📖 Glossary, Part
What is a compressor?
The pump at the heart of the sealed system that circulates refrigerant, the most expensive part in a fridge.
The compressor raises the pressure and temperature of refrigerant gas so it can shed heat at the condenser. It is the single most expensive component in a refrigerator and replacing it is sealed system work requiring EPA certification. A compressor that clicks, hums and trips every few minutes is failing to start, but before condemning it, swap test the start relay, because a cheap start device causes identical symptoms. LG’s linear compressors carry a ten year sealed system warranty worth checking before any quote.
Where you’ll meet it
Repairs that involve compressor
Related terms
From the blog
Fridge dead after the power came back? What to keep, what to toss and what to check after an outage.
Heat is hard on compressors. What an Arizona garage does to a fridge.
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