Air Conditioning - is my compressor shot?

I had problems last summer where the compressor & fan would not start. The tech replaced the capacitor. On the next trip, he installed a hard start kit. The 3rd time, he replaced the thermostat. It stopped working again, but it was September & I had enough A/C repair for 1 summer.

This year, I tried a different company. The tech said the system had a bit too much freon & took some out. He replaced some terminal connectors and the AC worked great for 3 months. On Monday, it didn't seem to be cooling, but the compressor fan was spinning. I flipped the circuit breakers a couple of times. I replaced the filter. It's the hanging basket type & appeared to be missing a small chunk. It sounded like the compressor was running, but the outside fan is blowing cool/cold air. The refrigerant lines did not feel cold & were not sweating like they were on the downstairs unit. I did not see any ice or leaks anywhere.

The unit is abt 12 yrs old. I run the AC very modestly. It is a Lenox 2 ton 10 SEER unit. I have a call in for service, but I'm wondering if this sounds like the compressor is just shot? I hate to replace it if it can be fixed. But this frequent service is getting expensive & inconvenient.

You are experiencing a syndrome known as WOU (worn out unit) the only cure is to replace it unless you have lots of spare bucks and time to fool with it. Now that unit could probably be totally rebuilt and work several more years but you will likely spend as much or more as buying a new system, besides the newer system are big energy savers (save the whales/trees and stuff man) remove the respirator and let the thing die, call it a mercy killing.

Hmm, the tech came out today & fixed me up for another $200. $85 for a service call & $125 for a new Supco hard start kit. I thought the last hard start kit was only about $20, but maybe that's why it didn't last. It was leaking oil and appeared to have burned out a little bit.

The compressor actually started w/o the hard start kit twice, but then wouldn't start a 3rd time. Once the new hard start kit was in it ran great.
So, knowing this do you still think it's time to give up on the unit and get a new one?

Would an aging compressor cause the hard start kit to burn out?

By the way, I don't think there was really a problem w/ the thermostat last year. I think the broken terminals were the cause of 3rd failure last summer.

THX, Lisa

Lisa I would not be in a huge rush to replace it but as you have experienced there is a point where (like a old car) the cost of ongoing maintenance and the time spent messing with it just reachs a break point. I would just start putting aside a bit of cash every month for a replacement starting right now heck if it lasts another 5 years or so you can have a huge chunk of change and get a whole new top of the line system with all the bells and whistles. ps the thermostat is rarely if ever the problem. Sounds like you have found a good tech you wrote down his name right? Next time I needed service I would call for that same guy, tech abilities vary widely LOL