through or power outage occurs its a matter of hours before the phone starts ringing...

I'm guessing this isn't a unique problem, anybody else fight with a lot of power outages?

[Pnasty]

Got a walk in freezer that has a ‘78 semi hermetic and a McDonald’s that had an ‘81 semi, replaced that during the riots in Minneapolis. I dont know how moth have lasted this long as the equipment looks like garbage.

[Restaurant Mech]

As others have said it's all about install and maintenance. Was at a small downtown corner store today. Been servicing them since march. The call in march was a locked rotor on the compressor. The compressor was from 1981 tecumseh hermetic.
The call today was for an old hussman ice cream freezer. No cooling call. Copeland semi herm from 1978.the last service record on it had tightening the current buss nuts in 1993 and it was recharged with 502 at that time.
Today was Same tightening of buss nuts and fixing up the coiled lines where they have been rubbing together since 1993 lol.
Now if the compressor says embraco on the label I give it 5 years lifespan.

[pecmsg]

Local Apple Orchard. Id guess early 60's, still on a belt drive compressor.

Got call back on this one yesterday, compress motor finally died.
Gott respect the repurposed desk fan!

[rickl]

R600a has a soda vending machine with a 1966 model compressor, that a good run !

[Mars65]

I know where a five hp semi hermetici running that has to be 30 years old that went completely under water in hurricane Katrina r12 compressor and some dummy put r408 in it 5 ears ago and that thing is still running

[mrcool]

replaced a copeland semi herm last month with a 69 serial- 51 years old, it cracked the vibration absorber, LPC got stuck in closed position and ran for a day with no gas. seized up probably would have lasted longer if the lpc didnt go.

[mrcool]

Got call back on this one yesterday, compress motor finally died.
Gott respect the repurposed desk fan!

Pecmsg-- wow havent seen that in years, we did an A&P supermarket that had the whole store on those things, changed alot of belts in that store-- never seen the three speed evap before, is it oscillating? haha

[pecmsg]

Pecmsg-- wow havent seen that in years, we did an A&P supermarket that had the whole store on those things, changed alot of belts in that store-- never seen the three speed evap before, is it oscillating? haha

When I 1st saw that I looked at the farmer and said “ guess I can’t sell you the right motor”