compressor leak

[rgoble]

I just had a tech out to my house and he found a leak in the unit outside. The leak is on the aluminum line after the coils right before it connects to the copper . The leak is not at the joint but is the aluminum pipe an inch before it. (Sorry I don't have a picture)

The tech said thats its not repairable and we would have to replace the coils. I'd like to know if he is right before I go spending the money to replace it if it can be fixed.

Thanks.

[the dangling wrangler]

Sounds like a Trane or A-S unit. There is a repair kit made just for this problem. But, not being there it's hard to say if it can be repaired or not.

[rgoble]

Yea your right it is a trane unit out back. Would a picture help or not really?

[the dangling wrangler]

Yea your right it is a trane unit out back. Would a picture help or not really?

Couldn't hurt. Still, it's kinda hard to tell over the 'net. It might be in your favor to call company # 2, just to keep everybody honest.

[rgoble]

yea company #2 wants money to come out, which I hate to pay only find out the first tech was right. Isn't life grand.

[the dangling wrangler]

yea company #2 wants money to come out, which I hate to pay only find out the first tech was right. Isn't life grand.

But, what if he's wrong? Bite the bullet and pay another company to look. Some will waive the service call with a repair.

[the dangling wrangler]

Could be your unit is not worth repairing. How old is it? Ask your tech if a flare repair can be done.

[beenthere]

yea company #2 wants money to come out, which I hate to pay only find out the first tech was right. Isn't life grand.
Did company 1 come out for free?

[rgoble]

You make a good point. Although the first company did wave their service fee since I paid them 129$ to find the leak.

I should of searched here a little bit better before I posted (sorry about that) but I was able to find this. http://hvac-talk.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=172705&page=3

Which makes it sound like even if they can patch the aluminum it may not last long.

I talked to company #2 he said they might be able to fix the leak but it won't be cheap. He also said they no longer make units with aluminum coils and he also recommened replacing it (said he wouldn't want one for his house). The unit I have now is probably about 12 years old so it may be worth it anyways.

[beenthere]

Call a third company.

The second one doen't get out much.

Aluminum coils are still made and used to day on new units.

[the dangling wrangler]

You make a good point. Although the first company did wave their service fee since I paid them 129$ to find the leak.

I should of searched here a little bit better before I posted (sorry about that) but I was able to find this. http://hvac-talk.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=172705&page=3

Which makes it sound like even if they can patch the aluminum it may not last long.

I talked to company #2 he said they might be able to fix the leak but it won't be cheap. He also said they no longer make units with aluminum coils and he also recommened replacing it (said he wouldn't want one for his house). The unit I have now is probably about 12 years old so it may be worth it anyways.

If it's twelve years old, think long and hard about repairing it. Toss # 2 out the window, those coils are in todays units.

[rgoble]

Its pretty warm here right now so a lot of places have their techs pretty busy. I'm going to call around to a few more places tomorrow to try and get another company to come out. I'll ask them to send me someone who is good at fixing leaks in the aluminum coil (don't know if that will help or not).

The unit outside is a 2.5t Trane and as I said before is probably around 12 years old. On average about how long should that unit last before needing replaced? I live in the Midwest so we have cold winters and summers can get into the 90s. I can get the model # if needed.

Thanks again for all the help and suggestions.