Diva
06-24-2009, 11:21 PM
Hi. I don’t know much about HVAC systems other than what I’ve researched on here & other sites, so please bare with me & help if you can.
MY HOUSE…….purchased Jan. 2009, built in 1996, approx. 1800 sq. ft, 4 bdrms, in TX, original 3.5 ton Carrier system (13 yrs. old), evaporator coil & copper lines in attic, thermostat kept on 73 degrees (auto) & never turned off, filter changed monthly since my move-in.
MY PROBLEM.……Approximately 1 ½ months ago, my AC began blowing warm air vs. cold air (despite the thermostat being set to 73). Initially, my house temp got up to 81; most recently, 91. I’ve had 4 professional opinions, 2 repairs…the problem persists. In an attempt to get honest & thorough opinions, I never disclosed their findings to one another.
Opinion 1……. My home warranty (HW) company dispatched a local AC company who diagnosed a leak in the evaporator coil & a total loss of freon. They temporarily recharged the system with 3 pds. & said coil replacement was the only option for repair. After “researching” they reported to my HW that “my” Carrier coil was discontinued & a compatible 13 SEER coil would have to be used….which resulted in the pentium ductwork (?) modifications, replacement & a $ disposal fee. As such, the AC company & my HW determined that I’d be responsible for $ in “non-covered” costs vs. just the $ service call fee that I was siked into believing would be my only responsibility for this “covered repair.” I asked my HW to get a 2nd opinion – they refused. I asked them to cover the so-called “non-covered” costs as I shouldn’t be penalized for a discontinued coil – they refused. Finally, I asked them to replace the 13 year old condenser…and not just the evap coil (for obvious reasons) – they refused. I decided to get additional opinions at my own expense, while the heat continued to blaze.
Opinion 2…….was that of a family friend who is an experienced former AC repairman, but no longer licensed. He checked the unit – inside & out and determined it was low on freon & using a leak detector, that my copper line (leading in/out the coil box) had a leak. He said my evaporator coil & condenser were functioning fine & did not need replacing. I only wanted his opinion; he didn’t/couldn’t fix the problem.
In lieu of the numerous home warranty horror stories, I began suspecting that the AC company hired by my HW had lied in an attempt to make lots of money from me and the HW.
Opinion 3…….was that of an independent AC repairman. Likewise, he checked the unit – inside & out and determined it was low on freon & using a leak detector, that my copper line had a leak…& my evap coil/condenser were fine. He welded/repaired the leak & fully recharged the system. It cooled perfect for 13 days before it began blowing warm air again (reaching up to 91 degrees). When I noticed the warming again, it would only happen during the peak of the day; it would cool fine very early in the morning and late at night (though never going below 78 despite being set at 73 and never being manually turned off). Eventually, the warm air persisted all day. He came back, found another leak in the copper line (near the last repair), repaired it and fully recharged the system a second time. It cooled well for 5 days & began blowing warm air again.
I decided to get a 4th opinion rather than call him again. In the meantime, last night, I turned the AC off, went to my braker box, turned all the switches off and turned them back on, then turned the AC back on. Amazingly, this resulted in the AC cooling down to 76 most of the day.
Opinion 4…….independent, licensed AC company owner. ..checked the outside unit & said the condenser was fine other than the “pipe” on the back of the condenser should be a little colder, so he put a few pounds of freon in it while he checked the attic. He called me into the attic, opened a “peep hole” on the evaporator coil box and showed me that it was badly rusted…he put his leak detector in the peep hole…it beeped and turned red when placed towards the bottom of the coil. He said the leak detector and rust suggested that I need to replace the coil. He said I could replace just the coil OR replace the coil and condenser – both with 4 tons… & if I chose to do the later, it wouldn’t be necessary to replace the heater or replace/blow out my ducts as they were fine.
So, now I’m at the point of “what do I believe?” I have received so many different opinions, paid numerous service call fees, & paid for repairs that didn’t work. I know my 13 year old system is not as efficient as a new one would be but I really can’t afford to replace the entire system NOW unless I really, really have to. Likewise, I know that matching a new coil with an old condenser is putting good money with bad. I also know that repeatedly refilling the freon is just a quick & temporary fix considering that I obviously have a leak somewhere. So, now that you know my “life story,” here are my questions:
1. ***** Who should I believe? What do you think could be wrong with my system?
2. Is there a reasonable temporary fix until I replace the entire unit (besides using fans)?
thinking short-term future…
3. If I get my entire AC unit replaced, do I have to replace the heater if nothing is wrong with it?
4. What ALL is supposed to be replaced when getting a new AC unit? Evaporator coil, condenser…and what else? Thermostat? Ducts? Copper lines? Pan?
5. Is it cheaper to replace my unit in the winter vs. now…since presumably “AC business” will be slower?
THANK YOU for taking the time to read all of this…and, of course, thanks for all useful opinions.
