I know everyone says to always replace the whole compressor, but I fixed a locked rotor on a 3 year old unit for $40 in parts.

I was at a house in Tampa last Tuesday. The homeowner said their fridge wasn't cooling. I pulled the start relay and gave the compressor a few taps with a rubber mallet while applying power. It kicked right on. I replaced the relay and overload, not the $600 compressor. It's been running fine for a week now. Sometimes the full replacement is just lazy. Anyone else had a win with a simple fix on a 'bad' compressor?

3 comments

3 Comments

murphy.abby23d ago

Exactly, that mallet trick is a lifesaver sometimes.

leeshah23d ago

That trick with the mallet is a classic. Saved a few window units that way back when I did apartment maintenance. Some techs just go straight for the most expensive fix.

taylorc4023d ago

Honestly, I used to be one of those techs who would skip right past the simple fix. Thought it was a bit unprofessional, you know? But seeing a senior guy save a whole compressor with a few careful taps totally changed my mind. It's not about being cheap, it's about actually knowing how the thing works. Now that trick is the first thing I try.