Don't know what to buy!!!

[danny_barkley]

I am in South Florida.

My Heat Pump Condenser coil leaked out R-22 and my AC is down. Stressful day! The condenser end pipes are oily from about half way up the coil down.

I'm reading about all the manufacturers and everybody says they are all ****.

According to Consumer reports I should be looking at American Standard/Trane or Carrier/Bryant

The unit is 11 years old.

Any body got any suggestions?

 

[Doc]

I like Carrier/Bryant however, I would go with what your local/favorite repair guy works on and has local parts for.

 

[danny_barkley]

I like Carrier/Bryant however, I would go with what your local/favorite repair guy works on and has local parts for.

It seems that none stock parts. They get them from the distributor on an as needed basis.

I shudder to think that folks have a favorite repair guy...

 

[Falcon67]

AFAIK, the units you mentioned all use proprietary parts and may not be stocked by local supply houses. The parts are high buck and inventory taxes dissuade stocking such expensive items. I'm told Goodman and Ruud - probably others - use more generic parts that are likely to be on the shelf locally.

 

[danny_barkley]

AFAIK, the units you mentioned all use proprietary parts and may not be stocked by local supply houses. The parts are high buck and inventory taxes dissuade stocking such expensive items. I'm told Goodman and Ruud - probably others - use more generic parts that are likely to be on the shelf locally.

Hmmm, I'll factor that in.

I am starting the process of getting quotes while waiting for record high temperatures to get here this weekend!



...I'm thinking about sleeping in the pool

 

[danny_barkley]

AFAIK, the units you mentioned all use proprietary parts and may not be stocked by local supply houses. The parts are high buck and inventory taxes dissuade stocking such expensive items. I'm told Goodman and Ruud - probably others - use more generic parts that are likely to be on the shelf locally.

Nevermind, just re-read your post

 

[Ohmthis]

Falcon is correct in his statement. Trane/American standard and carrier/Bryant are considered premium brands along with Lennox. They also carry a premium price and as stated have proprietary parts and software. To troubleshoot some of the newer variable speed motors, you even have to use their proprietary tools. They, just like every other manufacturer has had troubles across all of their lines. What I suggest is to use a company with good ratings (now a days everyone has reviews, Angie's list, BBB, and others.). Have them do a load calculation on the house to see what you actually NEED, not what they think you need. I would want a full aluminum evaporator coil (Acoil), these have shown to be less likely to leak from corrosion (I would assume you might be at higher risk if you are close to salt water.). Brand isn't as important as a quality installation and maintenance. Also ask that the winning contractor add a term amount of warranty labor or a free service contract. It never hurts to ask. Hope this helps!

 

[danny_barkley]

Falcon is correct in his statement. Trane/American standard and carrier/Bryant are considered premium brands along with Lennox. They also carry a premium price and as stated have proprietary parts and software. To troubleshoot some of the newer variable speed motors, you even have to use their proprietary tools. They, just like every other manufacturer has had troubles across all of their lines. What I suggest is to use a company with good ratings (now a days everyone has reviews, Angie's list, BBB, and others.). Have them do a load calculation on the house to see what you actually NEED, not what they think you need. I would want a full aluminum evaporator coil (Acoil), these have shown to be less likely to leak from corrosion (I would assume you might be at higher risk if you are close to salt water.). Brand isn't as important as a quality installation and maintenance. Also ask that the winning contractor add a term amount of warranty labor or a free service contract. It never hurts to ask. Hope this helps!

I guess the problem is how do you find a good installer? I don't believe any of the online ratings and most don't have many.

I called one today who had the most ratings and good ratings and the guy who came wanted to put 2 pounds of R22 at $100/#in and didn't want to even look at the system without high fees for anything he did. He didn't even do a visual inspection of the basic parts, and all my stuff is easy to get to.

I had to call out another guy who found the obviously leaking condenser by looking. Now any company can have a lazy sub standard guy, but you just don't know untill you've been bent over hard.

