How long should AC compressor last?

[Henryk]

How long should the compressor last on a AC system?

My home almost never gets to the temperature that I set although (oddly) it doesn’t run constantly either.

The problem presents especially on hot days—no surprise.

The room temperature on the thermostat agrees with two other thermometers.

If it matters, 3/2 courtyard villa. Sun-facing windows have blinds and lanai has awning.

If I have to replace the compressor, what is a reasonable pirice?

TIA.

[John_W]

How long should the compressor last on a AC system?

My home almost never gets to the temperature that I set although (oddly) it doesn’t run constantly either.

The problem presents especially on hot days—no surprise.

The room temperature on the thermostat agrees with two other thermometers.

If it matters, 3/2 courtyard villa. Sun-facing windows have blinds and lanai has awning.

If I have to replace the compressor, what is a reasonable pirice?

TIA.

Could be you have a freon leak, just like a car it will blow warm air or a bad thermostat. My last home the Carrier compressor died after 13 years, I've heard they generally last between 10 and 15 years. That was in 2011 and I paid $3500 for a new compressor and inside air handler, that was in Baltimore. I would call Chuck Farrel A/C at 352-787-9497. He's the best and won't rip you off. If you don't believe me, just do a search on this site. Compressors and a new air handler with Chuck I've read are about $4,000 with the other dealers somewhere around $5000 to $6000.

[biker1]

I suggest you call an HVAC contractor and have them check out the system.

How long should the compressor last on a AC system?

My home almost never gets to the temperature that I set although (oddly) it doesn’t run constantly either.

The problem presents especially on hot days—no surprise.

The room temperature on the thermostat agrees with two other thermometers.

If it matters, 3/2 courtyard villa. Sun-facing windows have blinds and lanai has awning.

If I have to replace the compressor, what is a reasonable pirice?

TIA.

[Henryk]

...

[retiredguy123]

How long should the compressor last on a AC system?

My home almost never gets to the temperature that I set although (oddly) it doesn’t run constantly either.

The problem presents especially on hot days—no surprise.

The room temperature on the thermostat agrees with two other thermometers.

If it matters, 3/2 courtyard villa. Sun-facing windows have blinds and lanai has awning.

If I have to replace the compressor, what is a reasonable pirice?

TIA.
The compressor is warranted for 5 years and it should last about 10-15 years. On a hot day, turn on the AC and check the exposed copper part of the black insulated copper pipe connected to the outside unit. It should be cold to the touch and sweating. If it is, then the compressor is working. But, either way, you need to call an AC expert. The compressor is the most expensive part of your AC system. If it is bad, it is usually not worth replacing just the compressor. It's better to replace the entire outside unit, and possibly the inside unit also if the system is very old.

[jebartle]

Our unit lasted 19 years, Chuck Ferrell replaced Rheem with American Standard, $4600 after rebate.

[ColdNoMore]

How long should the compressor last on a AC system?

My home almost never gets to the temperature that I set although (oddly) it doesn’t run constantly either.

The problem presents especially on hot days—no surprise.

The room temperature on the thermostat agrees with two other thermometers.

If it matters, 3/2 courtyard villa. Sun-facing windows have blinds and lanai has awning.

If I have to replace the compressor, what is a reasonable pirice?

TIA.

Do you have a humidity control?

If so, is it all the way to 'ON?'

If not, give that a try...before calling anyone.

Don't ask me how I know this. :o

[biker1]

With humidistat functionality (humidity control), the system should still honor the temperature set point. What often happens is you will actually get below the temperature set point in an attempt to meet the humidity set point. Typical values are 2-3 degrees below the temperature set point, YMMV. He should still be calling a professional.

Do you have a humidity control?

If so, is it all the way to 'ON?'

If not, give that a try...before calling anyone.

Don't ask me how I know this. :o

[ColdNoMore]

With humidistat functionality (humidity control), the system should still honor the temperature set point. What often happens is you will actually get below the temperature set point in an attempt to meet the humidity set point. Typical values are 2-3 degrees below the temperature set point, YMMV. He should still be calling a professional.

