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Posted by cshenk on May 7, 2008, 4:43 pm
"cybercat" wrote
> We want a new unit, there are just other things I would like to do with
> the
> house fund at the moment.
I'm in the same boat. Mine is 1988 stuff and though well maintained, it
cant last much longer. It's also not very energy efficient compared to more
modern units.
The heat portion of it was replaced about 1995 and works fine. The rest is
the origional still.
Looking about, the life cycle of this type of unit, was for 15 years so we
are on borrowed time <grin>.
>> Now lets take best and worst case at same time. Older coolant but you
>> guy can supply it. If you do not have a true leak, go for it as you'll
>> be good a few more years. Check prices of new units but wait as they are
>> getting more and more efficient as we typo to one another.
>
> Yes, this is what we want to do. Just do what it takes to get another year
> or
> two out of this one, give us time to do the research and such.
And Steve explianed I used the wrong term. Sorry, it's refridgerant.
Apparently still in production but all I can say is I get warned each time
that mine is getting hard to obtain in my area. This from repair guys, not
ones who make money selling new systems. There are also parts issues with
my older unit but so far they have been able to get what is needed.
The AC unit is one of the things my husband deals with so I'm not totally up
on it.
> Thanks so much. I will report on the outcome after the guys come tomorrow.
Waiting patiently and hoping for good news! With your unit being only 12
years old, you may be lucky like me and be able to keep it running another 8
or more. If it helps any, ours is an upper end Sears unit and as part of
the purchase contract had annual maintenance for the first 10 years I
believe. Unfortunately that didnt transfer to us when we bought the house
so we've had to use various contractors.
We don't know if it had refridgerant added while we were away overseas, but
we had it done once when when we bought the house and again about 6 years
later just before we left. That would mean if it doesnt cool well this
year, it's time for another addition most likely (will have been 7 years).
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Posted by cybercat on May 7, 2008, 5:12 pm
>
> Waiting patiently and hoping for good news!
The AC guy just left. As soon as he saw the unit, he said, "I can tell you
what the problem is, it is out of freon." I said, "Oh, good, then you can
just fill it up!" He said, "No, that's not good, because I can fill it up
but it will just leak out again."
He could not tell me how long it would take to leak out again. He could tell
me that a new system, with new ductwork is going to run something like $7K
to 9K.
I told him we would have to take our chances and hope the freon would last
for a while.
He sold me on a $150 per year maintenance plan for both heating and cooling,
with one check in the spring that includes coil cleaning every year. Then a
check of the furnace etc. for winter. With this maintenance plan, we got a
small discount on freon.
Here is what the invoice looks like:
Qty and Service Non HSP HSP
Diagnostic: $99.00 $47.00
HSP agreement $0 $149.00
Gas surcharge $10.00 $0
1 lb R-22 (1st pound) $ 91.00 $77.00
4 Additional lbs R-22 $108.00 $88.00
2 Cleaning coils $162.00 $0
Total $470.00 $361.00
So we paid $361 and this includes a heating check next fall.
Under Work Performed:
Performed service. cool check on system checked volts, amps, coils, motors,
filter, T-stat, Electrical, Refrigerant, Capacitors, superheat, temperature
drop, Diagnostic system, very low refrigerant. Added 5.04 lbs of R.-22.
Diagnose no other problems at this time.
Technician recommends: System upgrade due to age and efficiency. Very highly
recommend replacing system. Leak search test $35 per 1/4 hour."
Hmmm. Anybody know what the leak search results mean? Did I just pay $361
for a week of cool air?
By the way, the unit is beautiful now, he did a great job cleaning it inside
and out. It looks new.
What say you experts?
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Posted by cshenk on May 7, 2008, 6:20 pm
"cybercat" wrote
> The AC guy just left. As soon as he saw the unit, he said, "I can tell you
> what the problem is, it is out of freon." I said, "Oh, good, then you can
> just fill it up!" He said, "No, that's not good, because I can fill it up
> but it will just leak out again."
Grin, see where my 'freon' comment came in?
> He could not tell me how long it would take to leak out again. He could
> tell me that a new system, with new ductwork is going to run something
> like $7K to 9K.