No matter what Brand you look up, somebody says it's absolute ****, and these postings are on the HVAC talk forums by Pros, not Home owners who are the poor smucks trying to figure things out and write the check.

The second guy quoted me $3800 + R22 for the condenser.

Where's the emoji for Yikes!!

 

[1/2 Cup]

Dan, my advice would be to replace the unit as it is being phased out here for many years and difficult to get.

Regards

 

[Ohmthis]

I'm also on HVACtalk and know first hand the problems of today's equipment. Try Angie's list and the BBB. Both are well respected for honestly portraying the contractor. Also call a couple of supply houses and see who they recommend to install the equipment that they sell. With the price of R22, a replacement might be a better alternative if you choose to repair your system. There are several "drop in" replacements to R22. Some are better than others for different regions/climates. This is a difficult time for most people. Who do you trust? Am I getting a value in what it costs? Which company (both equipment and installer) is right for me? I wish I had all of the answers. You can go on HVACtalk and ask for a good company in your area. Use all of the resources you have available to you. Good luck, ask anything you need. We will try our best to help you out.

 

[danny_barkley]

I'm also on HVACtalk and know first hand the problems of today's equipment. Try Angie's list and the BBB. Both are well respected for honestly portraying the contractor. Also call a couple of supply houses and see who they recommend to install the equipment that they sell. With the price of R22, a replacement might be a better alternative if you choose to repair your system. There are several "drop in" replacements to R22. Some are better than others for different regions/climates. This is a difficult time for most people. Who do you trust? Am I getting a value in what it costs? Which company (both equipment and installer) is right for me? I wish I had all of the answers. You can go on HVACtalk and ask for a good company in your area. Use all of the resources you have available to you. Good luck, ask anything you need. We will try our best to help you out.

I did just post on HVAC.

I'm not paying $4000 + for a condenser.

But the price of that condenser is so over the top, I would prefer not to be in the same position in 10-11 years. I just think you should be able to get replacement parts reasonably. Seems like a rigged game. Like freakin' eyeglasses...

 

[Marctrees]

I would consider using a small window unit in a bedroom, and kinda move in there for a week.

As low as $130 at big box stores.

Reality is - Unless you totally bend over, it's probably gonna be that long, if you're lucky. Marc

 

[danny_barkley]

I would consider using a small window unit in a bedroom, and kinda move in there for a week.

As low as $130 at big box stores.

Reality is - Unless you totally bend over, it's probably gonna be that long, if you're lucky. Marc

I ordered some R22 and some leak stop. Hopefully it will be here in a day or so. Hopefully that will give me some breathing room to get 3 or 4 estimates and try and figure out which number on the Roulette wheel I'm betting on. Because it sure seems like Roulette to me. Pretty much everybody loses, except the dealer.

 

[yeldogt]

Just replacing the outside unit is going to result in a mismatch system and less efficiency .. did anyone try and find the leak ?

You lost oil .....

Newer equipment is expensive + the labor to install .. it is what it is. Does FL have any programs? sometimes the rebates offset the better equipment cost.

I have been using Carrier equipment for the past 15 years -- never any part issues .. very few problems.

 

[polizei1]

You're in south Florida, use Kalos. Matt Moremore has videos detailing the process if you're into that. I believe he used Carrier Xfinitity's.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLG_BGdABDC9upeJRPHPcXX4F4P3-1Wo1k

 

[danny_barkley]

Just replacing the outside unit is going to result in a mismatch system and less efficiency .. did anyone try and find the leak ?

You lost oil .....

Newer equipment is expensive + the labor to install .. it is what it is. Does FL have any programs? sometimes the rebates offset the better equipment cost.

I have been using Carrier equipment for the past 15 years -- never any part issues .. very few problems.

Condenser is gone

Replacing everything

 

[bazar01]

I ordered some R22 and some leak stop. Hopefully it will be here in a day or so. Hopefully that will give me some breathing room to get 3 or 4 estimates and try and figure out which number on the Roulette wheel I'm betting on. Because it sure seems like Roulette to me. Pretty much everybody loses, except the dealer.

