BUDGET BUSTER: Need new A/C unit (central air)

[mafibisha]

Yes, I know we're blessed to even have HAD central air. Yes, I know upkeep on homes can be pricey

But our newer (to us) home is only about 15 years old. Turned on the A/C last night and it was only moderately cool-ish air, regardless how low we turned it down, or how long we let it run.

The repair guy just left. Haven't even told DH ....

He said we need a NEW UNIT because the Freon line is cracked....? And something about the gov't doesn't allow it now due to regulations?

All I heard was the *new unit* part and that it will cost approximately $4K and up.

He DID say we could 'shop-around' for other bids. But that too will warrant another service $ call or can I shop-around by phoning different companies?

So before I did anything, even before I cry I poured another cup of coffee and thought I'd ask y'all because I know from the past that you know everything. Not kidding. I'm hoping someone here will know something that may help us either avoid this or make it less expensive.

Even though DH and I grew up without A/C we live in a warmer climate now (not FL, boo lol) and really do 'need' it....

So TIA ....

 

[JeRmS]

The service tech was "partially" right, old R-22 units are slowly being phased out which is what you have BUT the parts can still be found albeit few and far between.

Your best bet at this point would be to call around and see what some other places will tell you.

Give them the information you were given from the previous service tech about the freon line being cracked and see if that is a replaceable part or do you really need a whole new unit.

The reason initial cost on your new unit is so high is because everything has to be replaced to the new standard R-410A units.

I went through a similar problem 2 years ago and I eventually found a place that was willing to fix my old R22 unit.

Good Luck

 

[mafibisha]

The service tech was "partially" right, old R-22 units are slowly being phased out which is what you have BUT the parts can still be found albeit few and far between.

Your best bet at this point would be to call around and see what some other places will tell you.

Give them the information you were given from the previous service tech about the freon line being cracked and see if that is a replaceable part or do you really need a whole new unit.

The reason initial cost on your new unit is so high is because everything has to be replaced to the new standard R-410A units.

I went through a similar problem 2 years ago and I eventually found a place that was willing to fix my old R22 unit.

Good Luck

Thank you for the info and glimmer of hope!!!!!!!
I'll start calling around today.

Also, is there any type of place/company you'd recommend over others?

And if they want to see it to diagnose it too, should they already know what I'm talking about and know whether they can fix it or not, without seeing it?

(thinking of all the $service call fees to add to budget buster....)

 

[MSSANDRA]

Be sure that you are not paying nearly half as much for a short term fix rather than a long term solution. If your home is 15 year old, and it has the original heat and air system, you are pretty typical. We just had our system to go out last month and we had several people come and look at our situation (free estimates) and all recommended to replace our entire system. Fixing the old system was expensive and we choose to replace with a new more efficient system with the hopes of saving quite a bit on our electrical bill. Our cost was about 7600.00. May not be the solution for you, but worth checking out.

 

[toystory1130]

I would wonder if it's even really cracked, might just have a slow leak. When we had out old unit we had a small leak and just refilled the freon every other year. When you call for estimates DO NOT tell them what the other guy said (cracked freon line) IF it's really cracked let the second guy find it and go from there.

 

[JeRmS]

Thank you for the info and glimmer of hope!!!!!!!
I'll start calling around today.

Also, is there any type of place/company you'd recommend over others?

And if they want to see it to diagnose it too, should they already know what I'm talking about and know whether they can fix it or not, without seeing it?

(thinking of all the $service call fees to add to budget buster....)

I would contact the local mom & pop shops before contacting any of the major distributors.

 

[Disneefun]

We just went through this with a 16 year old unit. We repaired it once and told ourselves that if it broke again we'd replace it. It broke down again within the year.

Reason we replaced? Parts and freon for those old units are becoming more and more expensive. Since the gov't has outlawed the old kind of freon, the price has gone way up. Since the unit is so old, it's likely to need more and more repairs, which means throwing good money after bad at some point.

When we went for the replacement, we didn't have to pay for extra service calls. We called and told the vendors we wanted quotes on a new system. They should do quotes for free. We ended up with a local company. After rebates from our utility for upgrading to better equipment and tax breaks, it was about $4,500 for a top of the line, highest Seer rated unit. And I love my new power bills that are much lower!

I consider it worth it to have a unit that won't give me problems for a while. Yes, it's expensive to replace a unit, but at some point on an old unit it's just what has to happen, otherwise you'll just be throwing money into a never ending pit of repairs, which, for the older units will only get more and more expensive as parts get scarce and freon goes up.

 

[mafibisha]

Thanks for the other replies. I'll be calling for *free* estimates. Fingers crossed!! LOL

 

[Kay1]

Our American Standard was about $6,000 and I hit the roof, too. On the bright side, it did bring down the electric bill.

