Two-Stage Scroll A/C Compressor From Copeland

Al’s Plumbing, Heating & A/C provides full service plumbing maintenance, repairs and replacements for every plumbing component in your home.  Al’s sells and installs Rheem Professional Series gas & electric water heaters, and tankless water heaters.  Al’s Plumbing, Heating & A/C is near your home in Plano, Allen, and Frisco.  We service all homes in southern Collin and Denton Counties with no additional travel charge.

New!   Two-Stage Scroll A/C Compressor Offers

Higher Energy Efficiency Than Single-Stage 

Image Source: Embedded YouTube Video

Copeland Scroll™ UltraTech™ Compressor

™In January of 2017 – Emerson (the manufacturer) announced a Two-Stage Copeland (brand name) Scroll™ (compressor type) A/C Compressor.  This Second Generation Scroll Compressor offers higher energy-efficiency than the single-stage scroll compressor.

Most importantly, Two-Stage Compressors operate at two different speeds, allowing them to more closely match their cooling or (heat pump) heating output to the current needs of the home.  Emerson designed the Two-Stage Copeland Scroll A/C compressor to operate at 65% & 100% capacity, to deliver higher energy efficiency during times when full operating capacity is not needed (due to milder weather).  A scroll compressor is designed to operate in a circular motion.  A reciprocating / piston compressors operates in an up-and-down motion.

What Is A Scroll A/C Compressor?

The Scroll Compressor contains 1 fixed coil in the center of the unit.  A second coil rotates around the fixed coil.  The rotating coil pushes refrigerant towards the center which compresses it.   Until recently the Scroll A/C Compressor operated at only 1 speed.  Reciprocating (piston) Compressors can operate at many different speeds.

Now, scroll Copeland brand compressors can be either Single-Stage or Two-Stage.  Two-stage units provide partial-load & full-load capacity within a single compressor.  Scroll compressors change capacity while they are running.   Reciprocating compressors operate at partial-load capacity by shutting off refrigerant flow to some of their cylinders.  Depending on the size of the compressor, a reciprocating compressor can have as many as 8 cylinders.

Click On The White Arrow In The Image Above To Watch How A Scroll Compressor Works.

What Is A Reciprocating (Piston) A/C Compressor?

The Reciprocating Compressor is the most common type of AC compressor.  A piston compresses the refrigerant by moving up & down inside of a cylinder (much like a car engine cylinder).  As the piston moves down, it creates a vacuum that sucks in refrigerant. As the piston moves up, the gas compresses.  A reciprocating air conditioning  can have up to 8 cylinders within the compressor (depending on its cooling capacity).

Click On The Arrow In The Image Below To Watch How A Reciprocating (piston) Compressor Works.

Image Source: Embedded YouTube Video

Scroll Compressors Are Tall & Narrow.  Reciprocating Compressors Are Short & Wide.

Its outside appearance will tell you which type of compressor it is.

 Scroll A/C Compressor

 Reciprocating A/C Compressor

One-Speed, Tw0-Stage & Variable-Speed A/C Compressors

There Are 4 Types Of Residential A/C Compressors:

• Single-Stage (1 speed)  — Can Be A Scroll or a Reciprocating / Piston Compressor.

• Two-Stage (2 speeds) — Can Be a Copeland Scroll™ UltraTech™ Compressor or a Reciprocating / Piston Compressor.

• Multiple-Stage (around 1o speeds).  Only Reciprocating / Piston Compressors.

• Variable-Speed (runs at many speeds).  Only Reciprocating / Piston Compressors.

The most expensive A/C systems can run at various speeds.  The ability to run at many different speeds allows the compressor to match its output to the current cooling-demand of the home.  Until recently, only reciprocating / piston compressors were able to be used in Two-Stage or Variable-Speed Systems.

The amount of electricity used with a Two-Stage Scroll A/C compressor is much like an automobile driven at either of two speeds.  When the engine is running at a higher speed, it consumes more fuel.  Reduce the car’s speed from 70 mph to 55 mph and gasoline consumption decreases.   When it’s 95 degrees outside, a Two-Stage a/c is typically running at full capacity (speed).  When it’s 70 degrees, a Two-Stage compressor runs at 2/3 capacity, and use less electricity.

