My AC is not working...is it really $600 to fix it?

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cardinal43

Member
I have a 2 year old home. Central AC (carrier) was brand new 2 years ago. Our AC ran fine 3 weeks ago, but this week, would only blow room temp air. The compressor and the fan all work normally, but just didn't remove any heat from the air or blow cold air.

I had a local ac guy stop buy and he saw that the copper tubing that goes into the AC unit outside, was covered in coolant. ( I did see this and it was definitley a dirty oily substance on the copper tube).

He said that someone must have bumped the copper tube and caused a leak (could have been one of the kids). He said he can fix the copper tube. He said that the remaining coolant needs to be removed, then the system needs to be flushed with nitrogen, and then refilled. He wants to charge me $36 per lb for the coolant and said my sysetm will take 8 lbs.

He said labor to fix the pipe, refill the system, and materials for the coolant will run me $600.

Does this sound legit?
 
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polarisrider1

New member
cardinal43 said:
I have a 2 year old home. Central AC (carrier) was brand new 2 years ago. Our AC ran fine 3 weeks ago, but this week, would only blow room temp air. The compressor and the fan all work normally, but just didn't remove any heat from the air or blow cold air.

I had a local ac guy stop buy and he saw that the copper tubing that goes into the AC unit outside, was covered in coolant. ( I did see this and it was definitley a dirty oily substance on the copper tube).

He said that someone must have bumped the copper tube and caused a leak (could have been one of the kids). He said he can fix the copper tube. He said that the remaining coolant needs to be removed, then the system needs to be flushed with nitrogen, and then refilled. He wants to charge me $36 per lb for the coolant and said my sysetm will take 8 lbs.

He said labor to fix the pipe, refill the system, and materials for the coolant will run me $600.

Does this sound legit?
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yup. call your insurance co. see if they cover the damage caused by what ever hit the copper tube. deductable needs to be way low to make it worth the claim. A good window air conditioner costs that much.
 
catdog

catdog

Member
Get a few quotes don't go with the first guy. In the old days if the system wasn't flat you could pump them down fix the leak open your valves and add new freon until you had the right charge.
 
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polarisrider1

New member
We got a few HVAC guys in here from the Chicago area who may help you out. Cindy you out there?? (windingtrailgal).
Keep in mind Chitown= union rates, tolls, parking, over priced gas and the general hassle of getting around that figures into cost, plus the coolent stuff is pricey. Freon is way pricey (something about the ozone). And figure in that you are also approching prime time for AC repairs. Stuff it on a already full credit card and getter done.
 
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cardinal43

Member
Thanks for the help so far.

This is a townhome, so I told the guy to wait until 10am this morning so I could check with my association. I wonder if this is covered under HOA insurance??
 
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peter

Member
I'm a hvac guy in north shore area of chicago and cindy (windingtrailgirl) has hvac shop in city. I think the shop you had out has quoted you very low price per pound of freon "refrigerent". Freon has gone way up in price this year. You have about $300 in freon you have nitrogen and misc materials and about hour to three in labor "provided leak is in pipe by a solder joint or easy to get at". Labor around here could avrage from $100-$150 a hour. The price quoted does not seem unresonable to me.
Now if the leak is in the a/c unit it self you may want to check about warrenty on A/C unit. If leak is in pipe from house to a/c unit proply not.
Depending where about you live I do accept cash on the side for repairs and installs. Could save you some money.
 
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freezinbevr

New member
Cardinal,
Peter is dead on correct. Not an unreasonable repair bill for that amount of work. If it is R-22 "freon", that just tripled in price in January due to EPA regulations being moved up by two years.

Good Luck

Remember, like we have on the back of one of our trucks....."HVAC is like underwear...You only notice it when it's uncomfortable!"

Brad
 
catdog

catdog

Member
I doubt its R-22, more likely 410A you can buy 25 lb jug for $165.00 which is $6.60 a lb. Now if it R-22 thats a different story. You don't need any nitrogen if it not flat. Pump it down into the condensor make repairs pull a vac and open valves and add freon until it has the correct charge.
 
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cardinal43

Member
Hey all, thanks for all your posts. I really appreciate all of the input.

I am going to get this done today, based on the fact that my wife is hot and the weekend is here.

Since its a fair price and I'm all the way out in Bartlett, I'm going to go with the guy who originally came out. Peter - For future reference, would you come all the way out to Bartlett for side jobs? I understand its a bit of a hike but if I have any problems in the future....let me know if this would be in your acceptable driving range..
 
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Woodtic

Active member
We are selling R22 at 19.00 a pound. R410 is half that. A TANK of nitro is 16, can do 5 or 6 houses with that same tank. They fill car tires with the same stuff. I have never seen a small res system take or hold more than 5lbs. With this said, There are alot of games out there.They give the store away on one side of the bill and stick it to you on the other.
 
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coldbear

New member
Another fun fact for the summer season is to remove the dirty filter and install a new one. The monies spent for new filters save tons on the monthly power,hydro bills. Also more comfortbable living conditions! We've removed filters that havent been changed in years. And the people wonder why the bills are high?
 
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dcsnomo

Moderator
pistons said:
I am going to get this done today, based on the fact that my wife is hot and the weekend is here.
Click to expand...

Ya see, that's the crux of the problem. You viewed it as $600 to fix the AC. I would view it as $600 to keep the wife happy. That's a no-brainer!
 
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skid

Member
Heres is another thought on why your tubing might be damaged, new kick for kids is to get the freon out and huff it.
 
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snowbuff

New member
cripes, we just turned the heat off, open the windows and enjoy the fresh air for a while!!! Although, now would be the time to fix it, before the summer rush kicks in. Price would probably double then! Good luck.
 
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