New duct work shouldnt be needed I would assume.
> I told him we would have to take our chances and hope the freon would last
> for a while.
Good call. Looking below you arent out much money with that route if it
doesnt work and may be like me, 6 years later you need it again <g>
> Technician recommends: System upgrade due to age and efficiency. Very
> highly recommend replacing system. Leak search test $35 per 1/4 hour."
If it starts failing in 2 weeks, try that?
> What say you experts?
Dunno! I'm not an expert here on this one!
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Posted by cybercat on May 7, 2008, 6:35 pm
> "cybercat" wrote
>
>> The AC guy just left. As soon as he saw the unit, he said, "I can tell
>> you what the problem is, it is out of freon." I said, "Oh, good, then you
>> can just fill it up!" He said, "No, that's not good, because I can fill
>> it up but it will just leak out again."
>
> Grin, see where my 'freon' comment came in?
Yes, I noted that! :)
>
>> He could not tell me how long it would take to leak out again. He could
>> tell me that a new system, with new ductwork is going to run something
>> like $7K to 9K.
>
> New duct work shouldnt be needed I would assume.
He thinks so, and this house is old. I think the duct work runs 4K or so.
>
>> I told him we would have to take our chances and hope the freon would
>> last for a while.
>
> Good call. Looking below you arent out much money with that route if it
> doesnt work and may be like me, 6 years later you need it again <g>
Hey, I missed that! You added freon (R-22) and did not need it again for
six years???
>
>> Technician recommends: System upgrade due to age and efficiency. Very
>> highly recommend replacing system. Leak search test $35 per 1/4 hour."
>
> If it starts failing in 2 weeks, try that?
>
>> What say you experts?
>
> Dunno! I'm not an expert here on this one!
>
I want to know what that Leak search test result means. If we had to fill
this thing
once or twice a year that might be okay, but more is not.
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Posted by cshenk on May 8, 2008, 4:58 pm
"cybercat" wrote
>>> The AC guy just left. As soon as he saw the unit, he said, "I can tell
>>> you what the problem is, it is out of freon." I said, "Oh, good, then
>>> you can just fill it up!" He said, "No, that's not good, because I can
>>> fill it up but it will just leak out again."
>>
>> Grin, see where my 'freon' comment came in?
>
> Yes, I noted that! :)
I figured it out. Freon is generic name for the refridgerant R-22. Must
come in other types.
Steve, (since you read the thread figure you will see this) is there an
older version of this which is phased out now? I know you listed ones still
in production, just was wondering if my system uses something older that
really is gone. Then again, could be some city ordinance or something I'm
tripping over here? (Norfolk VA area).
>>> He could not tell me how long it would take to leak out again. He could
>>> tell me that a new system, with new ductwork is going to run something
>>> like $7K to 9K.
>>
>> New duct work shouldnt be needed I would assume.
>
> He thinks so, and this house is old. I think the duct work runs 4K or so.
I had to have duct work done when the subfloor ducting went wonkers on us
and had to be backfilled. Since I had some overhead anyways, it was more a
rewrap and extend it sort of job. I think 2,000$ or so worth?
>>> I told him we would have to take our chances and hope the freon would
>>> last for a while.
>>
>> Good call. Looking below you arent out much money with that route if it
>> doesnt work and may be like me, 6 years later you need it again <g>
>
> Hey, I missed that! You added freon (R-22) and did not need it again for
> six years???
Yup. We cant say for sure if it was refilled while we were away. I suspect
not, but not sure.
>>> Technician recommends: System upgrade due to age and efficiency. Very
>>> highly recommend replacing system. Leak search test $35 per 1/4 hour."
>>
>> If it starts failing in 2 weeks, try that?
>>
>>> What say you experts?
>>
>> Dunno! I'm not an expert here on this one!
>>
>
> I want to know what that Leak search test result means. If we had to fill
> this thing
> once or twice a year that might be okay, but more is not.
Call them and ask for the results? Or are they just still pending? You may
(like me) have a small slow leak. Good policy you got there I might add!
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