Getting a Second Opinion When Someone Says Your Compressor Is Bad

The compressor is the heart of an air conditioner and the part you least want to replace. So when a technician tells you yours has failed, especially on a system that's barely out of the box, it's reasonable to want to check before you spend the money.

Getting a second opinion isn't rude and it isn't unusual. Here's how to do it well, starting with a story from one of our customers.

One homeowner's story

Joseph Haggerty described this in a Google review. On 3/10, a technician from another company came out for a scheduled semiannual visit on his 14-month-old Amana system and told him the compressor was bad.

Rather than ask that company to send a different tech, he decided to get a second opinion. He called Crossway and, in his words, "I spoke with Ray and candidly told him we were seeking a second opinion." Ray is in our office, and he scheduled the visit for 3/12.

Joseph wrote, "Two techs arrived as scheduled and did a thorough evaluation. The numbers showed nothing wrong with my Amana."

We can't speak for what the first technician measured on 3/10, and a second visit two days later doesn't prove the first was wrong. What the story does show is the value of having numbers on the table when a big repair is on the line.

Why compressors get blamed

A compressor that hums, won't start or keeps tripping the breaker isn't always a failed compressor. A weak run capacitor, a worn contactor, a tripped safety or low voltage at the unit can all produce the same symptoms. Those parts are a small fraction of the cost of a compressor.

Real compressor failures do happen. Windings can short to ground, the motor can seize, and internal parts can wear out. The point isn't that a bad compressor is rare. It's that the diagnosis should rest on measurements, because the repair bill is large if the answer is wrong.

What a real compressor diagnosis includes

Ask what tests were run. A thorough check on a compressor usually involves several of these:

• Voltage at the outdoor unit while the system is trying to run
• Amp draw on the compressor, compared with the rated load amps on the data plate
• A capacitor test with a meter, not just a visual look at the can
• Inspection of the contactor for pitted or burned contacts
• Winding resistance and a check for a short to ground
• Refrigerant pressures, along with superheat and subcooling

If a technician says the compressor is bad, you can ask which of these tests showed it and what the numbers were. A straight answer is a good sign. Vague answers are a reason to pause.

What to ask for

Ask to see the readings. Most technicians today work from a tablet or digital gauges, so it's easy to show you the screen or take a photo. Ask for the model and serial number to be written on the estimate, along with the specific finding that points to the compressor.

On a newer system, also ask what manufacturer coverage applies and whether the unit was registered. Terms vary by brand and by when the system was installed, so ask the company that sold or installed it rather than guessing.

And ask for the diagnosis in writing before you decide anything. That paperwork also gives the second company something to compare against.

How to ask for a second opinion

Do what Joseph did and be candid. Tell the second company you want a second opinion on what you were told. There's no reason to hide it, and a good shop won't mind. Share any paperwork from the first visit so the new technician knows what was reported.

You also don't have to argue with the first technician or accuse anyone. You're a homeowner asking for a double check on a large expense, which is a sensible thing to do.

Unless your house has no cooling at all in brutal weather, you usually have time for that second look. A compressor repair is rarely a decision that has to be made within the hour. If someone is rushing you, slow down.

Where Joseph's visit ended

In his review, Joseph said he'd had Amana equipment at previous homes with "no negative experience, so was very relieved!" He added that he'd found a new company to handle his regular maintenance.

A second opinion costs you one visit. Replacing a compressor that was fine costs far more, and a repair done for the wrong reason doesn't fix the symptom you started with.

If someone has told you a major part of your AC has failed and you'd like a second look, see /services/air-conditioning or call 832-250-6191.