He may very well have to call a professional, but had I previously known the humidistat had to be all the way to 'ON' (it was set to about 20% for at least a year with no problems)...I could have saved the cost of a service call. :oops:

It's a very quick, easy thing to check and do...and could potentially solve his issue. :shrug:

[biker1]

I believe the OP stated that the system could not meet the temperature set point. With a properly functioning system, whether the humidity control is enabled (or not) should not impact whether the temperature set point is met. There could be any of a number of things wrong with his system. Instead of speculating and fiddling around he should, IMO, get a professional in to take a look. Depending on what system he has (and if it actually does have humidistat functionality) he may need to go into the service menu to check on the status and change it. I believe most homeowners should avoid going into the service menus. I go into my service menu occasionally but I RTFM. I would guess that he hasn't had the system looked at in some time. Periodic checkups are a good idea.

He may very well have to call a professional, but had I previously known the humidistat had to be all the way to 'ON' (it was set to about 80% for at least a year with no problems)...I could have saved the cost of a service call. :oops:

It's a very quick, easy thing to check and do...and could potentially solve his issue. :shrug:

[rjm1cc]

My guess is something is wrong. Maybe the unit is icing.
A safety switch could also be turning the system off and after the problem (maybe a backup of water) subsides lets the unit come back on.
Probably best to have a company do an "annual" maintenance check.

[ColdNoMore]

I believe the OP stated that the system could not meet the temperature set point. With a properly functioning system, whether the humidity control is enabled (or not) should not impact whether the temperature set point is met. There could be any of a number of things wrong with his system. Instead of speculating and fiddling around he should, IMO, get a professional in to take a look. Depending on what system he has (and if it actually does have humidistat functionality) he may need to go into the service menu to check on the status and change it. I believe most homeowners should avoid going into the service menus. I would guess that he hasn't had the system looked at in some time. Periodic checkups are a good idea.

LOL

There is no "fiddling" required...to simply turn the dial to 'ON.' :oops:

[biker1]

Yes, good ideas. That fact that he stated the system doesn't meet the temperature set point (on some days) yet doesn't run all the time would suggest a fault.

My guess is something is wrong. Maybe the unit is icing.
A safety switch could also be turning the system off and after the problem (maybe a backup of water) subsides lets the unit come back on.
Probably best to have a company do an "annual" maintenance check.

[biker1]

Sigh... You don't know what system the OP has and whether it requires going into a service menu (as does my 4 year old Carrier system), as I already stated. One more time, a properly functioning (and sized) system should still meet the temperature set point regardless of whether humidistat functionality is enabled (assuming it is even supported). The only advice the OP needs is stated in post #3.


LOL

There is no "fiddling" required...to simply turn the dial to 'ON.' :oops:

[DonH57]

The life expectancy of an a/c compressor depends on many factors from assembly line to the conditions it's unit is installed, average run time and continued care of unit. I've seen 2 condenser units with 2 continuous serial numbers and one had many problems while the other had no issues with both units having the same heat load conditions.

[ColdNoMore]

Sigh... You don't know what system the OP has and whether it requires going into a service menu (as does my 4 year old Carrier system), as I already stated. One more time, a properly functioning (and sized) system should still meet the temperature set point regardless of whether humidistat functionality is enabled (assuming it is even supported).

Double sigh, you don't know what system he has either...yet you're telling him to spend money on a service call. :oops:

To the OP, if yours looks like this and is not all the way to 'ON'...I suggest you give it a try.

Minimal "fiddling" required. :1rotfl:

If not, I recommend calling...

Chuck Farrell

352-753-9497

Good luck. :thumbup:

[biker1]

Yes, he should spend money on a service call as I guess he hasn't had the system looked at in some time. Periodic maintenance, even if the system appears to be running OK (which his isn't), is a no brainer. See post #3.

Double sigh, you don't know what system he has either...yet you're telling him to spend money on a service call. :oops:

To the OP, if yours looks like this and is not all the way to 'ON'...I suggest you give it a try.

Minimal "fiddling" required. :1rotfl:

If not, I recommend calling...

