The compressor is the pump that moves refrigerant around the loop. Located in the outdoor condensing unit, it takes low-pressure refrigerant vapor from the indoor evaporator coil and compresses it into high-pressure, high-temperature gas that then releases its heat through the outdoor condenser coil.
Compressors come in single-stage (on/off), two-stage (low and high), and variable-speed (inverter) configurations. Variable-speed compressors run at any output level between roughly 25% and 100%, which dramatically improves humidity control and efficiency.
Compressor failure is the most common reason to replace (rather than repair) an aging HVAC system — they're the single most expensive component, often costing 50%+ of a full system replacement.
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