ESCO Air Conditioning Practice Exam 2026 - Free AC Certification Practice Questions and Study Guide

Running the unit without sufficient refrigerant or with improper lubrication is a common cause of compressor failure in air conditioning units. Compressors rely on refrigerant to absorb heat from the indoor environment and circulate it through the system. When the refrigerant level is low, the compressor can overheat because it is working harder than necessary to achieve the desired cooling effect. This excessive strain can lead to mechanical failure of the compressor.

Similarly, proper lubrication is essential for a compressor's moving parts. Without adequate lubrication, friction between components increases, which can result in overheating and ultimately lead to compressor breakdown. This highlights the importance of regular maintenance checks to ensure the refrigerant levels are appropriate and that lubrication is sufficient to keep the compressor operating smoothly.

The other choices may contribute to issues within an air conditioning system, but they are not as directly associated with compressor failure as insufficient refrigerant and improper lubrication. Regular wear and tear over time is a general factor affecting many mechanical components but does not specifically correlate with a sudden failure as severely as the lack of refrigerant or lubrication. Extreme temperatures and high humidity can affect overall system performance but do not directly cause compressor malfunction in the same manner as refrigerant and lubrication issues.