Line Set Leak ,,Maybe>? Help

[Mike8189]

18 months ago I had a new Trane XL 20i installed on my house. It replaced a 12 year old goodman. My house is 13 years old and has the lineset buried under the slab going upstairs. I have had sub par cooling on this unit since day 1. They have now discovered there is a leak on the high pressure line going up to the air handler. I tried to get this covered though the original install since the unit has been looked at time and time again and this there new reason I am losing charge. All the tech did was use a halogen sniffer around the ground sleeves to determine. I was never offered a new lineset at all during the installation. I have second thoughts if they really ever pressure tested from the original install. Now they say they are taking my case into consideration by quoting me alot to do the work. The set is estimated at 50ft going up the wall of a 2 story about 20 and the remaining 25 across the attic to the closet upstairs.Also I they have done no other diagnostics pressure tests or anything prior to jumping to this quote I am questioning the price a little due to what i have read on other posts. Also considering that is 20% of what I paid for the whole unit.... I had a second quote from another company for alot more as well which was double... Please help what is the best way to get this AC unit working like it should...Opinions??

[bmathews]

You need to delete prices. They don't like that on here. If you don't, it will be deleted. Whether you were quoted or asked about a new lineset is really irrevelant at this point. You would have had to pay for it then, so you should have to pay for it now. They probably tried to save you a few $$$ on the front end. I can usually tell when somebody is spending more than they would like and try to help them as much as I can. Saying that, they should have done a better job of informing you of the risks involved. Rather than stick a leak detector in a hole to determine that is where the leak is, they need to isolate all the components of the system and pressurize each one individually and let it "soak" for a few days/weeks to make sure. As far as the price quoted. It's really a pretty good price considering the price of copper. Almost half of the price quoted is materials. The rest is labor and taxes. They aren't really making any money on the price quoted. It's looks to be a pretty good deal IMO.

[Mike8189]

I am just more disturbed about the lack of proper diagnostic in the begining... I explained to the guy I wanted it evacuated and show me the micron reading on vaccuum he just laughed...

[manny238]

I agree with bmathews they need to isolate each copper line and pressurize...the indoor and outdoor coil need to be pressurized as well. This would be the only way of properly diagnosing your problem. I don't know what your getting quoted but i do know its not an easy job and copper isn't cheap.

[universaltech]

18 months ago I had a new Trane XL 20i installed on my house. It replaced a 12 year old goodman. My house is 13 years old and has the lineset buried under the slab going upstairs. I have had sub par cooling on this unit since day 1. They have now discovered there is a leak on the high pressure line going up to the air handler. I tried to get this covered though the original install since the unit has been looked at time and time again and this there new reason I am losing charge. All the tech did was use a halogen sniffer around the ground sleeves to determine. I was never offered a new lineset at all during the installation. I have second thoughts if they really ever pressure tested from the original install. Now they say they are taking my case into consideration by quoting me alot to do the work. The set is estimated at 50ft going up the wall of a 2 story about 20 and the remaining 25 across the attic to the closet upstairs.Also I they have done no other diagnostics pressure tests or anything prior to jumping to this quote I am questioning the price a little due to what i have read on other posts. Also considering that is 20% of what I paid for the whole unit.... I had a second quote from another company for alot more as well which was double... Please help what is the best way to get this AC unit working like it should...Opinions??

Line set in a slab = :gah:.

[DavyB]

I am just more disturbed about the lack of proper diagnostic in the begining... I explained to the guy I wanted it evacuated and show me the micron reading on vaccuum he just laughed...

You knew about micron readings? LOL! I just found out about em! Albeit, my jobs don't leak. Good luck with your ordeal. It seems as though any installing contractor whom decides to take a job under the slab, should be responsible for the outcome. All these guys talking about the copper, I'm more concerned with the slab.

[universaltech]

Hey DavyB - Is that your S2000? Nice!

[Mike8189]

18 months.... 4 service calls poor cooling... Poor service... And even the tech said it is common in the neighborhood..and other salesmen who have missed it have had to eat it.... to get it repaired... I have a 6 months of a warranty with them... then I am going to transfer my Trane 10 year labor and parts warranty to another vendor..

[DavyB]

Hey DavyB - Is that your S2000? Nice!

No sir, That WAS my baby girl. I went through some turbulent times and lost her. '08 CR. I could swing down our canyon in 25 minutes at 125 when it normally takes 45 minutes. I'll get another someday.

[DavyB]

18 months.... 4 service calls poor cooling... Poor service... And even the tech said it is common in the neighborhood..and other salesmen who have missed it have had to eat it.... to get it repaired... I have a 6 months of a warranty with them... then I am going to transfer my Trane 10 year labor and parts warranty to another vendor..

How old is the installation? Was this installation completed before you moved in?? Did you move in after-the-fact? If so, move out. you have an r-22 system and a halon leak detector is the most reliable leak detector there is.

[universaltech]

No sir, That WAS my baby girl. I went through some turbulent times and lost her. '08 CR. I could swing down our canyon in 25 minutes at 125 when it normally takes 45 minutes. I'll get another someday.

I owned a 2002 WRX for about four years until I sold it for a truck. Nonetheless fun cars!

[DavyB]

I owned a 2002 WRX for about four years until I sold it for a truck. Nonetheless fun cars!

AWD comes in handy but I loved to drift. It was so easy to come around a 90* turn sideways and still have complete control at any speed. Had to do it on the streets because the local track doesn't allow drifting. Probably a liability thing.

OP, sorry about the thread hijack.

