When problems occur with your air conditioning system, you may begin to worry that the AC system itself needs replacement. And often, an AC needs replacement because the compressor has gone bad. The compressor is one of the most important—and costly—parts of your air conditioning system, so you want to protect it as much as possible to prevent an air conditioning replacement. In this guide, we’ve got some advice for you to prevent compressor damage, and how to tell if your compressor might be in trouble.