Paid to have A/C fixed and it is not fixed! WWYD?

[torinsmom]

I swear I posted this earlier, but it is not showing up in my CP. What do you do if you have someone come out to fix something and it is not fixed after all? My A/C was not cooling well. The thermostat would be on 70 and the temp would get up to 78 or 79. Never been a problem until this year. The guy came out and did some testing; said the coils needed cleaning. So $150 later, he says that's it and is on his way. Well, since then, it has been the same as before. The only time the house cools down is at night and then by 2 or 3, it is already 76, then 78 by evening. This is even on not so hot days like today(high of 89). So, what do I do? Call them back? Should I expect to pay another service charge, since what they did did not work? How do I know its fixed when it takes a good while for a house to cool down? My house is only 1000 square feet.

UGH, I hate being hot!

Marsha

 

[NotUrsula]

This happened to us last week. They came out, they looked, they tinkered, and they swore it was in top form, but it wasn't cooling. On a hunch I changed the batteries in the thermostat, and suddenly it's just fine. If your thermostat is battery-powered I'd try it before you schedule another service call.

 

[bicker]

The worst part of situations like this is that they did do something; they can probably show that they replaced the coils, for example. After that, they can simply claim that there is yet-another problem with the system, and seek to fix that (assuming you're willing to pay them again). Around here, at least, service providers are generally unwilling to commit to "fixing the problem, whatever it may be", electing instead to just agree to perform specific services that you agree to have them perform for you, relying on their best judgment with regard to what is "probably" wrong. Very very very frustrating when their guess is wrong, or incomplete! I know exactly where you are right now.

This is one reason why I stick with the service contract arrangement for A/C. I almost surely pay more, in the long-run, than I would if I just go through the gauntlet that it sounds like you may be on at this point. However, there is some value to being able to get the repair provider to do more work, without worrying about having to pay them for labor, again.

Best of luck. Hopefully you find your way back to cool, soon.

 

[Mimi1965]

Make them come out again-probably needs more freon

OR if the unit is really old-like mine-the coils are rusted and leaking freon

. I know that's the case with my AC-the repair guy said it can happen at any time , then we have to buy a complete outside unit.

 

[torinsmom]

It's 11 years old. I know because they also found that some part of the gas pack(heat only) is cracked and needs to be replaced before I am able to use heat. They checked the warranty and of course, it is a TEN year warranty, UGH.

I will call today. If they are going to charge me the whole she-bang again with no guarantee still that the problem will be fixed, I'm not going there. I have someone at my church that can check it and won't charge me an arm and a leg(should have waited for him to be free). If I have to go that route, I am telling the A/C company I used last week that they WON'T be doing the work on my gas pack.

I am actually considering whether I should replace the unit. I mean, the gas pack repair is going to be $700 minimum and I don't know what's wrong with the A/C. I can deal with the A/C if need be. 78 is tolerable. I just need to buy a fan to move the air around the living room while I am home this summer.

Marsha

 

[bicker]

At 11 years, replacement starts becoming a reasonable consideration. Even the service contracts start ratcheting down what they're willing to cover (at any price), starting with year 12, and by year 15 they say they won't cover anything other than routine maintenance (i.e., no repairs would be coverable).

 

[torinsmom]

That's what I figured. As much as I don't want to have to buy a new unit, I also don't like to be out of warranty and be doing a major repair. I mean, what happens if this company replaces the gas pack part and then the heat still doesn't work? What if next summer, this cooling problem repeats itself?

So, I will call and touch base with the A/C people and start getting estimates on a new unit. I wonder if people come out and give free quotes on big purchases like that? I have a feeling that when the new heat pump was put in in 1999, the ductwork was not replaced and I'd like that done as well.

Marsha

 

[LuvOrlando]

Does your unit have a hard time even in the early mornings when it's cool out? if it cools ok at that time of day it might not be the unit. With the heat we've been having my central air has been running day and night and even with all the windows drawn the temps still actually climb during the day. No matter what I did last week I couldn't get it lower than 72 and I never turned the thing off. If I made a mistake and left a door open so the humidity got in the AC was completely useless, not a good day here. We've been having such a hard time that we bought a window unit for my bedroom which is doing a miraculous job cooling the entire top floor when used along with the central air.

When it's hot and humid out the AC alone won't be enough in an average house if the home has been allowed to warm up all day. Just a thought.

 

[torinsmom]

It cools down at night to 71 degrees, but it starts going up by 11am or so. I've never had a problem like this before this summer; it would at least keep the house at 74. 78 or 79 is a bit much. The unit is constantly running and my electric bill is showing that! I don't think the air is coming out as strong as in previous years. I'm wondering if its a duct problem. This unit was installed in 1999, but the house was built in 1984. I don't know if they replace the ducts when they replace the unit, but I am thinking I need to pay extra to have that done if not.

I have someone coming out for a free estimate on Wednesday, so we shall see. Lord knows I don't need to spend any more money, but I am worried that the cracked gas pack is the beginning of the money hole.

Marsha

 

[bicker]

Does your unit have a hard time even in the early mornings when it's cool out? if it cools ok at that time of day it might not be the unit. With the heat we've been having my central air has been running day and night and even with all the windows drawn the temps still actually climb during the day. No matter what I did last week I couldn't get it lower than 72 and I never turned the thing off. ... When it's hot and humid out the AC alone won't be enough in an average house if the home has been allowed to warm up all day. Just a thought.

