If you own a business, you are probably responsible for the air conditioning and refrigeration equipment, whether you own or lease the property. Once in a while, the landlord will pay to fix air conditioning units, but that is a very rare situation. So when your equipment fails you are required to reach into your own pocket and pay to repair what is broken. Can you feel the stress building as you read this? Your hard earned money being spent on something that you did not expect to spend it on? Depending on who you call, ” The Repair” may have many different price tags. I cannot tell you how many times a business owner tells me so and so got his compressor changed out for x amount of dollars and is so surprised at how much more I am quoting him. Well all I can say is that there is always someone willing to make or do anything cheaper than someone else. I would like to enlighten those whom want to read why a compressor replacement should cost what it does.
What Happens When Your Orlando Compressor Fails?
So let’s talk about compressor failure in refrigeration and air conditioning equipment for small to medium sized businesses and commercial establishments in Orlando and surrounding communities. It all begins with your occupied space becoming warmer or your food not temping correctly. You make a call, a technician arrives to check a few things out, and then he tells you the compressor has died and gives you an estimate on repairing it. You may then get another one or two estimates and go with the cheapest guy. Let me tell you when you go with the cheapest refrigeration repair company you may have actually gone with the most expensive.
Should You Hire The Cheapest Guy To Replace Your Orlando Compressor?
I agree with the idea that two air conditioning repair companies can be equally as competent and charge two different prices. The main reason is that one company may have more overhead and need to charge more to cover that overhead. But there are many other much more concerning reasons that two companies would charge different amounts. Usually the cheapest guy will try to cut corners on what needs to be done in an Orlando refrigeration or air conditioner new compressor replacement. There really is no way to tell if one technician is more competent than another (however the company should at least have a certified state license for air conditioning contractor) but I believe if they are low balling the repair price they are most likely not doing the job correctly and the new compressor will fail. And new compressors only come with a one year warranty on the part, not the labor or refrigerant. So my advice would be choose wisely.
Why Do Compressors Fail and Why Should You Care?
In any event, compressors fail for a few different reasons. Some compressors just get old like a person and die of natural causes, but that is usually not the case. In most cases there is an underlying problem. The trick is to find out what caused the compressor failure, then both replace the compressor and correct the cause. The cause of compressor failure will come from two areas, refrigeration or electrical, or a combination of both (one causing the other). Five reasons are: flood back during operation, flooding at compressor start-up, refrigerant/oil slugging, loss of oil, and overheating. The refrigeration company must make a comprehensive investigation of the entire cooling system to make an informed accurate evaluation of causation. Only then can proper steps be taken to rectify the deficiencies that caused the compressor to fail. If corrections are not made the new compressor will most certainly fail as did its predecessor.
A compressor failure can sometimes be a catastrophic mechanical event that results in a contaminated system that will require cleanup. One of the main byproducts from a compressor failure is acid. Acid is not normal in a refrigeration system and must be removed. When the oil in a compressor is overheated or exposed to moisture, it will turn to acid. It is removed from the system with flushing agents and pressure from nitrogen. Additives are also put into the system to aid in cleanup after the unit is started up again. Also liquid and suction drier/filters must be installed. New clean refrigerant must replace the old dirty refrigerant. Also the contactor must be replaced. Many compressor failures result from weak contactors.
How We Can Help
I have only touched on a few items in the realm of Orlando compressor failure causation and proper cleanup after failure. Hopefully I have at least illustrated how important it is to take the time, effort and expense to make a successful compressor change out. At Marathon Air, we try to follow these vital investigations and cleanup procedures to ensure you do not have to take the costly step of replacing your brand new compressor again.
