How To Change A Compressor On A Refrigerator

The compressor is the heart of your refrigerator. It is the part that pumps the refrigerant through the coils and creates the cooling effect. The compressor is also one of the most expensive and complex parts of your refrigerator. If it fails, your refrigerator will stop working and your food will spoil. But how to change a compressor on a refrigerator? The answer is you should not attempt to change a compressor on a refrigerator by yourself, unless you are a trained and licensed professional. Changing a compressor on a refrigerator is a difficult, dangerous, and potentially illegal job that requires special tools, skills, and knowledge. In this post, we’ll explain why you should not change a compressor on a refrigerator by yourself and what you should do instead.

Changing a compressor on a refrigerator by yourself can cause serious harm to yourself, your refrigerator, and the environment. You can risk electric shock, fire, explosion, injury, or death. You can also damage your refrigerator or void its warranty. You can also release harmful refrigerants into the atmosphere, which can contribute to global warming and ozone depletion.

Why You Should Not Change A Compressor On A Refrigerator By Yourself

Changing a compressor on a refrigerator by yourself is not a DIY job for several reasons. Here are some of them:

• It requires special tools and equipment. To change a compressor on a refrigerator, you need special tools and equipment, such as a manifold gauge set, a vacuum pump, a recovery machine, a scale, a charging hose, an electronic leak detector, a blow torch, and soldering materials. These tools and equipment are expensive and not readily available for most homeowners.
• It requires special skills and knowledge. To change a compressor on a refrigerator, you need special skills and knowledge, such as how to identify the type and model of your refrigerator and compressor, how to check for leaks and diagnose the problem, how to remove and dispose of the old refrigerant safely and legally, how to remove and install the new compressor correctly and securely, how to add and measure the new refrigerant accurately and efficiently, how to test and adjust the system properly and safely.
• It requires special licenses and certifications. To change a compressor on a refrigerator, you need special licenses and certifications, such as an EPA Section 608 certification for handling refrigerants. Refrigerants are regulated substances that can harm the environment if released improperly. You can face fines or penalties if you violate the EPA regulations for refrigerant handling.
• It involves high risks and liabilities. To change a compressor on a refrigerator, you involve high risks and liabilities, such as electric shock, fire, explosion, injury, or death. You can also damage your refrigerator or void its warranty if you make any mistakes or use incompatible parts. You can also harm the environment or face legal consequences if you release refrigerants improperly.

What You Should Do Instead

If you suspect that your refrigerator compressor is faulty or needs to be replaced, you should do the following instead:

• Contact a professional fridge repair expert. The best thing to do is to contact a professional fridge repair expert who has the tools, skills, knowledge, licenses, certifications, insurance, and experience to change a compressor on a refrigerator safely and correctly. A professional fridge repair expert can diagnose the problem accurately, provide you with an estimate of the cost and time of the repair, obtain the right parts for your unit, perform the repair efficiently and effectively, test and adjust the system properly and safely, dispose of the old refrigerant legally and responsibly.
• Compare the cost of repair vs replacement. Before you decide to change a compressor on a refrigerator, you should compare the cost of repair vs replacement. Changing a compressor on a refrigerator can cost anywhere from $325 to $445 on average (plus labor), depending on the type and model of your unit. This can be more than half of the cost of buying a new refrigerator. You should also consider other factors such as the age and condition of your unit (if it is more than 10 years old or has other problems), the energy efficiency of your unit (if it consumes more electricity than newer models), the warranty of your unit (if it covers parts and labor for compressor replacement), etc.

FAQs

Q: How do I know if my refrigerator compressor is bad?

A: Some signs that your refrigerator compressor is bad are:

• Your refrigerator is not cooling enough or at all
• Your refrigerator is making loud or unusual noises
• Your refrigerator is vibrating excessively
• Your refrigerator is tripping the circuit breaker
• Your refrigerator is leaking oil or refrigerant

Q: How long does it take to change a compressor on a refrigerator?

A: The time it takes to change a compressor on a refrigerator depends on several factors such as the type and model of your unit, the availability of the parts, the complexity of the job, etc. On average, it can take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours to change a compressor on a refrigerator.

Q: How often does a refrigerator compressor need to be replaced?

A: A refrigerator compressor is designed to last for the lifetime of your unit, which is usually 10 to 15 years. However, some factors can affect the lifespan of your compressor, such as power surges, voltage fluctuations, poor ventilation, dust accumulation, etc. You should maintain your refrigerator regularly and check for any signs of compressor failure.

Conclusion

Changing a compressor on a refrigerator is not a DIY job that you should attempt by yourself. It is a difficult, dangerous, and potentially illegal job that requires special tools, skills, knowledge, licenses, certifications, etc. You should contact a professional fridge repair expert who can change a compressor on a refrigerator safely and correctly. You should also compare the cost of repair vs replacement before you decide to change a compressor on a refrigerator.