Do not install or buy used parts. You’ll almost certainly be in a much worse situation doing so.
Compressors and parts are still widely available. As are alternate refrigerants for R22.
Depending on age it may be a wiser investment to go with a new system. If your equipment is particularly old or in poor shape.

 

Where are you in south Florida?

PHM
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I have some other questions:

Did the circuit breaker trip?

Were any fuses bad when the AC guy got there?

BTW: Every single replacement part for your unit is readily available.

PHM
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One last question, how much freon (r22) do i need for a 2.5T system?

If your OD data plate ( electrical data plate on the unit ) is non faded it should state a close proximity of what's in your system. Also..

https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.supplyhouse.com/manuals/1279132929392/34800_PROD_FILE.pdf

If this looks like yours it says 108 ounces ( page 5 for a 3 ton ) which includes 15' of lineset, ID and OD unit. Does that match up with your data plate?

BTW you say you have a 2.5 ton unit but the model number you provided says 3 ton, so which is it? Page 2 " Model Number Identification "

 

Google shows that's a 3 ton, 13 seer, straight cool ac condenser. Did he mean he can't get parts for the furnace, because all the parts look available to me. I'd put money that you'll still be able to repair that unit in 20 years with brand new parts. Find a different company-this guys blowing smoke saying you can't get parts. Used parts are worth their weight in scrap, no more. A legitimate tech can install a new compressor and convert it to an R-22 replacement, like R-407c. A legitimate business can do this profitably for way less than a whole new system. The only new system your going to get at his price is a "new to you". The identification tag on the condenser tells you how much refrigerant the outside unit holds plus a matching indoor coil and 15' of lineset, longer than that requires more.

 

Thanks everyone for their input. The tech told me it was a 2.5T unit, but when I searched the model number it did show it was a 3T unit. I frankly did not remember, as this unit was installed back in 2008, so I went with what he told me. To answer some of the questions posted:

a) Yes the breaker did trip. In fact, the breaker needed replacement which he already did.

b)When I asked about repairs, his response was that this unit uses R22 freon which is no longer readily available as the industry has now moved to R140. He made it seem like sourcing parts for my unit would not only be difficult, but ultimately the cost would be as high as getting a new system. I know better, since these days you can find parts for basically anything. Of course the issue with AC as is always the case in South Florida is time. It's so hot and humid down here that you cant afford to order a part from the internet and wait 3-5 days to be delivered. The guy either didnt think it was necessary to tell me about system convertion (r22 to R140 or other) or simply put is more profitable to sell me a new system.

c) It appears that the freon capacity is 108 as mentioned by Makeitcold. I'm attaching a picture of the specs of the unit. I'm going to call a local HVAC distributor and see if they have a replacement compressor for my unit or if they sell everything needed to do the R22 to R-407c conversion.

I'm trying to avoid going the "new system" route if possible.

 

R22 is still avalible so find a company who has it and will replace the compressor and liquid line filter drier.

No conversion is necessary.

If you do choose to convert to another refridgerant use rs44b(453). It provides a better cooling experience then 407c and requires no system mods to function properly i.e. you save money on conversion labor and parts.

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Has anyone performed an acid test yet?

Although a burnout can be repaired with the age of the unit and a burnout replace everything or live with a nightmare! Clean ups can be done but not worth it on a old system.

 

Used compressors are good for scrap metal only!

 

Replacing a compressor isn't cheap. The cause of the compressor failure will also have to be repaired. It can be fixed but get a couple quotes on repair vs replace before doing anything. Around here the price is close enough that most folks will go for new with a 10 year warranty vs 1 year on a compressor.

Supply houses shouldn't be giving prices of parts to home owners. The sell to contractors who have to mark up the parts to cover operating expenses and make a living.

 

So where in south Florida are you anyway?

 

New compressor-1 year parts warranty....Used compressor-no warranty....New 410A condenser....5-years warranty....10 years if registered...just change metering device at evaporator coil. If the new or used compressor fails, you're right back where you started, and you get to spend all that money the second time. The cost of R22 should be enough to tell you to take another route, but it's your $$$$. :grin2:

 

I tend to agree with those suggesting to go with a new system. I agree that going with a used compresssor (Copeland Scroll) is not going to solve the issue and may just die in the next few months and I'll be back at square one. I got two quotes from my tech

a) Rheem 16 SEER 3 Ton Unit @ 3.3k

b) Ameristar (made by Trane) 14 SEER 3 Ton unit @ 2.6K.

I've never heard of Ameristar but apparently is a cheaper brand made by Trane. Obviously Rheem is the choice, but those who of you that do this for a living have any opinions on Ameristar?

 

As far as I know Ameristar is made 100% in China by Midea and not Trane. Certainly the labor rates in China figures in as to why that brand is cheaper in cost.

Ask whoever is bidding these model brands that they are matched system. Ask them for this as an example, if your changing both ID and OD section.

https://www.ahridirectory.org/Home/...ad?ReferenceId=sUzbLVC3/aFB9wkj0dGAH3GMzrVaaVND3PFskrLNTc6O7vMWgV5BgS/AuqXtD5PV

Make sure you register your system, as manufacturer warranty decreases if not registered.

Sounds like your changing the OD section only? if so you may or may not get the full 10 year compressor and parts warranty as your only replacing the OD section.

 

Both comes with 10 year warranty on the compressor, coils.

 

Brand doesn’t much matter.
The installer does.
Things are installed wrong much more then they are right.
Do you really need 3 tons?

 

It's a two story Townhouse with aprox. 1450 Sq/ft. When I replaced the other unit in 2008, we had a 2.5T and went with a 3T on the advise of the installer at that time. The total area under roof isnt significant to merit a 3T in my opinion, I think a 2.5T would more than suffice, but then again I'm not an Pro. I'm not sure whether the price between a 2.5 and 3T is significant enough. I will find out.

 

Increasing tonnage isn’t to be considered any kind of upgrade. And tonnage isn’t selected on unit price.
Ask for a manual J.
Your guy is attempting to size based on 500 square foot per ton. Which is wrong.

 

Go with Rheem 16 seer. Better efficiency for less than a Trane 16 seer would be. The Ameristar is a bare bones basic unit 14 seer

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If your changing just the OD unit, you may want to downgrade the Rheem to a 14 SEER unit to save yourself a few bucks as you'll never get 16 SEER with your mismatched system, probably closer to 14-14.5 SEER IMO.

 

You're correct! I didn't think about that, but it's a Saturday my tech thinking cap is in my truck. :grin2:

 

Will go with the Rheem 16 SEER unit. I did more research on the Ameristar, and while some Pros did praise their systems, found a lot of incidents of coil failures, which while covered under warranty, the cost to replace the coils is not. Thanks to everyone for their insightful inputs.

 

Will go with the Rheem 16 SEER unit.

You do realize just because your condenser is a 16 seer, that your system will not be a 16 seer, right? In order to get any true rating, your system has to be listed in the AHRI ratings for the different mfg's. So why spent the extra money, for non-certified equipment?

 

But what about the sizing?

 

Let's look at the bright side - one left-handed benefit to going with the 16 SEER, while keeping the original evaporator, is that the system capacity will be lower. <g>

PHM
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Or he is getting a really good deal and getting condenser with inside coil also.