Until recently, scroll compressors could only run at full speed.  This put them at a disadvantage with Two-Stage (multi speed) reciprocating compressors.  The 2nd Generation Two-Stage Scroll Compressor allows it to compete with Two-Stage piston compressors by being able to run at either 65% or 100% capacity.

American Standard & Ameristar HVAC Brands

• Al’s Plumbing, Heating & A/C sells American Standard (same manufacturer as Trane) as our premium line of Central A/C or Heat Pump.

• We offer the value brand AmeriStar (made by American Standard — but with Copeland Brand scroll compressors).

• ALL American Standard & Trane brand Central A/C & Heat Pumps have a ClimaTuff® brand Reciprocating / Piston Compressor.
• ClimaTuff® is a proprietary-design compressor available ONLY in American Standard & Trane brands.

• The AmeriStar brand (value brand made by American Standard) does NOT have ClimaTuff® Compressors.  Ameristar has Copeland Scroll Compressors.

• Nearly all other a/c central brands have a Copeland™ Reciprocating / Piston compressors or Copeland Scroll compressors.
• Consumer Reports did a reliability study of Central A/C Brands with 14,452 respondents.
• American Standard was rated the most reliable, with only 15% reporting a repair was needed in the first 5 years. *
• A brand that uses Copeland Scroll Compressors reported 22% needing a repair in first 5 years. *
• * These numbers are not limited to problems with the compressor.  They represent breakdowns of all types.
• Some marketing claims are that scroll compressors are more reliable.
• Based only upon this study, there is no evidence that scroll compressors are more reliable than reciprocating / piston compressor.

• The American Standard Silver (SEER-14) A/C with ClimaTuff® compressor operates at 71-75 decibels (outdoors).
• Another brand of SEER-14 A/C with scroll compressor states “operates as low as 73 decibels. **
• Some marketing claims are that scroll compressors are more quiet.
• Based on published noise levels, there is no evidence that scroll compressors are more quiet than reciprocating / piston compressors.

** SOURCE: https://www.furnacecompare.com/air-conditioners/goodman/gsx14.html

The ClimaTuff ® A/C & Heat Pump Compressor

It’s common knowledge that American Standard & Trane brands (made by the same company) have a reputation for being reliable and long lasting.  What is less well know is that  ClimaTuff® brand Reciprocating / Piston  Heat Pump Compressors are notably more quiet during defrost mode.  The time a Heat Pump makes the most noise is while it’s defrosting the coils in the outside unit.  The noise only applies to Heat Pumps (not central a/c) during defrost cycles. 

Click Here To Hear Heat Pump Noise Level When Defrosting:  Goodman (brand) & American Standard (time 3:40) Heat Pumps During Defrost.

ClimaTuff® compressors have a well know reputation for long life spans.  On Trane’s website, they tell about “Snowball I” — a ClimaTuff® compressor that ran continuously for nearly 28 years!

The original “Snowball I” Climatuff® compressor began its life in late 1972, running nearly 28 years under the same lab standards and encasing itself in a ball of ice.  It ran at an estimated 3,500 rpm, equaling an automobile running around 65 miles per hour and covering 14.8 million miles. Now, that’s a road trip!

After 28 years, 5 presidents, and the rise & fall of disco, glam rock and grunge music, “Snowball I” finally ran out of steam.  It left a legacy in the name of the patented American Standard & Trane Climatuff® compressor found in every American Standard & Trane air conditioner & heat pump today.

Image Source: Embedded YouTube Video

Al’s Plumbing, Heating & A/C provides full service plumbing maintenance, repairs and replacements for every plumbing component in your home.  Al’s sells and installs Rheem Professional Series gas & electric water heaters, and tankless water heaters.  Al’s Plumbing, Heating & A/C is near your home in Murphy, Rowlette, and Wylie.  We service all homes in southern Collin and Denton Counties with no additional travel charge.