Posted by Rifat A. on 9/10/2020 to

Air conditioner compressor is an integral part of the HVAC system, and it’s placed outdoor. The primary function of the air conditioner compressor is to pump the refrigerant through the HVAC system. But while using the air conditioner, your air conditioner compressor can start overheating, and when this happens, your air conditioner may stop functioning. There can be a number of reasons behind air conditioner compressor overheating, and it consists of both internal and external factors or conditions. In this article, I’ll talk about 4 reasons for air conditioner compressor overheating and their solutions.

4 Reasons for Air Conditioner Compressor Overheating & Their Solutions

1. Dirty Air Conditioner Air Filter

Air conditioner air filter blocks dust and small particles from entering your space and keeps the indoor air clean. As it blocks dust and debris, it gets dirty quickly, and when you don’t change the air conditioner air filter regularly, dust starts to accumulate in your HVAC system.

When dust and small particles accumulate in your HVAC system, they reduce the airflow of your air conditioner. As a result, your air conditioner doesn’t get enough air to reach your desired temperature, and overall efficiency starts declining. When the air conditioner doesn’t get enough airflow, it has to work harder to produce the desired cooling, and because of this, your air conditioner has to put a lot of stress and strain on the electrical system of your air conditioner. Eventually, your air conditioner starts to have more wear and tear and overheating problems.

To prevent this from happening, you’ll have to change your air conditioner air filter regularly. The ideal time of changing an air conditioner air filter is between 60 to 90 days. However, you may have to change the air conditioner air filter a bit earlier if you live in a polluted area or city. To know the exact time, you should contact an HVAC professional and schedule an HVAC maintenance checkup.

2. Low Refrigerant Level

Refrigerant plays a key role in producing cool air. It absorbs the heat from your space and releases it to the outside condenser unit, and thus, your air conditioner produces cool air. But when the refrigerant level is low, your air conditioner won’t be able to remove the heat from your space efficiently.

The compressor is the heart of an HVAC system, and it’s designed to match with the refrigerant charge. When the refrigerant level gets low, the compressor starts overworking to produce the desired temperature. As a result, the compressor starts overheating, and due to compressor overheating, your air conditioner unit will stop working permanently.

To prevent this problem, you’ll have to go through regular HVAC maintenance checkups. When you go through a regular HVAC maintenance checkup, an HVAC professional will check all the parts and liquids, including your air conditioner's refrigerant. If the HVAC professional finds any faults in your air conditioner, you’ll be notified about the problem and can take action quickly to resolve it.

3. Oversized Room

Many homeowners in the US don’t consider the size of their space and buy a small or large air conditioner for their home or office space. When you buy a small air conditioner for your space, your air conditioner compressor will have to work harder to produce the desired cooling. But most of the time, your air conditioner compressor won’t be able to produce the desired cooling for your large home or office space and will have to run longer. As a result, your air conditioner compressor will have to go through a lot of stress and strain, and that eventually cause the air conditioner compressor overheating.

That’s why while buying an air conditioner, you’ll have to consider the size of your space. To know your air conditioner's accurate size, you should contact an HVAC professional and buy accordingly. Thus, your air conditioner compressor won’t have to work longer, and you’ll get the desired comfort from your air conditioner.

4. Outdated Air Conditioner

If your air conditioner is more than 10 years old, it’s high time that you changed your air conditioner. When your air conditioner is more than 10 years old, there is a high chance that the parts of your HVAC system are wearing out. As a result, your air conditioner compressor won’t be able to do its job properly, and eventually, it’ll start to overheat.

That’s why if you have an old air conditioner, you should replace it as soon as possible.

See the summary of this content here in an infographic – 4 Reasons for AC Compressor Overheating [Infographic]

4 Reasons for AC Compressor Overheating