Compressors are an essential component in the air conditioning, heat pump, and refrigeration system.  The compressor moves the refrigerant through the lines of the system which, with the assistance of fans and blowers, absorbs heat from areas where it is not wanted and moves and discharges the heat into areas where it is not objectionable.  If the compressor fails, the system is not able to effectively perform this heat transfer.

In many instances the original compressor is not readily available.  It may take days, and sometimes even weeks, to obtain the exact replacement.  In some cases the original compressor is no longer available because of obsolescence.  Changes to the original design can result in unavailability.  Perhaps the manufacturer has ceased operations.  Whatever the reason, this can present a real dilemma.  In many instances, having the system down could result in severe health concerns, or financial loss due to product loss.  What can be done?

A replacement compressor may be available.  The replacement may have differences when compared to the original, but will be capable of performing the same task, and sometimes even better than the original.  A suitable replacement may be found by considering the following criteria:

• Cross Reference – Search a reliable cross reference for a match to the original model number.
• Application/Refrigerant – Various applications require different temperatures at which they perform.To accomplish this, a variety of refrigerants are used.These different refrigerants, when pressurized at different levels, will produce different target temperatures during the heat transfer cycle.The compressor must be designed to handle these pressures.The replacement compressor must use the same refrigerant as the original compressor, or an approved alternate.The oil in the compressor must be compatible with the refrigerant.
• Capacity – The capacity of the compressor must be capable of handling the amount of work, or load, of the system.This may be shown as British Thermal Units (BTUs), Tons (12,000 BTUs is generally considered 1 ton), or Horsepower.
• Voltage/Phase/Hertz – The electrical characteristics of the system must be matched.
• Physical Fit – The replacement compressor must be able to fit into the environment.This includes height, width, and mounting configuration (including “footprint”, piping orientation, and location of electrical connections).

Don’t fret if the exact model compressor is not available as a replacement!  By using the key compressor characteristics above, your supplier is equipped to help you find a replacement that will provide years of reliable service.