3 techs = 3 different answers.

[MrLakeShow]

My Carrier system that was installed late in 2018 suddenly stopped cooling efficiently. By that i mean it's still blowing cold'ish air but not cold enough. The system can't keep up. For the first 3 years it was working well. On the hottest days (triple digits) I'd set it to 72 and the temps would reach 72 degrees within a couple of hours and stay consistent throughout the day. We've recently had temps of low 90's, with inside temps reaching to 80/81.  The system only managed to bring the temps down to 77 and would not go any lower until it started to cool outside 7-8 hours later.

I now had a total of 3 different techs from 3 different companies come out. First tech was from the company that installed the system. Told me it's a bad compressor because he heard noise coming from the compressor. I honestly have no clue if he even diagnosed the system. The unit is on the roof of the townhouse and I could not go up with him. For all I know he based his conclusion on the noise alone. So I got a second tech to come out for a second opinion. This time I was told it was my capacitor??? Of course a new cap did not solve the issue. Third tech could not find anything wrong with the system. All the numbers came out within manufacturer's specs. He checked the furnace as well and could not find fault. He did confirm that there is slight noise coming from the compressor, but at the same time he told me that his diagnostic software is telling him the compressor is running as it should.

Can a compressor be bad while the numbers are within spec?

Last night I took a second look at the compressor replacement quote i received in the email from the company that installed the system, and noticed that along with the compressor they want to install a new filter drier and do a leak repair. Is this a standard procedure?

I looked up the symptoms of a bad filter drier and it matches the symptoms my AC is exhibiting. Unusual noise, not cooling efficiently, and there is a slight odor coming from the registers. It's a faint odor of plastic or maybe mold? Not a burning plastic smell, but the smell of a plastic bag with a hint of moldy odor if that makes sense. Although this smell only seems to be coming from the registers upstairs in the smaller bedrooms and not in the main bedroom or downstairs in the living room. Weird!

With the refrigerant prices going through the roof, the quote I got over 6 months ago to replace the compressor is no longer valid and is now $700 more. I just want to make sure it's the compressor and not something else like the filter drier before I give them the go ahead on the job.

[tenletters]

You replace a filter drier anytime you open the refrigeration system up, which you would be doing with a new compressor. They added leak repair because you have a leak in the system. When you lose refrigerant, the AC runs longer and if you have lost enough, you do not cool properly.

[MrLakeShow]

A leak? So a bad compressor and a leak. Did I get a lemon? Interestingly enough the third tech that was here last told me refrigerant level was perfect.

[Sergroum]

Set aside the tech #2 guy.


A few possibilities here.


Your compressor really is bad.

 It wouldnt cause any smells (nor would filter drier). And the leak addition is just a way their invoice program designates leak testing. Any time the refrigerant system is open (refrigerant is sucked out and the inside of the system is exposed to air) we would change a filter drier. And any time we'd reclose the systwm, we would test the system for leaks.

Some companies consider it as part of the job and add it into the price of whatever they are doing.  Others break up the price and show you seperate prices.  Regardless of how its done, most sane technicians would still do it.



Second possibility. You have a leak in the system. 

The first tech saw it and refilled it with gas. Which is why tech#3 couldnt see a problem. But then you'd have proper cooling again. For however long the gas lasts as it will leak out again.


None of that explains smells. I would recheck airflow. Always a good idea to confirm your airflow is good. The evaporation coil could be plugged, or there might be a ducting issue.

[MrLakeShow]

Talked to the company again and they are now saying the technician made a mistake when he put down "repair leak". They are saying I just need a compressor and of course the new filter drier. 

[NoDIY]

Talked to the company again and they are now saying the technician made a mistake when he put down "repair leak". They are saying I just need a compressor and of course the new filter drier. 

That said. After the compressor and drier are installed..The technician will be performing a pressure test (leak test) that could reveal leaks or simply confirm his work is leak free and the system is leak free before pulling a vacuum on the system and recharging with refrigerant.