Replace Leaking Evaporator Coil or Install new more efficient system?

Posted by on August 1, 2008, 10:16 pm

Rundown:

7 year old house. We plan to live in it for 5+ years

Rheem AC Unit - working fine. 10 SEER
Rheem Furnace - working fine. Kind of loud.
Rheem Coil(warranty is expired I think, its past 5 years) - Leaking,
rusted more than 50% up the coil, moisture on the floor from coil. 10-
SEER

Last year we had an HVAC company come out and refill our outdoor unit
with refrigerant. This year come blazing summer, same thing happened,
system wouldn't keep the temperature and tech came out again and
searched for leak ($450), repaired 1 (of many probably) leak. System
worked for about a month. It's August, even more hot and our system
couldn't keep the temp again. Tech came out and said that it would be
best to replace evaporator coil. Estimate was for $1300-$1400. I also
got another quote from a company #2 , same price. 3rd quote was for
$600-$800 for replacement.

I also had the first company give me a price for installing a new 14-
seer outdoor unit (AC or HP) and new 14-seer evaporator coil. $4400
for AC+Coil, $5100 for HP+Coil. Company #2 gave similar quote for
replacement.

I'm thinking it would be better to upgrade the system now, in case the
10-SEER unit outside has problems in the future and we would have to
replace everything again and be down $600-$1400. Also, from what
reading I've done, these 10-SEER rheem coils seem to leak, but could
that be because of installers and not equipment?

Company #1 sells Trane.
Company #2 sells York.
Company #3 sells Rheem

So replace evaporator coil or install more efficient unit?
Should I get a HP or AC unit?
Should I replace furnace/air handler if I replace AC Unit and Coil?

Posted by TheHack on August 3, 2008, 12:32 pm

v2theg@hotmail.com wrote in news:72ad21a9-eb24-49b8-96ab-9b4629083108
@e39g2000hsf.googlegroups.com:

> Rundown:
>
> 7 year old house. We plan to live in it for 5+ years
>
> Rheem AC Unit - working fine. 10 SEER
> Rheem Furnace - working fine. Kind of loud.
> Rheem Coil(warranty is expired I think, its past 5 years) - Leaking,
> rusted more than 50% up the coil, moisture on the floor from coil. 10-
> SEER
>
> Last year we had an HVAC company come out and refill our outdoor unit
> with refrigerant. This year come blazing summer, same thing happened,
> system wouldn't keep the temperature and tech came out again and
> searched for leak ($450), repaired 1 (of many probably) leak. System
> worked for about a month. It's August, even more hot and our system
> couldn't keep the temp again. Tech came out and said that it would be
> best to replace evaporator coil. Estimate was for $1300-$1400. I also
> got another quote from a company #2 , same price. 3rd quote was for
> $600-$800 for replacement.
>
> I also had the first company give me a price for installing a new 14-
> seer outdoor unit (AC or HP) and new 14-seer evaporator coil. $4400
> for AC+Coil, $5100 for HP+Coil. Company #2 gave similar quote for
> replacement.
>
> I'm thinking it would be better to upgrade the system now, in case the
> 10-SEER unit outside has problems in the future and we would have to
> replace everything again and be down $600-$1400. Also, from what
> reading I've done, these 10-SEER rheem coils seem to leak, but could
> that be because of installers and not equipment?
>
> Company #1 sells Trane.
> Company #2 sells York.
> Company #3 sells Rheem
>
> So replace evaporator coil or install more efficient unit?
> Should I get a HP or AC unit?
> Should I replace furnace/air handler if I replace AC Unit and Coil?

I faced the same problem last season, and opted for a new R410a system.
Refilling is not allowed where I live, unless the leaks are fixed.
The original coil rotted out due to a bad install.
The contractor folded his tent and moved to a different city.

Posted by on August 3, 2008, 4:38 pm

wrote:

>Refilling is not allowed where I live, unless the leaks are fixed.
>The original coil rotted out due to a bad install.
>The contractor folded his tent and moved to a different city.

All residential systems can be refilled without fixing the leak you
dumbass. Why? because there is no residential system that holds 50# of
refrigerant you asshat. Once again some moron homeowner proves he
knows nothing. See this link genius.

http://www.epa.gov/Ozone/title6/608/608fact.html#leaks

Posted by Dave + Gloria on August 3, 2008, 6:02 pm

<What a maroon> wrote in message
> wrote:

>>Refilling is not allowed where I live, unless the leaks are fixed.
>>The original coil rotted out due to a bad install.
>>The contractor folded his tent and moved to a different city.

> All residential systems can be refilled without fixing the leak you
> dumbass. Why? because there is no residential system that holds 50# of
> refrigerant you asshat. Once again some moron homeowner proves he
> knows nothing. See this link genius.
> http://www.epa.gov/Ozone/title6/608/608fact.html#leaks

from the link. the last sentance sez you do have to.
Refrigerant Leaks
Owners or operators of refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment with
refrigerant charges greater than 50 pounds are required to repair leaks
within 30 days when those leaks result in the loss of more than a certain
percentage of the equipment's refrigerant charge over a year. For the
commercial (e.g. grocery stores and warehouses) and industrial process
refrigeration sectors, leaks must be repaired within 30 days when the
equipment leaks at a rate that would release 35 percent or more of the
charge over a year. For all other sectors, including comfort cooling (such
as building chillers), leaks must be repaired when the appliance leaks at a
rate that would release 15 percent or more of the charge over a year.

Posted by KJPRO on August 4, 2008, 12:06 pm

> <What a maroon> wrote in message

>> wrote:

>>>Refilling is not allowed where I live, unless the leaks are fixed.
>>>The original coil rotted out due to a bad install.
>>>The contractor folded his tent and moved to a different city.

>> All residential systems can be refilled without fixing the leak you
>> dumbass. Why? because there is no residential system that holds 50# of
>> refrigerant you asshat. Once again some moron homeowner proves he
>> knows nothing. See this link genius.
>> http://www.epa.gov/Ozone/title6/608/608fact.html#leaks

> from the link. the last sentance sez you do have to.
> Refrigerant Leaks
> Owners or operators of refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment with
> refrigerant charges greater than 50 pounds are required to repair leaks
> within 30 days when those leaks result in the loss of more than a certain
> percentage of the equipment's refrigerant charge over a year. For the
> commercial (e.g. grocery stores and warehouses) and industrial process
> refrigeration sectors, leaks must be repaired within 30 days when the
> equipment leaks at a rate that would release 35 percent or more of the
> charge over a year. For all other sectors, including comfort cooling (such
> as building chillers), leaks must be repaired when the appliance leaks at
> a rate that would release 15 percent or more of the charge over a year.

It's nice that you can quote text... now try and comprehend that it doesn't
pertain to most residential HVAC systems.
(I say *most* as most people don't live in 1 million+ mansions)

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