09/22/2025
I saw an ad pop up about a lawsuit on a major VRF and Ductless manufacturer.
Reading the details of the suit, one complaint was about compressor failures.
I have often advised people to perform an oil analysis on every 2nd compressor failure to determine the root cause of failure. I was always told "It's just a mini split". My response was always something like: "It's expensive and eventually someone will sue.".
Another complaint was about performance in low temps on what's considered "low temp systems" (I'm not going to use their name for it). It was about not performing well when it got to -13°, the temp level in which the system was supposed to perform.
Several manufacturers used that temperature but almost never sold the system correctly. They would usually tell the customer that it would heat that low never explained there was a significant loss of capacity way before it reached the -13 point. I warned sales people about not being clear about the capacity loss but was usually told something like: "It rarely gets that cold".
The "lemon law" was also referenced but that's another topic.
On the first two things I listed, I always said that one day there would be lawsuits, and here we are.
After a compressor failure:
-After the first compressor, oil test or not.
-After the second failure on the same system, definitely test the oil.
An oil analysis may reveal red or black oxides, high levels of moisture and possibly sand/dirt and even metals such as iron and copper (amongst other contaminates).
I know what you've been told but, fiter-driers aren't going to remove all the contamination - even the removable core types, because the metals and other particles are smaller what they can filter.
Just remember, the compressor speeds run much higher on inverter-driven systems than the old 60hz systems which means failures will be quicker because the metals and oxides wear off the winding insulation faster.
I could go on but once you get an oil analysis report, see the particle types and sizes, research information about the factory strainers and aftermarket filter driers, you'll see that once a system is contaminated there are very few things that can be done to clean it up.
Hudson Technologies has a machine I have seen work, with before and after oil analyses as proof.
Oil analysis reports we used were performed by Trico Corporation (tricocorp.com) which included information based on what I wanted which included a particle analysis.
Never forget that HVAC systems have become a very expensive maintenance item and mini splits are absolutely not considered "Throw away" toys.
Manufacturers should clearly publish capacity tables and given ambient temperatures in sales and other manuals. Don't make anyone in your sales or support chain have to call a number to get that information.
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