Chuck Farrell

352-753-9497

Good luck. :thumbup:

[ColdNoMore]

Yes, he should spend money on a service call as I guess he hasn't had the system looked at in some time. Periodic maintenance, even if the system appears to be running OK (which his isn't), is a no brainer. See post #3.

:ho:

[retiredguy123]

Yes, he should spend money on a service call as I guess he hasn't had the system looked at in some time. Periodic maintenance, even if the system appears to be running OK (which his isn't), is a no brainer. See post #3.
I agree. But, for others, in my opinion, you should leave the humidity control turned off, especially if you live in the house full time. The humidity feature will overcool your house on high humidity days, but it will really not do a good job to control the humidity. To do that, you need a real dehumidifier.

[biker1]

Yes, I agree with that. Unless the system has a variable speed air handler (and therefore reduces the fan speed so air is in contact with the evaporator coil for a longer period of time when the system is calling for dehumidification) and a multispeed compressor, the ability to control the humidity is somewhat limited. This is one area where The Villages could have done a better job in specifying the HVAC for the homes. For example, the incremental costs for a Carrier Infinity system with the two above features is not that much.

I agree. But, for others, in my opinion, you should leave the humidity control turned off, especially if you live in the house full time. The humidity feature will overcool your house on high humidity days, but it will really not do a good job to control the humidity. To do that, you need a real dehumidifier.

[dave042]

There is a capacitor that craps out every few years. Service call and part should be about $120.

[thetruth]

How long should the compressor last on a AC system?

My home almost never gets to the temperature that I set although (oddly) it doesn’t run constantly either.

The problem presents especially on hot days—no surprise.

The room temperature on the thermostat agrees with two other thermometers.

If it matters, 3/2 courtyard villa. Sun-facing windows have blinds and lanai has awning.

If I have to replace the compressor, what is a reasonable pirice?

TIA.

I think as others have said, you need a prof service company.
Your AC is sized to be able to alter the inside temperature compared to outside temperature, So fore example if it is over say 100 it likely cannot drop the temperature inside to 70.
If, your system is not working as well as it used to there are many possible causes. They could be as simple as replacing the filter, ducts that have separated to someone in your home having shut off AC outlets. Even plants that have been allowed to get too large or grow too close to your AC compressor can not only decrease efficiency but increase wear on your AC system.
As to the life of the compressor, like so many other things it is average life. As others have posted, it is about ten years.

[asianthree]

During a regular checkup last year our company told us that we needed an entire new unit, that we had multiple leaks. It was going to run around $12,000.

We wanted a second opinion so we had Chuck to check our system. No leaks found everything was sound. The charge was zero . We are now using Chuck for all of our homes. it’s a trustworthy company give them a call

[Dan9871]

My home almost never gets to the temperature that I set although (oddly) it doesn’t run constantly either.



It could be something as simple as your thermostat is broken (even though it is displaying the correct room temp) and is not calling for cooling when it should. That would explain why your compressor doesn't run constantly.

We had the symptoms you describe, not enough cooling but compressor not continuously running. It turned out to be a failing capacitor. Sometime the compressor would start and but most of the time it wouldn't but would overheat and automatically shutdown for a while... so to us it appeared it was not running all the time.

In any case you will need a AC company to take a look and if you don't have a service contract with them they will probably charge you a service call at a minimum.

[villagetinker]

OP, have you checked and changed the air filter? Had Sunshine out during the freeze this last winter when i noticed the aux heat coming on. The tech took some readings and then said he needed to check the air filter, it was clogged, I had forgotten to change it out (every 6 months). i had a new one on hand, changed out and all was fine. The filter was dirty enough to reduce the air flow.
Hope this helps.

[retiredguy123]

If you have a newer system that uses the 4-inch thick filters, a good place to buy them is ACE Hardware. They cost $15 and are made by a company named Flanders. I have purchased filters from Home Depot and Lowes that did not fit. Munns charges $50 for a filter.

[biker1]

Assuming you have a Carrier system, you can buy the exact fitting OEM 4" media filters for about $30 on-line.

