Repair or Replace Lennox Packaged Heat Pump?

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

I have an 11 year old Lennox model # 13CHPXA-042 and it needed $1400.00 in repairs last August. Last weekend it stopped supplying cold air. Today the service tech said the outdoor fan motor needs to be replaced for another $690.00. Then he said after he replaces the fan motor he can check the refrigerant level to see if it is low and if there is a leak then it would cost even more money. I am getting a 2nd opinion tomorrow from another HVAC business to see what they think about the repairs. This Lennox unit has needed a repair every 2 - 3 years. I live in a desert climate so that has made for some uncomfortable situations. I am considering cutting my losses and getting rid of this repair prone unit. I would appreciate suggestions or thoughts anyone might have on this problem.

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Comments (4)

tigerdunes
6 years ago
given the age and repair history, I would cut my losses and replace...

good luck...
oneandonlybobjones thanked tigerdunes
sktn77a
6 years ago
If the unit needed repairs every 2-3 years, there's probably a reason for this - undoubtedly installation-related. See if you can figure out what's causing this (short cycling, undesized ducts, etc) before you invest in a new unit. And be very careful who you have install it (not some hack off craigslist).
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oneandonlybobjones
Original Author
6 years ago
It was a family owned contractor with excellent reviews and I replaced the duct work when I replaced the unit. The salesman was a former long time, repair tech and performed a Manual J load calculation to properly size the unit. In my opinion, the problem is that Lennox used cheap parts to boost their profit margin. The contractor no longer recommends Lennox because of the problems he experienced with them. On another HVAC contractor forum I noticed a contractor saying that he has experienced a 50% repair rate on Lennox packaged units so he no longer sells them. It's funny that Lennox used to post their customer reviews on their Facebook page but the customer reviews were so bad that Lennox removed that information. Lennox is a big corporation and I imagine, like a lot of big corporations, their management drove down their manufacturing costs by using cheaper parts which lowered the quality of the product. I will never buy another Lennox AC unit.
PRO
Adams Air Conditioning
6 years ago
Lennox is expensive most of the time. Real expensive.
I have replaced many of fan motors on their equipment and they certainly charge for them.

Since the cost of the part is triple that of other manufacturers, it kind of gets thrown on you @ $690.00. Lennox is big about making it very difficult to install other types of motors in their equipment, the physical size of the motor is engineered differently, and so is how it lines up and mounts inside the unit. They make the motors to where common/generic motor mounts that you get with generic parts just wont line up and they basically go out of their way to make you go through hell to try and install a generic part that matches the Lennox motor speed and specs - They really want you to have to go back with their motor, and that's something as a repair company I don't agree with, especially on weekends when parts houses are closed I have to tell a customer - "Well, we could fix it today because I have generic motors, but unfortunately since it's lennox, we can't and you have to wait until Monday when I can call these guys and go pick up the motor that fits this unit".

I usually see strange motors from these guys, 6 speed options on 1 motor.. And the motor only uses 1 speed after it's installed in your specific system, but you pay for all those other speeds that your system doesn't use, that's for sure.
oneandonlybobjones thanked Adams Air Conditioning

Repair or Replace Lennox Packaged Heat Pump?

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tigerdunes

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Repair or Replace Lennox Packaged Heat Pump?

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tigerdunes

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