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AIR CONDITIONING & HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS AGE of AIR CONDITIONERS & HEAT PUMPS AIR CONDITIONER BTU CHART AIR CONDITIONER COMPONENT PARTS AIR CONDITIONER TYPES, ENERGY SOURCES AIR CONDITIONER NOT WORKING AIR FILTERS for HVAC SYSTEMS AIR HANDLER UNITS APPLIANCE EFFICIENCY RATINGS BACKUP HEAT for HEAT PUMPS BLOWER DOORS & AIR INFILTRATION BOOKSTORE - Air Conditioning "How To" Books CLEANING & Legionella BACTERIA COMPRESSOR & CONDENSING COIL BURNED-OUT COMPRESSOR CAPACITORS for HARD STARTING MOTORS CONDENSING COIL FINS, SUPPORT PADS HARD STARTING COMPRESSOR MOTORS INSTALLATION ERRORS, COMPRESSORS MOTOR OVERLOAD RESET SWITCH NOISY COMPRESSOR UNITS PRESSURE READINGS, COMPRESSOR REPLACING A COMPRESSOR TIGHT or SEIZED AC COMPRESSORS CONDENSATE HANDLING CONTROLS & SWITCHES COOL OFF HEAT Thermostat Switch COOLING CAPACITY, RATED COOLING COIL or EVAPORATOR COIL DATA TAGS on AIR CONDITIONERS COMBUSTION GASES & PARTICLE HAZARDS COMBUSTION PRODUCTS & IAQ DEFINITION of Heating & Cooling Terms DEW POINT CALCULATION for WALLS DEW POINT TABLE - CONDENSATION POINT GUIDE DUCT SYSTEMS DUCTS - Asbestos DUCT SYSTEM DEFECTS DUCT INSULATION, Asbestos Paper DUCT INSULATION for SOUNDPROOFING DUCTS, Asbestos Transite Pipe DUST FROM HVAC? ENERGY SAVINGS in BUILDINGS EVAPORATIVE COOLING SYSTEMS FAN AUTO ON Thermostat Switch FAN CONVECTOR HEATERS - HYDRONIC COILS HEAT LOSS (or GAIN) in BUILDINGS INDOOR AIR QUALITY & HOUSE TIGHTNESS INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE INSPECTION LIMITATIONS INSPECTION CHECKLIST - OUTDOOR UNIT LOST COOLING CAPACITY MOTOR OVERLOAD RESET SWITCH OPERATING COST OPERATING DEFECTS OPERATING TEMPERATURES REPAIR GUIDE for AIR CONDITIONERS REPAIR & DIAGNOSTIC FAQs for A/C REFRIGERANTS SEER RATINGS & OTHER DEFINITIONS SYSTEM OPERATION SWAMP COOLERS THERMOSTATS THERMOSTATIC EXPANSION VALVES CRITICAL DEFECTS on A/C SYSTEMS More Information  InspectAPedia ® Home & Site Map InspectAPedia Blog - News Updates Air Conditioning & Heat Pumps Bookstore Electrical Environment Exteriors Heating Home Inspection Insulate Ventilate Interiors Mold Inspect/Test Plumbing Water Septic Roofing Structure Accuracy & Privacy Policies Contact Us |
This chapter of "How to Inspect the Central Air Conditioning or Cooling System" discusses the installation errors in air conditioning compressor and condensing units. Maintenance tips including attention to compressor support pads and avoiding air conditioning refrigerant leaks are addressed. If readers return to the first chapter or view the A/C chapter index, the major components of an air conditioning system are described, sketches and photographs are provided, and common defects for each component are listed along with visual or other clues that may suggest a problem or probable failure of A/C components. We explain how an air conditioning service technician will diagnose certain common air conditioning system failures or defects. If your air conditioning system has lost its cooling capacity or won't start see REPAIR GUIDE for AIR CONDITIONERS. See How to determine the cooling capacity of air conditioning equipment if the system seems to be working but is inadequate to cool your building. Contact us to suggest text changes and additions and, if you wish, to receive online listing and credit for that contribution. © Copyright 2010 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. . Contact us to suggest text changes and additions and, if you wish, to receive online listing and credit for that contribution. © Copyright 2010 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website. INSTALLATION ERRORS - Air Conditioning Compressor Installation Errors & DamageAir Conditioning Compressor Location ProblemsInadequate air circulation clearance around an air conditioner compressor/condenser unit
Typical outside air-cooled A/C compressors require a minimal clearance around the unit to provide adequate air flow so that the condenser coils will be cooled efficiently. Both of the air conditioning installations shown here are tipping and the right hand one was actually leaning on the house wall!
Tipped or leaning air conditioner compressor/condenser units
Tipping or leaning air conditioner compressors can lead to so much movement that the refrigerant lines crack and leak, leading to loss of cooling ability. In extreme cases, a tipped condenser unit may fail to operate properly. In the first photo above the compressor is leaning and creeping away from the building and has pulled its connecting wiring and refrigerant line taut. I expect a problem soon with this unit. In the second photo everything looks awful: the two compressors are too close together and too close to the building wall for adequate air circulation, especially in the larger rear unit in the photo. The safety electrical switch for the air conditioner is falling off of the wall, and the rear unit is sliding off of its support pad. This was a poor air conditioning system installation. Air Conditioner Compressor/Condenser Units Overgrown with Shrubbery
Air Conditioner Refrigerant Line DefectsAbsence of slack in the coolant lines at the compressor units can cause leaks: should the compressor move, perhaps because its supporting pads settle, there will be likely leaks at these lines. You should review this question with your HVAC service person. This item may be deferred until next maintenance or service. Missing insulation on the refrigerant lines, particularly on the larger suction line, will cause condensation and drips from the lines in humid areas. I've seen very costly building damage where lines were not properly insulated indoors: condensate drips wet gypsum board walls, leading to a costly mold remediation project. Missing insulation also probably increases system operating cost. Share this Article
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