Notgrownup
Well-known member
23 year old 3 ton unit condenser still blows, inside unit still blows. Got a feeling it will be the compressor but will find out tomorrow or Thursday.
A/C just died.
- Thread starter Notgrownup
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micromind
Well-known member
23 years is quite a run for a single phase compressor.
Usually you can hear the compressor running, not always but usually.
Usually you can hear the compressor running, not always but usually.
OccupantRJ
Well-known member
Didn’t I say you jinxed it when you talked about it’s age the other day? My package unit died a few years back, so I ordered a Goodman unit online with tailgate delivery and set it myself. I just looked today for curiosity and a 2.5 ton was running about $4-5k you can get warranty if installed professionally and registered. I took it’s life into my own hands. I had a 2.5 split unit installed in a mobile home in Greenville area 3 years ago and it was $4,200 done in half a day.
OP
Notgrownup
Well-known member
I’m not gonna attempt that one. I will leave it to a trade to do this one. I will see what my guy says . Might be fixable, who knows. I have a PTAC in my sunroom going and a small window unit and I just went to Lowe’s and bought one of those GE profile saddle style window units. $569. Not cheap but 12 months same as cash helps. Got my central system on fan only for recirculating…
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Test the cap?
And the contactor.
OP
Notgrownup
Well-known member
It’s cool in the house. I’m gonna let my guy check it all out
danski0224
Well-known member
At least you got every penny out of it, and can take your time replacing it...
OP
Notgrownup
Well-known member
$220 . Capacitor. Damn . I’m buying some lotto tickets tonight
RonnieC
Well-known member
Congrats! Can you return the other unit to Lowe’s?
OP
Notgrownup
Well-known member
I. Am going to keep it for Hurricane prep. I can run that with my generator.
OccupantRJ
Well-known member
I also have a backup unit set up for that reason along with the fact that we have an English bulldog that can't take the heat. She has a fan in the shop when she does happen to come see what is going on. Sometimes I work with only the door open and no AC if I will be in there only a short time.
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Our capacitor just went on Saturday. Ace Hardware was the only place who had them in stock. Kid at the counter told me at least a dozen people had been there the last 2 days to buy replacement capacitors.
I wasn't sure it was the capacitor but figured $40 was worth the gamble. Ace Hardware told me to return it if it didn't work.
I wasn't sure it was the capacitor but figured $40 was worth the gamble. Ace Hardware told me to return it if it didn't work.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
For a $12 cap. May be worth understanding how to diagnose and replace it yourself
junkyardwarrior
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 17, 2014
- Messages
- 176
just did mine. same symptom. I have to replace the cap about once a year so I figured it was the cap. Condenser fan runs fine. Furnace fan runs fine (inside). Compressor not running. Tested the cap, fine. Put a new one on anyway, no go. Did amp draw on the compressor and it's shooting 250A or so, then falls off. Compressor is dead. That was last Wednesday. I called the HVAC people and they verified my findings. It's a 31 year old system (nat gas) and I knew that the evaporator was getting rusty (I clean it onced a year) and I knew that the inducer fan is getting noisy (bearings..). Compressor is about $2500. Then what's the next component to fail? Based on what I could see, probably evap, and they aren't cheap either. I just told them to replace the entire system with a new one. They are here now doing it. $6800 total. I don't have time to do it myself or I would, but honestly I don't feel like doing it anyway--and y'all that are married, you know that if the wife ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. I've been throwing money in the bank every paycheck for this, so it's time. I actually will still have about $3500 left after it's paid for. Over-budgeted I guess but that's better than the other way.
2.5 ton system, 1200' house.
2.5 ton system, 1200' house.
niget2002
Well-known member
This reminds me... I need to go check my shelf. I usually keep a spare, but I think I used it over the winter.
OP
Notgrownup
Well-known member
I know. But I’m leaving tomorrow on vacation and I really didn’t have time to so I think for a service call that ain’t that bad. Plus my spare cap was bad anyway so I will order a new one and keep on hand. You’re right though. At least I don’t need a new unit
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Absolutely. In the grand scheme, that price is about as good as I would expect for a service call and cap replacement
JohnX14
Well-known member
$20 part. I changed the one at my parents'n house last week. But $200 for the call isn't out of line. For anyone wanting to keep one on hand, they make an adjustable capacitor. Google AmRad Turbo 200 UIniversal Motor-Run Capacitor. It replaces 2.5 - 67.5 MFD units.