[Mike8189]

Good news... here is a follow up to the lineset.... After filing a formal complaint with the better business bureau.. The original contractor has agreed to the line isolation test and perform the new lineset evacuation and recharge for cost at original installation.... IS there anything I should watch for or make sure they do the "proper way when they are here" Can the 410A be pumped down in to the condensor? so they can reuse partial after a new line.? I will be hoping for a full fresh charge of 410a..

[DavyB]

Good news... here is a follow up to the lineset.... After filing a formal complaint with the better business bureau.. The original contractor has agreed to the line isolation test and perform the new lineset evacuation and recharge for cost at original installation.... IS there anything I should watch for or make sure they do the "proper way when they are here" Can the 410A be pumped down in to the condensor? so they can reuse partial after a new line.? I will be hoping for a full fresh charge of 410a..

So are they replacing the lineset? I'm a little confused because you say they agreed to isolate the lineset and then you say they are going to vacuum the new lineset. Did they verify a leak under the slab? Who's paying for the concrete? Sounds like there wouldn't be much puron left to pump down anyways.

[bwalley]

Good news... here is a follow up to the lineset.... After filing a formal complaint with the better business bureau.. The original contractor has agreed to the line isolation test and perform the new lineset evacuation and recharge for cost at original installation.... IS there anything I should watch for or make sure they do the "proper way when they are here" Can the 410A be pumped down in to the condensor? so they can reuse partial after a new line.? I will be hoping for a full fresh charge of 410a..

they can pull the charge into the condensing unit, there is no need to change the refrigerant.

if you want new refrigerant ask them how much it will be to recharge with new 410a.

there is not really a way you can tell if they do the job right by looking over their shoulder.

[Mike8189]

They are replacing the lineset going up the side of the house... there is no access to the interior slab to the center of the house...The set will be about 50ft. unfortunately they did not do a good job since day 1 and the service guys were overworked and to hurried to ever do a good job in diagnosis ... I will be watching and just taking notes of them doing the right job.... If they pull the charge in to the condensing unit will it contain moisture from the leak when found?

[bwalley]

They are replacing the lineset going up the side of the house... there is no access to the interior slab to the center of the house...The set will be about 50ft. unfortunately they did not do a good job since day 1 and the service guys were overworked and to hurried to ever do a good job in diagnosis ... I will be watching and just taking notes of them doing the right job.... If they pull the charge in to the condensing unit will it contain moisture from the leak when found?

as long as the unit has had positive pressure at all times there is little chance of getting moisture in it from the line set leak.

If they are not replacing the line that runs underground, how is that going to do you any good?

they should be able to pull a new line set through the old chase, not easy or cheap, but it is usually possible.

[DavyB]

They are replacing the lineset going up the side of the house... there is no access to the interior slab to the center of the house...The set will be about 50ft. unfortunately they did not do a good job since day 1 and the service guys were overworked and to hurried to ever do a good job in diagnosis ... I will be watching and just taking notes of them doing the right job.... If they pull the charge in to the condensing unit will it contain moisture from the leak when found?

That is tough to say. If your leak was in the suction line, and your system has no low pressure switch and you were running it while it was critically low on charge, you could have moisture (and a run-on sentence).

[Mike8189]

The lineset underground is being capped and the new lineset will be installed up the wall though the attic. The existing lineset is not able to pulled through due to location...I am looking forward to having a more that 9 degree split!

[uniservice]

Hmmm. So what you're saying,,,if I understand it right,,,,,they are gonna replace the lineset portion going up the wall, but not the portion going under the slab? If they have isolated the lines, and have proved that the leak is in the wall, then why not just open the wall and repair it? Sounds like they are just putting good money into a repair on top of bad money already spent. Do it right the first time, or be prepared to do it over,,,,,,,,

[Roddy73]

Hmmm. So what you're saying,,,if I understand it right,,,,,they are gonna replace the lineset portion going up the wall, but not the portion going under the slab? If they have isolated the lines, and have proved that the leak is in the wall, then why not just open the wall and repair it? Sounds like they are just putting good money into a repair on top of bad money already spent. Do it right the first time, or be prepared to do it over,,,,,,,,

I read it as they are busy and losing money going back to this guys house, it's cheaper for them to run a new lineset up the side of the house and across the attic than to isolate and test the underslab lineset and possibly have to try and replace it with the limited access he described.

[Cool_Air]

You need to delete prices. They don't like that on here. If you don't, it will be deleted. Whether you were quoted or asked about a new lineset is really irrevelant at this point. You would have had to pay for it then, so you should have to pay for it now. They probably tried to save you a few $$$ on the front end. I can usually tell when somebody is spending more than they would like and try to help them as much as I can. Saying that, they should have done a better job of informing you of the risks involved. Rather than stick a leak detector in a hole to determine that is where the leak is, they need to isolate all the components of the system and pressurize each one individually and let it "soak" for a few days/weeks to make sure. As far as the price quoted. It's really a pretty good price considering the price of copper. Almost half of the price quoted is materials. The rest is labor and taxes. They aren't really making any money on the price quoted. It's looks to be a pretty good deal IMO.:eek2: I agree cheeper is'nt aways cheeper just last night a person call on his heat pump and he said he's been waiting on me for two weeks I've been sick and out of work doctors orders, after talking with him the reason he's been waiting on me because the other person charges a service call wow $*+#%% well guess what? I do to. Just pay for the new line set!!!

[small change]

Ask them if they are installing a new liquid line filter drier.

Should be a replacement for the existing one, Even If you don't have one currently
insist on one.

A pound of prevention....