 

[Anthony1971]

They still sell the the R-22 units...
The law is it needs to be unfilled so you need to pay for the R-22 seperate.
most unless they are very honest will not offer this option.
going this way should cost around 2-3 depending on the size and person installing -- around these parts that is. (less if you have more private person or shall I say smaller company)
looking at what others are saying here prices vary and seem to be lower in a lot of states.. for a conversion here for a normal not energy star unit is 5-6 energy star 7-8 with the some rebates included others you file on your own that will bring it down a few hundred.

 

[disneylove69]

Had same issue. Theybfound a leak and it cost $400 to feel. I was told many companies not carrying the freon for older units and what they have is it. Dreading getting New unit. Many do free estimates.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I replaced my unit a few years ago. I can't believe anyone would charge you for the "sales call" That's a red flag IMHO that the guy was trying to pressure you. I had several places come give me free costs of a new unit. No one ever suggested charging for that LOL!

I wound up with a local firm and their unit was $2,000 less the "Trane" but it's worked fine. They have a great rep and I felt comfortable using them.

But I agree at 15 years it's close to the end. Mine was 20 and everyone was amazed it was still running

 

[tvguy]

They still sell the the R-22 units...
The law is it needs to be unfilled so you need to pay for the R-22 seperate.
most unless they are very honest will not offer this option.
going this way should cost around 2-3 depending on the size and person installing -- around these parts that is. (less if you have more private person or shall I say smaller company)
looking at what others are saying here prices vary and seem to be lower in a lot of states.. for a conversion here for a normal not energy star unit is 5-6 energy star 7-8 with the some rebates included others you file on your own that will bring it down a few hundred.

I just put $800 into my 22 year old heat pump. The HVAC companies here all advertise pretty heavily on the radio that they can install a complete new system for anythere from $3,995 to about $5,995. The catch is that there is some law.....not sure if local or California, that when you replace a system, if you don't have super well insulated duct work, you have to replace that too, and that can add $5-6,000 to the cost.

 

[tvguy]

I replaced my unit a few years ago. I can't believe anyone would charge you for the "sales call" That's a red flag IMHO that the guy was trying to pressure you. I had several places come give me free costs of a new unit. No one ever suggested charging for that LOL!

I think the OP said they are charging a service call to give her an estimate to fix her current unit, not to give her an estimate to replace it.

 

[mafibisha]

I think the OP said they are charging a service call to give her an estimate to fix her current unit, not to give her an estimate to replace it.

OP here.

Thanks everyone, for your thoughts and ideas.

To the above - yes, they came out when I called to see if they could fix it. Talking to DH since I wrote my OP, I think we'll bite the bullet and replace it, but not until I get other estimates.

Thanks again all!!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I'd just replace the unit if at all possible. Odds are you are going to have more issues in another year or so.

One of ours went in July and had to be replaced after I'd spent 300.00 on repairs to it a month before. So I just had them put in a new unit.

I'm sure our 2nd one will go at some point in the middle of a heat wave in the summer. Because that's just my luck......

 

[Princess Melody]

We just went through this. After 3 different repair companies told us the absurd amount of $$$ freon is going up within the next year we decided to replace the unit. Yes it was costly & that was hard to swallow at first, but it will actually save us $ in the long run.

 

[smphbear]

We also faced this situation ... Hurricane Issacc flooded our home. The water was brackish water so our outside unit had to be replaced. It was 10 years old from when our house was built. No one around here would put in the old freon style. The rub was insurance would only cover part of the outside unit. Thankfully, my contractor is family so he made sure we were taken care of. The nice part is our electric bills have gone way down with the new unit.

 

[mafibisha]

We also faced this situation ... Hurricane Issacc flooded our home. The water was brackish water so our outside unit had to be replaced. It was 10 years old from when our house was built. No one around here would put in the old freon style. The rub was insurance would only cover part of the outside unit. Thankfully, my contractor is family so he made sure we were taken care of. The nice part is our electric bills have gone way down with the new unit.

So sorry about your flood and the hurricane damage Glad its worked out for you.
Our electric bill hasn't been too bad over the years (gas heat) but here's hoping the new unit makes it even better.

So since we're going to go with the unit, is it still wise to get estimates, or will most be about the same?

(that even sounds weird saying because I always check everything!! hence, budget board LOL)

 

[smphbear]

I would definitely get estimates. You also need to look at what brand are they using. What size unit. The seer (spelling?) rating of the unit. For our unit, they redid the ducts because they are the flexible type. They also added a register because it is a better unit than the builder one we got when the house was built. We have about 1500 sqft of living space. We have a Trane unit. They replaced the inside and outside parts. It was done for $5800 total. I know these things can vary greatly by area of the country.

Thanks for the good thoughts. It was no fun, but at least we had a home and we able to save a lot of our stuff. Sandy and the recent tornadoes didn't leave people as fortunate!