What is Considered a Major Repair in HVAC?

Published On: May 24, 20220 Comments on What is Considered a Major Repair in HVAC?Categories: HVACLast Updated: November 7, 20242.8 min read

HVAC systems face both minor and major repairs. Under EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), major HVAC repairs are defined as any service, maintenance, or repair that involves the removal of the appliances, such as condenser, evaporator, compressor, or auxiliary heat exchanger coil.

Repairan fixing HVAC system

You should search for an HVAC repair in St. Paul if you believe you require a major HVAC repair. Let’s see some examples of what is considered a significant HVAC repair.

Compressor Replacement

Commercial compressors last between eight to ten years, and it does a lot of hard work for your system to function correctly. If you are lucky, you may be dealing with a sensor replacement, but you will need a major repair if your compressor is genuinely faulty. If your compressor doesn’t turn on, the system blows warm air in your home, and the condensing unit keeps losing power, they are all signs of major damage to your HVAC system. Additionally, if there are high vibration levels, making your unit shake when it turns on, it’s struggling to launch its cooling system.

This means that it has problems overcoming the pressure inside. Loud and unusual noises that you aren’t familiar with are additional tell-tale signs. In some cases, some other parts may be faulty, which are minor repairs. However, in the worst case, you may have some electrical problems. The best way to tell is by contacting an HVAC technician and having your unit checked. Visible lubricant or refrigerant leaks are also signs of a failing compressor. Without lubrication, the compressor won’t be able to function correctly. It relies on the refrigerant to cool off as the compressor generates high amounts of heat. Without it, the compressor will shut down.

Repair guy fixing HVAC outside unit

Evaporator Coil Issues

The evaporator coil is an essential part of your HVAC system. Whenever a coating of ice forms around the evaporator coils, it will stop them from working entirely. This will prevent heat absorption, leading to warm air in the supply vents. Some of the most common reasons this happens are low temperatures, low refrigerant, or a malfunction in the defrosting cycle. Several other reasons might lead to a frozen evaporator, some more significant than others, leading to further problems with your HVAC system.

Condenser Replacement

When it comes to your AC’s condenser, a couple of minor and major repairs can occur. Minor repairs include cleaning a dirty coil, lousy capacitor, bad relay switch replacement, or a dirty condenser unit cleaning. When it comes to the major repairs, things get a bit different. For example, a faulty motor will need an entire replacement to work properly again. On the other hand, a damaged coil takes time and labor to repair. In many instances, it isn’t even worth repairing.

Leaks are also issues that you might face with your condenser, and their severity ranges from mild to excessive leaking. Condenser seals and tubes can’t be replaced, and thus you will need a complete replacement. If your condenser unit has some blockage, there are two outcomes. The first one is a good scenario where the jam hasn’t caused further damage, while in the second scenario, it has. Based on the damage, you may need to replace your condenser unit or other parts of your HVAC system.


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