Leak stop is a bad idea. Don't do it.

Your condenser unit probably has a bad condenser fan motor and caused a high pressure event and caused the coil to leak.
You can probably find a used R22 condenser unit on craigslist for $300 from somebody who replaced a system with a bad indoor coil.
Or install a window unit while trying to come up with a game plan.
Good luck.

 

[danny_barkley]

You're in south Florida, use Kalos. Matt Moremore has videos detailing the process if you're into that. I believe he used Carrier Xfinitity's.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLG_BGdABDC9upeJRPHPcXX4F4P3-1Wo1k

He's in Central FL

The videos look interesting

 

[danny_barkley]

Leak stop is a bad idea. Don't do it.

Your condenser unit probably has a bad condenser fan motor and caused a high pressure event and caused the coil to leak.
You can probably find a used R22 condenser unit on craigslist for $300 from somebody who replaced a system with a bad indoor coil.
Or install a window unit while trying to come up with a game plan.
Good luck.

The leak stop is just to give me some breathing time to line up a system.

The Fan Motor has never had an issue and works perfectly.

Other than this coil and how bad capacitors are nowadays I've never had any complaints about it.

 

[6768rogues]

At my house in NY, the AC system is good for about 20 years. A while back we bought a house in Florida and the AC is 10 years old. Everyone I talk to (neighbors, contractors, brother in FL) says that 10 years is the expected life in FL for and AC system. The A coil ends are severely rusted, more rusted than our expert in NY has ever seen, but it still works. Yours and mine are at the ends of their useful lives.

 

[OzarkMan]

A/C's typically last 10 years in the Phoenix area too. Generally the builders put in basic grade Goodman units. The coils will rot out before the compressor gives out. That said, a typical a/c unit will run 7-8 months out of the year.

 

[danny_barkley]

At my house in NY, the AC system is good for about 20 years. A while back we bought a house in Florida and the AC is 10 years old. Everyone I talk to (neighbors, contractors, brother in FL) says that 10 years is the expected life in FL for and AC system. The A coil ends are severely rusted, more rusted than our expert in NY has ever seen, but it still works. Yours and mine are at the ends of their useful lives.

The racket is that they want over $4000 to replace the condenser. Or I can buy a New Carrier a little better than my current one for $5600.

Air conditioning and eyeglass costs need some type of Scam investigation!

The more efficient they make these AC units the quicker they fail.

My Mother just got nailed hard. She has an Energy efficient home and here electric bill in N. FL is about $100/month. Her AC was installed in 1978, this happened about 2 years ago.

Her AC quits, she calls the guy

Breaker is tripped, He puts Freon in, cleans some coils, and charges some cash and leaves

She goes to see her friend on the weekend every wekend.

She comes home on Monday, ac not working

AC guy comes, Breaker tripped, He changes Caps, resets breaker and everything is Groovy, seeya

Works a few days, she see's her frind over the weekend, comes home on Monday, AC not working

AC Guy called, During all these visits of course the age of the UNIT is mentioned and how it is on it's last pinky toe. He says the unit is gone and she needs new ac

They replace the ac

My mom goes like every weeend to see her friend, comes back on Monday and the NEW AC is not working, breaker tripped. Breaker rest and guy says house needs to condition, need to chill everything down.

Breaker throws again 2 days later.

Replaced breaker, no issues...

Now my poor mom had a Gem of an AC from the 70's that was working perfectly, it's gone and she has all new stuff with thin Coils that "may" go 10 years.

 

[danny_barkley]

A/C's typically last 10 years in the Phoenix area too. Generally the builders put in basic grade Goodman units. The coils will rot out before the compressor gives out. That said, a typical a/c unit will run 7-8 months out of the year.

We are 8+ months of the year as well. There is not any month of the year it may not run, but usually not all of Jan or February. High humidity don't help either. Trane claims their ALL Aluminum coils last longer

There is no place to get accurate information about anything AC in my opinion.