When a cooling system fails during the summer season, the majority of homeowners will assume that the whole unit is faulty. But in reality, it's the smaller Air Conditioning Parts, the components working behind the scenes, that typically wear out first. Being an AC shop owner that services hundreds of units a season, I have noticed that the failures occurring are the same over and over, no matter the brand or age of the units. Knowing what components malfunction most frequently is not only beneficial to the HVAC technicians in making diagnoses more quickly, but the information is also useful in allowing the customer to make knowledgeable choices regarding the repair.
Below is a complete, expert breakdown of the AC components most prone to failure, why these issues occur, and how sourcing high-quality parts from a trusted air conditioning parts supplier can reduce long-term repair costs.
At the top of the failure list is the capacitor, the start capacitors as well as the run capacitors. They are small electrical parts that store and release energy that allows motors (compressor, fan, blower) to start and operate correctly. Once weakening, burning or collapsing, the system itself has difficulties with starting or overheating in the process.
Why capacitors fail frequently:
Since they operate silently and progressively, most homeowners are unaware of the fact that they work under weak capacitors until the compressor stops functioning. Keeping a steady supply of reliable capacitors from air conditioner parts online ensures fast replacements and fewer callbacks.
The task of the contactor is not complicated: the electrical power is to pass through the compressor and the condenser fan. However, due to the number of times it is used dozens of times a day the contacts ultimately pit or burn.
Why contactors fail:
When your clients complain of poor intermittent cooling or humming units that do not start, then the suspect will be the contactor.
The compressor is the heart of the AC system and unfortunately one of the most expensive air conditioning replacement parts to repair or replace. Although compressors are durable, they do malfunction particularly in the older ones, or those which had not been serviced appropriately.