If that's the case, though, then there are other things you can consider doing: This spring, we had installed blackout shades over our two skylights, and we're awaiting delivery of blackout curtains for the slider and the large window in our living room. All these windows have southwestern exposure, and therefore exceedingly critical in terms of impact on our HVAC system. The skylight shades are rated at an R7 (insulating value) - they have such impact on things that we are entitled to a tax credit for installing them. Surely, our A/C is working a lot less at keeping our southwestern-facing rooms cool, this summer as compared to last summer. So while we did installed these shades to save energy, I suspect that they also will help our A/C survive a bit longer, since we won't be stressing it as much.

At least I hope that's the case.

 

[msmayor]

Sounds like the problem we had with ours a couple of years ago: refrigerant leak somewhere.

These are NOTORIOUSLY difficult to locate and fix.

We had a service contract with our utility that provided for free service calls and the first pound of refrigerant for free. For three summers, we had to have them out to put a pound in (no charge...service contract paid off in spades!).

The fourth year, it needed two pounds in June (had to pay for the first pound). Two months later, it needed more! We knew at that point the leak was much worse and it was time to take action.

The service guy could tell there was a leak in the coil, but there was no way to guarantee that there weren't more leaks in the system. Replacing the coil was the least expensive option, but no way to know if that would really fix the issue.

In the end, we opted to replace the whole system...including the furnace. Since both units were the same age it made sense for a number of reasons, not the least of which was the efficiency factor.

Our system was 13 years old when it was replaced.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Hmmm, do you have window blinds you can close during the day or is the sun beating in your house? I have blackout curtains under the decorative ones upstairs like Bicker suggested and they definitely help both in the summer and the winter. When I bought them they were all custom but i now see them at cheaper places like Walmart. They are a pain to get up and required an extra curtain bar on all the windows but they do make a significant difference for both keeping the heat out and in. Downstairs I have room darkening blinds everywhere and I keep them all closed when the day is expected over 90. Some people have nothing but lace on their windows (my MIL next door) and while it's pretty it won't help when the temperatures swing wildly. I can totally feel the difference between her house and mine and the 2 are pretty similar.

For a long time I thought my unit was broken too but year after year the guy would come out and tell me the unit is fine (I now have a maintainance agreement because of it)and he was right as long as it wasn't too hot out. A DF of mine was the first in the neighborhood to get a small unit for her master bathroom and I followed her lead. They sit in the master bath facing the backyard. The small unit we bought at Best Buy cost $160. According to the sticker it would only cost abut $45/year to run. I can't emphasize enough how much it has improved the comfort level of our home. I think what was happening is all the heat was collecting in our vaulted ceiling bedroom and the more the AC worked the cooler the downstairs got, but not the top floor. Now the small unit is keeping the hottest room from getting hot so the whole house is cooling more efficiently which means I can leave the little one on upstairs and shut the main one down for few hours a day without noting any great changes.

Of course, get things checked because if something is broken it would need to be fixed but I'd also consider the possibility that the AC might be fine, it's just so hot out that the system is being overwhelmed. Maybe there are some less expensive fixes you can try before getting a whole new unit. At least, that's what I would try. Good luck

 

[ugadog99]

We had the same problem a few weeks ago right before we left for Disney. We have a geothermal unit (don't even get me started!) so we have to use someone "trained" in geothermal units. The guy comes out, says the filter is almost completely clogged. (I can't change it myself...under the house...weird unit, etc.) So, he cleans the filter and "checks" everything out and says it is fine. One week later: same problem. Call again, different guy but same company comes out and says the drain pipe (geothermals work using water) is clogged at the bottom. He clears the drain pipe and it has been working fine ever since. I paid a service charge the first time but not the second. All in all it was about $150 total. I do think I'm going to enroll in their yearly service plan, though. My dad always took care of things like this or told me what to do about it. (custom contractor that he was) He passed away in October, so I'm learning all kinds of new things I have to do!

Definitely call them back. I don't think a second service charge should be added at all!

 

[tvguy]

At 11 years, replacement starts becoming a reasonable consideration. Even the service contracts start ratcheting down what they're willing to cover (at any price), starting with year 12, and by year 15 they say they won't cover anything other than routine maintenance (i.e., no repairs would be coverable).

Don't tell that to my mom with her 50 year old Lennox system!!!
Utility company came out and did an energy audit, first thing guys does is look at the system. Says, he's sure she's long overdue for a new unit. Finished the house inspection, punches the numbers in, then looks up her gas and electric bills. It would take 160 years (at current rates) to save enough energy to pay for a new unit.
She thought I was nuts when I replaced my system when it conked out at age 14. I bought a top of the line Trane, and now 19 years later it's still plugging along just fine. I shooting for 50 years or more myself.

 

[bicker]

I don't think a second service charge should be added at all!

I wished things actually worked that way, these days.

... punches the numbers in, then looks up her gas and electric bills. It would take 160 years (at current rates) to save enough energy to pay for a new unit.

Though that didn't factor in repairs that may end up being necessary, as in the OP's case.

I shooting for 50 years or more myself.

Good luck.

 

[ugadog99]

I guess I was lucky then, but I did not encounter a second service charge.

 

[bicker]

That sort of thing really depends on the local area.

 

[ugadog99]

That is true, bicker. Down here where I am, the second service charge so close to an initial visit would never be added.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

We had service last week for a similar cooling problem. It was time to replace the filter. The problem repeated this week and baffled me. It was ever since we had our ducts cleaned on Wed. I discovered on Saturday that they never put my filter back in when they cleaned the handler.

The cooling problem was the same our old system had. We ended uo replacigg that system because it wouldn't be fixed. During replacement they noticed the compressor and the handler were mismatched sizes. We still wanted it replaced.

Our current system is great...as long as the filter is in properly andnit is clean.

 

[terri01p]