The same time spent running to Lowes and screwing around with a window unit you probably do not need and you would have fixed it for maybe $20, instead of almost $800 for the window unit and the service call, but it is your money and you didn't save any time!
OP
Notgrownup
Well-known member
Whatever. It’s done now and I have a spare unit we can use during power outages. Took me 15 minutes to go to LOWES and pick up dinner at the same time.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
We need to know how much the Lowes trip added to the dinner pickup in order to give you the proper amount of grief.
OP
Notgrownup
Well-known member
No ****. But it was $29. I. Blessed enough that it ain’t gonna break me to save that window unit for a rainy day instead of scrambling before or during a hurricane. It will be right there in the shop waiting to be used or let one of my family members use it if they need it like my 2 generators. I don’t know if y’all have ever tried to buy either on around a hurricane?
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mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Don't try to deflect! There is ball busting you are owed!
My comment about the cost on the cap wasn't to hassle, it was purely to highlight the opportunity, in case you wanted to dig in. I've written plenty of checks to have other people do stuff that I don't want to or don't have time for. No shade from me!
OP
Notgrownup
Well-known member
I’m fine, I’m medicated as I fell in my shop on my tailbone . now I have big 12” crack in my ***.
OP
Notgrownup
Well-known member
Leaving in the Morning on my Motorcycle for Canada. Trying to get everything done before I go.
RalphInCA
Well-known member
Lots of discussion about bad capacitors here.
I am wondering if simply changing out the capacitor at the beginning of each year or season might be good preventive maintenance.
$12 on Amazon.
I am wondering if simply changing out the capacitor at the beginning of each year or season might be good preventive maintenance.
$12 on Amazon.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
If you can swap out a cap every year, you can do it when the need actually arises and not waste the time and money.
welder4956
Well-known member
Just went through this with my son's AC. Bad high pressure switch, then the capacitor went out and the fan motor died. $200 service call for the pressure switch. Fan motor was already squeaking when the pressure switch was replaced, then it just quit. I put in a new cap and it ran for one day before the fan quit again. Replaced the 1/5 HP fan motor with a universal 1/4 HP and it runs fine now. Wondering if he had a lightning strike nearby.
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Buy the AMRAD and be done. They offer a 5 year warranty - mine has been in service 15 years with no issues.
Stuff does go bad, but the newer (post 2015) have fallen off a cliff.
The things I'm hearing about units later is downright awful. Just look at new cars. Multiple computers, engines that don't last, replacement parts outrageously priced. There's a reason why new car lots have 2 year old vehicles overflowing the lots with no takers.
I ran across a Trane system at a surplus place for $200. Condenser, evap coil, and gas furnace. 1995 unit. Back when Trane built them right. Climatuff compressor, spine fin cond coil, copper and aluminum tube evap coil. I think it was 12 SEER back then. Thirty-one years old but I was so tempted to buy it and rebuild it. Bet ya there's stiff live in that old thing.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I think that's more a commentary on inflation, stagnant wages and rising interest rates than concern over how many computers a car has. If anything, that would drive people to new, in-warranty vehicles
danski0224
Well-known member
Because they are priced at $500 less than new?
Plus higher used car financing rates?
Plus an odometer reading that's near or over the mileage limit for the OEM warranty?
And the person that traded it in got 50% or less than new price?
got me.
OP
Notgrownup
Well-known member
Well I took off on the bike and 1 hour into it I had to turn around and park the bike and drive The Nautilus. At least I’m comfortable. We are on the Gaspe coast already and will be with my family tomorrow night. Very blessed.
I hope you all can see these nice sights I’ve seen. The ferry ride today was a bit chilly on the St Lawrence river for Mrs Notgrownup.
I hope you all can see these nice sights I’ve seen. The ferry ride today was a bit chilly on the St Lawrence river for Mrs Notgrownup.
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Slice it how you will.
$80,000 new trucks are ridiculous. So are $12,000 A/C's.
You can't blame $300 run cap replacements or $600 condenser motor replacements on inflation. It's contractor pricing - they charge what they know that they can get because they have people over a barrel. Someone once said, "If they can't afford A/C then they can sweat!" When I did service it was a SERVICE - not just money grabbing. How hard is it to replace a capacitor? Takes 20 minutes? And companies charge $300 for that? Criminal IMHO.
New cars are like $80,000 to $100, 000. Just check Youtube for countless videos of new car lots overstocked with overpriced vehicles that won't sell. Not used cars - new. So no used car financing rates, no warranties about to expire, no person who traded in and got gipped. New cars.Because they are priced at $500 less than new?