If you have a newer system that uses the 4-inch thick filters, a good place to buy them is ACE Hardware. They cost $15 and are made by a company named Flanders. I have purchased filters from Home Depot and Lowes that did not fit. Munns charges $50 for a filter.

[biker1]

Most of the systems have ECM motors which are programmed to a specific CFM. They will "ramp up" as the filter becomes loaded to provide the same CFM, up to a point. I find that changing my 4" media filters once per year is sufficient.

OP, have you checked and changed the air filter? Had Sunshine out during the freeze this last winter when i noticed the aux heat coming on. The tech took some readings and then said he needed to check the air filter, it was clogged, I had forgotten to change it out (every 6 months). i had a new one on hand, changed out and all was fine. The filter was dirty enough to reduce the air flow.
Hope this helps.

[champion6]

If you have a newer system that uses the 4-inch thick filters, a good place to buy them is ACE Hardware. They cost $15 and are made by a company named Flanders. I have purchased filters from Home Depot and Lowes that did not fit. Munns charges $50 for a filter.Which ACE hardware? I went to Wildwood ACE and bought a 19x20x4 filter for $29.95 - a very competitive price. Where can I get the same filter for half that?

[retiredguy123]

Which ACE hardware? I went to Wildwood ACE and bought a 19x20x4 filter for $29.95 - a very competitive price. Where can I get the same filter for half that?
I bought a 16 x 20 x 4 inch filter at the Wildwood Ace Hardware about 2 weeks ago and it cost $15. The name brand was Flanders. I don't know the price for a larger one, but I know they sell them and it seems like it shouldn't cost twice as much. They also sell them at the Lady Lake ACE. The Filtrete filters are going to cost more, but I don't think they are any better.

[tcxr750]

If you have a replacement thermostat that uses batteries you may need to replace them. Up in NEOhio our Comfortmaker Air Conditioner is still going after 25 years. Had to replace the furnace blower motor and belt 15 years ago.

[noslices1]

I just had my entire system replaced after 12 years. Several freon leaks were causing the condensing coil to ice up. I went to Home Advisor and found John's A/C. 90 reviews with an average of 4.8 out of five stars. I requested Home Advisor contact them and someone called me back 10 minutes later. Jonathan came on Monday morning and checked my system and quoted me a great price compared with one I had received from a different company. It was installed on Tuesday and they even filled out all the paperwork I needed to get a $500.00 rebate from the gas co. They also filled out the warranty paperwoork (10 years), and arranged for the county inspector to check the installation. A bonus was they will be back in 6 months and one year to check the system for free.

[Nick2065]

$3,500 is ridiculously high. Average compressor replacement cost is $1700-$2500 depending on the unit size. If you need any advise, please feel free to message me. I am a semi retired hvac technician, owner of 2 companies for 34 years.

[OhioBuckeye]

My question is, I don't understand why TV don't put air condition units outside instead of Heat Pumps. Heat pumps like most say, last about 10 to 15 yrs. Air Condition units last a lot longer. Mine up north, & I know we only ran our air conditioning only 5 or 6 months up there a yr. & they would last 20+ yrs. I had one that lasted the 22 yrs. that we lived in one house & still worked when we moved. I guess the reason I'm asking this question is, it just doesn't seem like TV gives us the best buck for our money here. Any one out there that knows or works on Heat Pumps or Air Conditions? Like to get a professional answer not just someone that backing up TV, & please I'm not trying to be mean, just curious!

[retiredguy123]

My question is, I don't understand why TV don't put air condition units outside instead of Heat Pumps. Heat pumps like most say, last about 10 to 15 yrs. Air Condition units last a lot longer. Mine up north, & I know we only ran our air conditioning only 5 or 6 months up there a yr. & they would last 20+ yrs. I had one that lasted the 22 yrs. that we lived in one house & still worked when we moved. I guess the reason I'm asking this question is, it just doesn't seem like TV gives us the best buck for our money here. Any one out there that knows or works on Heat Pumps or Air Conditions? Like to get a professional answer not just someone that backing up TV, & please I'm not trying to be mean, just curious!
In this climate, heat pumps are the best way to go if you want an all electric system. Most northern houses have a natural gas furnace and an electric air conditioner. They did not install natural gas to the newer homes, south of 466A and north of Fenney. Heat pumps are not very efficient when the weather gets very cold, so they are not installed very often in the north. But they are great for Florida. I believe they are installing natural gas to the Fenney neighborhoods, but I don't know if they are offering the option for a natural gas furnace. Personally, I like the all electric heat pump, water heater, and stove and don't mind at all that my house does not have natural gas.

