There are any number of issues that can cause your air conditioner to stop working. Luckily, they’re not all expensive fixes. The problem could be just a loose wire that’s caused a power failure in your air conditioner. Or you could have a clogged air filter that’s impeding the air flow to the system.On the other hand, when AC compressor failure causes your system to breakdown, you have a major AC emergency service problem and a big expense on your hands. The compressor is a vital and expensive component, and when it goes you may find yourself dropping a lot of cash on a new AC unit.The good news is, as much as 80 percent of the causes of AC compressor failure are preventable if the problems leading to the failure are corrected in a timely manner. These problems can be detected and eliminated during regular AC preventative maintenance.Related Article: 8 Ways AC Preventative Maintenance Keeps the Repairman Away.Your air conditioner’s compressor is often called the heart of the system.

This is a good analogy for a few reasons:Now that you understand why it’s so critical to keep your compressor in good shape, let’s take a look at some of the things that can cause AC compressor failure and what you can do to avoid them.When AC compressor failure happens, it’s often due to an underlying issue that causes stress on the system. That’s important to know for two reasons:These are the common issues that cause AC compressor failure:When dust, grime and mineral scales build up on the condenser coil, the air conditioner can’t expel enough heat from the system and it’s forced to run constantly trying to cool your space. The increased pressure and temperature can cause the compressor to overheat and fail.When your air conditioner’s refrigerant lines become blocked or damaged, the first thing you’ll notice is that the unit is not cooling as effectively. If the problem is not fixed, once again the increased pressure and temperature cause overheating and AC compressor failure.

If your system’s refrigerant lines develop holes or cracks, the air conditioner leaks refrigerant. how to remove mold from window ac unitAfter a while, the level becomes so low that the compressor has to work harder to pump enough refrigerant through the system to cool your space. air conditioning unit in indiaThe strain can eventually cause the compressor to break down.floor model air conditioners canadian tireIf your refrigerant line develops leaks and needs to be replaced, make sure you get an experienced AC technician to do the job. A line that’s too large or too small for your system can cause premature AC compressor failure.If a less-than-qualified person works on your air conditioner and inadvertently adds too much refrigerant, or even the wrong type of refrigerant, it can be a deadly mistake for the compressor.

An electrical failure can result in a buildup of acids that cause a great deal of damage to other parts in addition to the compressor. If you have a failed compressor, make sure the technician tests for the presence of these acids. If he finds them, an electrical burnout has caused damage throughout the system that is probably not worth fixing.But electrical problems are often easily preventable when an experienced tech inspects your system: he can spot and repair damaged wiring, fuses and contractors before they take down your system and cause AC compressor failure.Related Article: A Guide to the Top 3 Power Related Air Conditioner Problems.The high heat and pressure in an air conditioning system, not to mention the locations where they are typically housed in New York City (outdoors, on rooftops, in crawl spaces) can introduce any number of contaminants that can cause damage. These include air, moisture, dirt, debris, leaves, soot, acids, and even bird and pest droppings.Related Article: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You: How To Keep Your HVAC System Contaminant Free.To take the heart comparison a step further, think of your air conditioner’s oil lubricant like the blood in your body.

If there’s not enough, the system can’t work properly and all kinds of problems can result, including AC compressor failure. When your system is regularly maintained by a trained AC professional, he will check the lubricant levels and the condition of the oil pump to prevent this problem.When you take good care of your compressor, it will take good care of the air in your space with consistent, reliable cooling. That means having your air conditioning system serviced at least twice a year by a reputable AC service company. Make sure you choose a service provider with knowledgeable, experienced technicians with MSCA or NATE certification. That way you’ll know that they have the expertise to spot and prevent the problems that can cause AC compressor failure.Did you know that you’ll get the best deal on AC preventative maintenance when you invest in a yearly service contract? You’ll also get a maintenance plan that’s designed specifically for your needs and your budget. Want to learn more?

Take a look at our free guide, HVAC Preventative Maintenance Contracts: How to Find the Right One for Your HVAC Infrastructure.Check out the new SourceForge HTML5 internet speed test! No Flash necessary and runs on all devices. How Tesla Batteries Will Force Home Wiring To Go Low Voltage CIStud writes with a story at CEPro suggesting that solar power and home batteries like Tesla's PowerWall "will force the reinvention of home wiring from primarily AC high voltage to DC home-run low voltage to reduce power conversion loss," writing "To avoid the 20% to 40% power loss when converting from DC to AC, home wiring will have to convert to home-run low-voltage, and eventually eliminate the need for high-voltage 110V electrical wiring." As a former full-time Airstream dweller, I can attest to the importance of DC appliances when dealing with batteries.Rushing to get home before the city's curfew, 12-year-old Vontrail Pargo decided to cut Thursday through a neighbor's back yard. He never made it to his house, less than two blocks away.

The South Side boy was electrocuted when he tried to jump a fence in the 7200 block of South Seeley Avenue and hit the outside unit of a central air-conditioning system, police said. He died about an hour later at Holy Cross Hospital."Our electrical investigator did find that there was sufficient voltage emitting from the central air-conditioning unit that could cause significant injury," said Dennis Mondero, spokesman for the city's Building Department.The effect of the voltage would have been magnified if the boy also was touching the nearby wire fence and it was a hot, humid day, Mondero said.The Cook County medical examiner's office ruled Friday that the boy's death was an accidental electrocution.Ryan Pargo, Vontrail's 14-year-old cousin, said the accident occurred about 10:30 p.m., when the two boys were racing to their home in the 7300 block of South Damen Avenue."We ran into two separate yards," Ryan said. "I heard him say, 'Ow!' I went over there."Vontrail's knee was on the unit, his hand was stuck on the fence and his eyes were rolled back, Ryan said."

I kept tapping him. He didn't move," Ryan said, lifting his shirt hem to wipe away tears. "I hoped he would wake up."Dwayne Smith noticed the boys as he walked up to his nearby home."We didn't know what was wrong with him," Smith said. "We thought he was having a seizure because he was shaking."Smith and Ryan called 911, he said. Then Smith, 26, ran into the street and yelled for help. Several men helped move Vontrail to the front of the house, Smith said.Chicago Fire Department paramedics were the first to realize he had been exposed to electricity, spokesman Larry Langford said.In the seven years he has worked for the city, Langford said, he has never before heard of someone being electrocuted by outside air-conditioning equipment."There was obviously some kind of problem with the wiring," Langford said. "Apparently, the outside of the air-conditioning unit was electrically hot -- charged."The city had not received any complaints related to the South Seeley home, Mondero said. The property owner listed on city deed records could not be reached for comment Friday.Mondero said the power to the air-conditioning unit has been turned off.

At the South Seeley home, numerous wires still dangled Friday from the unit, which sits in a gangway frequented by neighborhood children. If the property owner fails to correct the problem, the Building Department can levy citations or ask a judge to take civil action, Mondero said."It could have been one of the neighbor's kids or one of my kids," said Gloria Jenkins, who lives next door to the accident site. "They all go running through here."Vontrail was no different, said Chasity Pargo, Vontrail's aunt who also lives in his home. "He liked to play, play basketball, run up and down the street -- the average kid."- - -Preventive actionsCity fire and building officials say residents should make sure that wires running to their air-conditioning units are inside sealed piping. Also, switch boxes and covers should be closed at all times.Homeowners also should have their cooling and heating systems checked annually by professionals.The Building Department does not canvass the streets looking for unsafe systems, but officials do respond to citizen reports of unsafe conditions.