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Posted by on July 31, 2006, 11:00 pm
>Hi everyone, I've been reading through this group trying to pick up
>some advice.
>
>I have a Rheem system that is 16 years old. The a/c gave up on me
>about 2 weeks ago. I'm in Southern California, and it's been super hot
>and running now for more than 5 weeks.
Guess what John....your duct system is also at least 16 yrs old, and
according to the State of Ca, they say that in every tract home built
in Ca prior to 1996, the attic duct work leaks an estimated 30%-40%.
>
>I have American Home Shield, and I know many of you are down on them,
>but it seems to have worked for me. The service provider came out a
>week ago, and changed a capacitor, fuses, and got it running, for
>about an hour. It then just started blowing warm air. He came back,
>and said the compressor was out, and AHS agreed to replace it.
>
>He told me, however, that that was just putting a bandaid on the
>problem, and it still, probably, wouldn't last me through the rest of
>the season, which out here is into November. He quoted me $5600 for a
he's full of bullshit. a replacement compressor comes with a full
1 yr warranty. Additionally he could have sold you a replacement
condensing unit (yes they're still available) that would work just
fine with your existing system.....he REALLY isnt a tech, think
salesperson.....disguised as a tech.
>new 13 SEER system, furnace and 5 Ton a/c system. He said it was a
>Bryant or Goodman system. Trane, through Home Depot, quoted a 14 SEER
>system at $11,490.00. A big difference. My home is about 2700 sq ft.
>Sears is quoting over a month before they can even come out and give
>an estimate.
You might ask yourself....why the huge difference in pricing..... one
person plans on doing the job to current building codes, and one is
merely going to install new 'boxes', ie furnace, coil & condenser. Do
not, under any circumstances, allow an hvac contractor to install a
goodman system in your home.
I strongly suggest you learn ALL of the new building codes that relate
to hvac, such as the fact that ALL ductwork must be insulated to R-8,
that the duct system MUST be pressurized and sealed to an acceptable
15% leakage rate (retrofit construction). New construction is 6%
leakage rate. Here's the kicker....some areas are exempt from the
duct pressurization, especially if your duct system has asbestos.
Even more reason to have it replaced!! Word on the street.....some
'shady' contractors claim the ducts have the required amount of
asbestos, just to get away from the mandated pressurization/retrofit,
regardless if theres asbestos or not!!
For a job done correctly AND to current codes, a contractor will pull
a building permit, do a load calc, and seal insulate and verify the
duct system is within State mandated tolerances.
PS: Sears doesnt install, they contract with brain-dead contractors
who are unable to generate their own sales, and must rely on Sears for
any installs that they do do. They make their money by slamming jobs
in and cutting every conceivable corner possible, and Sears makes trhe
killer commissions on the equipment sales.
PS#2: Neither Trane nor HD sell hvac to homeowners, however a Trane
DEALER has an exclusive arrangement with a particular HD store (or
more than 1). HD generates the leads, the contractor makes the sale
to Joe Homeowner, and pays HD a percentage of the sale for the lead.
More succinctly, HD SUBTRACTS their cut off the top before paying the
contractor.
If you go thru HD vs going directly to the Trane DEALER, you end up
paying MORE, cuz you're also paying for the HD sales commission!!!
>
>I guess I thought the compressor pretty much WAS the system. If that's
>replaced, shouldn't that part of the system be like new? The furnace
>and blower seem to be working fine. Being in So Cal, I don't use the
>furnace much, but do rely on the a/c.
>
>Is 16 years pushing the time limit anyway, and I'll need to replace
>everything shortly anyway? Is the first guy just trying to get me to
>buy that system from him, and, last, any thoughts on why the big price
>difference between the Bryant and the Trane?
>
>Thanks for any advice you might have!
Here's the link you need to learn all you can about the new Title 24
regulations that went into effect Oct. 2005.
http://www.energy.ca.gov/title24/2005standards/2004-11-04_400-03-001-F.PDF
Scroll down to Section 124, which begins in the middle of page 76.
Section 124 deals with the duct work issues....
PS#3: I too live in SoCal.....AND I'm an hvac contractor and know WTF
I'm talking about.
13, 14, 15+ seer means absolutely DOGSHIT, when connected to a leaky,
under sized, poorly insulated duct system.
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