[aviator]

Asianthree, I would like to know the name of the company the tried to rip you off for 12000 bucks.

[retiredguy123]

Which ACE hardware? I went to Wildwood ACE and bought a 19x20x4 filter for $29.95 - a very competitive price. Where can I get the same filter for half that?
Well, apparently the Flanders 19 x 20 x 4 inch filter costs $30 at ACE Hardware, but the 16 x 20 x 4 inch one is only $15. Go figure. Sorry.

[aviator]

4 years ago I added on a large, all glass Florida room to my 3/2 Courtyard Villa. They wanted to put a mini split air conditioner hanging on the wall, to air condition the new room. That was about $4600.00.I didn't like the looks of that hanging on my wall. The units on my house had been installed and we're only about 8 years old and working correctly. I then priced replacing the entire house air and heat systems, I had to increase the size capacity to accommodate the new room. They replaced the air conditioner outside, the coils in the furnace and a brand new larger capacity furnace, and a new digital thermostat. The contractor had to pull new Ductwork the entire length of the house to the new room. 2 ducts,air in,& air return. 3 new duct boxes and grills, large return air box and Grill. All this came to $6,000 cash, out the door. And then I still got the rebates from the electric company and the gas company. Which if I remember right came to about seven or eight hundred dollars. So to recap I replaced everything in my house and added a new room all the ducting everything needed, labor material everything 6 grand, less the rebates. The contractor was Santos out of Wildwood. And all the new units came with the warranty as well.

[Topspinmo]

How long should the compressor last on a AC system?

My home almost never gets to the temperature that I set although (oddly) it doesn’t run constantly either.

The problem presents especially on hot days—no surprise.

The room temperature on the thermostat agrees with two other thermometers.

If it matters, 3/2 courtyard villa. Sun-facing windows have blinds and lanai has awning.

If I have to replace the compressor, what is a reasonable pirice?

TIA.

How long does air compressor pump last? Right after the warranty runs out! Is your CYV concrete or wood? IMO with heat in attic and concrete builds heat in afternoon. You A/C will have hard time keeping up or will run off and on every 15 or 20 mins till the sun goes down.

[WalkerLoop]

I concur with having Chuck Farrell's Air Conditioning & Heating (352-633-9364) take a look at your system. A friend of mine used to own/operate a HVAC/Heating company up North. He had Chuck Farrell's replace 4 systems for him in The Villages; was very impressed with their work and recommended them to me. I had them replace my entire system and they did excellent work at a reasonable price.

[OhioBuckeye]

In this climate, heat pumps are the best way to go if you want an all electric system. Most northern houses have a natural gas furnace and an electric air conditioner. They did not install natural gas to the newer homes, south of 466A and north of Fenney. Heat pumps are not very efficient when the weather gets very cold, so they are not installed very often in the north. But they are great for Florida. I believe they are installing natural gas to the Fenney neighborhoods, but I don't know if they are offering the option for a natural gas furnace. Personally, I like the all electric heat pump, water heater, and stove and don't mind at all that my house does not have natural gas.

Thanks for your input & it did make sense, I did have gas heat when I lived in the north & you're right people that had Heat Pumps in the north did say they only lasted about 15 yrs. if you're lucky, but they did say when it got to 0 or below 0 they didn't do a very good job & a good friend of mine did say it was cheaper to use.:coolsmiley: Thanks again for your input!

[Henryk]

Thank you to everyone for your replies. Still contemplating options.

[ColdNoMore]

Thank you to everyone for your replies. Still contemplating options.

Just curious...on a gloomy Sunday afternoon.

Have you had the chance to get someone check it out...and find out what the problem is/was?

And the cost for remedial action?