MY HOUSE…….purchased Jan. 2009, built in 1996, approx. 1800 sq. ft, 4 bdrms, in TX, original 3.5 ton Carrier system (13 yrs. old), evaporator coil & copper lines in attic, thermostat kept on 73 degrees (auto) & never turned off, filter changed monthly since my move-in.
MY PROBLEM.……Approximately 1 ½ months ago, my AC began blowing warm air vs. cold air (despite the thermostat being set to 73). Initially, my house temp got up to 81; most recently, 91. I’ve had 4 professional opinions, 2 repairs…the problem persists. In an attempt to get honest & thorough opinions, I never disclosed their findings to one another.
Opinion 1……. My home warranty (HW) company dispatched a local AC company who diagnosed a leak in the evaporator coil & a total loss of freon. They temporarily recharged the system with 3 pds. & said coil replacement was the only option for repair. After “researching” they reported to my HW that “my” Carrier coil was discontinued & a compatible 13 SEER coil would have to be used….which resulted in the pentium ductwork (?) modifications, replacement & a $ disposal fee. As such, the AC company & my HW determined that I’d be responsible for $ in “non-covered” costs vs. just the $ service call fee that I was siked into believing would be my only responsibility for this “covered repair.” I asked my HW to get a 2nd opinion – they refused. I asked them to cover the so-called “non-covered” costs as I shouldn’t be penalized for a discontinued coil – they refused. Finally, I asked them to replace the 13 year old condenser…and not just the evap coil (for obvious reasons) – they refused. I decided to get additional opinions at my own expense, while the heat continued to blaze.
Opinion 2…….was that of a family friend who is an experienced former AC repairman, but no longer licensed. He checked the unit – inside & out and determined it was low on freon & using a leak detector, that my copper line (leading in/out the coil box) had a leak. He said my evaporator coil & condenser were functioning fine & did not need replacing. I only wanted his opinion; he didn’t/couldn’t fix the problem.
In lieu of the numerous home warranty horror stories, I began suspecting that the AC company hired by my HW had lied in an attempt to make lots of money from me and the HW.
Opinion 3…….was that of an independent AC repairman. Likewise, he checked the unit – inside & out and determined it was low on freon & using a leak detector, that my copper line had a leak…& my evap coil/condenser were fine. He welded/repaired the leak & fully recharged the system. It cooled perfect for 13 days before it began blowing warm air again (reaching up to 91 degrees). When I noticed the warming again, it would only happen during the peak of the day; it would cool fine very early in the morning and late at night (though never going below 78 despite being set at 73 and never being manually turned off). Eventually, the warm air persisted all day. He came back, found another leak in the copper line (near the last repair), repaired it and fully recharged the system a second time. It cooled well for 5 days & began blowing warm air again.
I decided to get a 4th opinion rather than call him again. In the meantime, last night, I turned the AC off, went to my braker box, turned all the switches off and turned them back on, then turned the AC back on. Amazingly, this resulted in the AC cooling down to 76 most of the day.
Opinion 4…….independent, licensed AC company owner. ..checked the outside unit & said the condenser was fine other than the “pipe” on the back of the condenser should be a little colder, so he put a few pounds of freon in it while he checked the attic. He called me into the attic, opened a “peep hole” on the evaporator coil box and showed me that it was badly rusted…he put his leak detector in the peep hole…it beeped and turned red when placed towards the bottom of the coil. He said the leak detector and rust suggested that I need to replace the coil. He said I could replace just the coil OR replace the coil and condenser – both with 4 tons… & if I chose to do the later, it wouldn’t be necessary to replace the heater or replace/blow out my ducts as they were fine.
So, now I’m at the point of “what do I believe?” I have received so many different opinions, paid numerous service call fees, & paid for repairs that didn’t work. I know my 13 year old system is not as efficient as a new one would be but I really can’t afford to replace the entire system NOW unless I really, really have to. Likewise, I know that matching a new coil with an old condenser is putting good money with bad. I also know that repeatedly refilling the freon is just a quick & temporary fix considering that I obviously have a leak somewhere. So, now that you know my “life story,” here are my questions:
1. ***** Who should I believe? What do you think could be wrong with my system?
2. Is there a reasonable temporary fix until I replace the entire unit (besides using fans)?
thinking short-term future…
3. If I get my entire AC unit replaced, do I have to replace the heater if nothing is wrong with it?
4. What ALL is supposed to be replaced when getting a new AC unit? Evaporator coil, condenser…and what else? Thermostat? Ducts? Copper lines? Pan?
5. Is it cheaper to replace my unit in the winter vs. now…since presumably “AC business” will be slower?
THANK YOU for taking the time to read all of this…and, of course, thanks for all useful opinions.