Had to choose between OEM and generic compressor for a fridge in Cleveland last month

Went with the generic to save 80 bucks on a 10 year old unit. Thing ran loud for 3 days then seized up. Customer wanted her money back and I had to eat the labor. Has anyone else had better luck with off-brand compressors or am I just asking for trouble?

2 comments

2 Comments

cora_perez1mo ago

... and that's exactly why I always ask guys what the ambient temp is gonna be before I touch a fridge in Cleveland. You said you went generic on a 10 year old unit, but were you dealing with a standard R134a or one of those R600a retrofits? Cause I've seen those cheap compressors just flat out refuse to start in cold weather if they're not the right spec for the refrigerant, and that's probably why it seized so fast. Was this one of those off-brands from like Ebay or one of the more known generic brands people actually use for warranty?

amymiller27d ago

The Copeland I put in was an R134a model, but the old unit was actually an R600a retrofit that the homeowner had done himself a few years back. I actually had to go back and check the spec sheets because the generic I pulled out had a different oil type than what the compressor maker recommended for that conversion. In my experience, the cold start issue is more about the start capacitor and relay than the brand itself, I've seen name brand units fail in the same way when the ambient temp drops below 50 degrees and nobody bothered to clean the condenser coils. Off-brands from Ebay are a gamble, sure, but the known generics like Secop or Embraco usually hold up fine if you match the refrigerant and voltage right.