deucedriver
06-11-2011, 02:22 AM
Hoping to get some 2nd, 3rd, etc. opinions on my A/C issue. Any help is greatly appreciated.
I had an A/C check on June 2nd in N. California. It was an unusually cold morning, rained earlier and temp was high 50's. My A/C seemed to work fine last season, this was just a check-up after a winter heating duct issue and I figured what the heck, the unit is about 10 years old (Goodman CKJ42-1D). For background, my house is a 2 story, about 2500 sq. ft. with a fairly long run from the condenser to the attic unit.
The tech said everything looked good, but due to the cold temp he would like to come back out and do pressure readings at the outside condenser when things warm up. He did a little light upsell on some stuff, but nothing I'm not used to - but it did put a few ??? in the back of my mind. I have the sheet with the readings he took and here are some that may help: Temp Split - return 66, supply 43. Compressor amp draw rating 13.5 RLA 9.1 Freon Charge high 125, low 80. The tech wrote "the pressures were hard to read because of mild weather."
Today the same tech did the follow up. 8:00 in the morning, temperature about 62-63. He called me outside and told me the pressures were confusing (they were about the same as the previous visit) so he called a more senior tech and said I need a new compressor. He then stated since the unit was 10 years old and a compressor was so expensive, I may want to get an entire new condenser, someone would call. I am a little unnerved because he didn't seem real certain of his diagnosis.
My question is does this sounds right and are there any other questions I should ask/other problems it may be (if there is a problem)? Also, what are your opinions on a new condenser vs. compressor replacement ( I hope to only be in this house a couple more years). It sounds like the price difference is a lot between the two options. I do have another company coming out next week for a "tune-up" to see if they find anything.
I haven't noticed anything wrong with the operation of the unit. This afternoon the temp was about 84-86 outside and the unit kicked on for the first time this year other than the inspection. I went outside and felt warm to hot air out of the fan and my upstairs vents were putting out cold air. The unit didn't seem to run very long and held the set temperature (78).
Thanks a lot in advance, any feedback would be appreciated.
I had an A/C check on June 2nd in N. California. It was an unusually cold morning, rained earlier and temp was high 50's. My A/C seemed to work fine last season, this was just a check-up after a winter heating duct issue and I figured what the heck, the unit is about 10 years old (Goodman CKJ42-1D). For background, my house is a 2 story, about 2500 sq. ft. with a fairly long run from the condenser to the attic unit.
The tech said everything looked good, but due to the cold temp he would like to come back out and do pressure readings at the outside condenser when things warm up. He did a little light upsell on some stuff, but nothing I'm not used to - but it did put a few ??? in the back of my mind. I have the sheet with the readings he took and here are some that may help: Temp Split - return 66, supply 43. Compressor amp draw rating 13.5 RLA 9.1 Freon Charge high 125, low 80. The tech wrote "the pressures were hard to read because of mild weather."
Today the same tech did the follow up. 8:00 in the morning, temperature about 62-63. He called me outside and told me the pressures were confusing (they were about the same as the previous visit) so he called a more senior tech and said I need a new compressor. He then stated since the unit was 10 years old and a compressor was so expensive, I may want to get an entire new condenser, someone would call. I am a little unnerved because he didn't seem real certain of his diagnosis.
My question is does this sounds right and are there any other questions I should ask/other problems it may be (if there is a problem)? Also, what are your opinions on a new condenser vs. compressor replacement ( I hope to only be in this house a couple more years). It sounds like the price difference is a lot between the two options. I do have another company coming out next week for a "tune-up" to see if they find anything.
I haven't noticed anything wrong with the operation of the unit. This afternoon the temp was about 84-86 outside and the unit kicked on for the first time this year other than the inspection. I went outside and felt warm to hot air out of the fan and my upstairs vents were putting out cold air. The unit didn't seem to run very long and held the set temperature (78).
Thanks a lot in advance, any feedback would be appreciated.