Plus higher used car financing rates?
Plus an odometer reading that's near or over the mileage limit for the OEM warranty?
And the person that traded it in got 50% or less than new price?
The same happens with A/C. I use to repair units up to the cost became more than 1/2 the price of new. With the rates modern companies are charging I'd be busier than a rooster in a henhouse repairing older - and in my opinion, better - units to keep my customers going.
Everyone...
Check your local big orange store, I noticed mine has a dozen or more cap sizes on the shelf.
Right next to Tstats.
At least you'll know a local place to get one in a pinch. Might not be the best price, but shop around when you're not in dire need.
Check your local big orange store, I noticed mine has a dozen or more cap sizes on the shelf.
Right next to Tstats.
At least you'll know a local place to get one in a pinch. Might not be the best price, but shop around when you're not in dire need.
danski0224
Well-known member
If you were in the business, then you should (maybe) know a bit about pricing. And I will agree that there might be a fine line between pricing the whole job correctly and making a profit (the two examples above) and outright greed with the "let 'em sweat" mentality.
Then there are the "how much profit is enough" discussions.
And to continue the automotive theme, why is it OK for car repair shops (independent or dealer) to bill out at over $200 an hour (recent independent experience) and over $300 an hour (dealer experience) for "book time" and it is NOT OK for HVAC repair to operate the same way? And these for-profit entities sell their parts at retail (and even retail +).
I have seen some of these videos, but have not watched them for a while. "No one" is buying, yet there also seem to be no deals, either. I was looking at a realistic and seemingly endless stream of possible and likely repairs on my 2016 VW that would have easily slipped into 5 figures back in 2024, and my choice was to buy a new overpriced car, as the 2-3 year old ones were not much less than a new one. Today, 50k miles later, I am not sure if the VW would have made it without significant additional work- plus the possible missed work days due to a broken car.
Cheaper than a new car to fix it? Sure. Worth it? Debateable. At least an independent repair (or self-repair) were options.
I will soon be entering the same issue with another vehicle, a 2015 Sprinter. I have not yet found an independent shop, the shop I go to otherwise does not want to do anything beyond brakes and oil changes on the Sprinter. The dealer is over $300 an hour.
I have been dreading the out of warranty emissions repairs, but buying a new van is ******* expensive, even if I did it 2 or more years ago. A used Sprinter would be an even bigger boondoggle. The Promaster is junk. And I have had zero luck with used.
A "base" typical cargo Transit configuration (LWB and medium roof) on dealer lots in my area is $56k. If I order one, it is over $60k. So I guess there's the window for Sprinter repairs over the next 10 years: anything up to $60k. It goes into the shop today, so I will know soon enough.
A new cargo Sprinter, optioned as close as possible to the one I own now (which is NOT fully loaded) is pushing $70k. I paid $48k for the one I have.
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My comparison to cars was from the quality perspective - not repair costs.
I never subscribed to the situation of "book time" on cars (and "flat rate" with A/C). You make a set chunk - your employees make peanuts. Treating people this way is foolish - they represent your company, and can make or break it. Not adequately compensating them for their efforts is self-destructive. And what we're seeing in the job market is showing major signs of it.
In my opinion, any A/C manufactured after about 2015 is pretty much garbage. The past 5-6 years it has only gotten worse. They just aren't built to last - they are built to fail and make you do an expensive repair, or "it's just better to get a new one". And of course people by and large cannot afford to repair A/C's (or cars for that matter) and can't buy new outright. So they're forced to buy new and make payments. And more and more cars (and A/C's) have a major breakdown before they pay it off. They are like fish in a barrel. Despicable!
My work van was a 2004 Astrovan. Did alot of research on it before buying. They had a reputation for being tough and reliable trucks. It became my personal vehicle in 2018. Stuff has broke on it, sure. Heck, it's over 20 years old! But I wouldn't sell it. Even if it needed an new engine. Immeasurably worth fixing rather than buying the new overpriced junk. Had the ****** replaced, the front end redone, new water pump and oil lines. But it's worth it.
The mechanic said that the truck is the nicest Astrovan he's ever seen. I told him thanks - I work hard to take care of it.
finn
Well-known member
You got screwed.
I paid $178 in Tucson in April.
one man family run business, ( plus a cousin and his son who is learning the business.).
Great guy. I called at 5:30 an he was there at 6:00. He agreed it was likely the cap.
All done in less time then it would have taken me to find the correct cap.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Man, saying someone got screwed over $42 more is a wild take