HVAC Tech Diagnosed Freon Leak, But Didn't Recommend Fixing?
HU-160847019
2 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (11)
klem1
2 years agoAustin Air Companie
2 years agoRelated Discussions
Bad ducts, new HVAC?, have apples&oranges bids, what makes sense?
Comments (8)I've been doing some reading, lots of reading, LOL, and came across an article saying that home designs like ours, two stories with a vaulted entryway and staircase are a nightmare for HVAC. It recommended two systems: one up, one down for real comfort and said it was really more economical than a two-zone single system. We've thought about putting a second unit in the attic, but it's something that probably has to wait until the house is paid off. In the meantime, I've been thinking and finally realized that there is a place we could put another supply duct. It would be on the far side of the door into the garage. The current duct trunk is on the other side of that door. It's right above the closet in the guest room, so we should be able to go through there and straight up to the attic--hope the attic joists aren't in the way. The run would be about 10"-11" x 24" in size and approx 58' long with 2 right angle turns. We're thinking it could handle about 900 CFM and hoping we could take our master bedroom and vaulted ceiling bath off the current duct and supply them with that. Our bedroom gets a little, but our bath is at the end of the current run and gets basically no air. With our master suite off the main trunk, I'm pretty sure the other upstairs rooms would have plenty. Does that sound like a duct that would work? Hubby is also thinking that if we did it with ductboard, he'd be able to do most of it himself, except for the connection to the plenum. He's pretty good with carpentry, plumbing and electrical, but has only worked on a/c in cars. And if I hadn't mentioned it, after measuring our house, we're really around 2,600 sq ft, not the 2,400 sq ft we had thought we had. Sorry, one more thing, if we have 1410 CFM now and add 900 CFM with another duct, going to about 2500 CFM, does that mean we'd need any certain blower size? Or do we just go with what the manual J says, assuming I can find the manual or a tech to do the calcs for us?...See MoreHVAC repaired, tech says we need new. Help!
Comments (4)Tiger, thanks. I'm open to the truth, painful as it is. :) Tech already added freon and said at the time it would be futile to try to repair the leak. He did not locate the leak. We know this thing is ancient. Just wondered if we had a couple of months to stockpile some cash, or what. He said his company would refund us the price of the freon as well as the capacitor he replaced in the fan motor (husband had replaced it and I guess with the wrong capacitor which the motor sales guy sold him...) IF we purchased a new unit from them within 1 mo. So we'd be out the diagnostic fee of $85....See MoreHVAC replace or add freon?
Comments (7)If you're in the process of selling the home, it is not likely you will get any increase in the selling price of the home, except maybe for very high end systems with a multitude of bells and whistles --- even then you will only get what someone is willing to pay and this amount is likely to come no where close to what it cost you to purchase the new system. If the AC has problems reaching adequate temp drop across indoor coil this will probably get flagged via a home inspection. However, it's also very likely it may not get flagged. It depends greatly on the severity of the leak, if there truly is a leak. AC tune ups are often times methods used to get in your front door to sell you something, that typically you don't need. This is why you should have a reputable AC repair guy on speed dial. You will always need one regardless of whether the AC system is new or old. Because of the age of your system, it's possible it may have a leak. But it's also possible that this leak *may* not require but a recharge and a thorough examination in tightening various refrigerant connections. There are a lot of grey areas when it comes to refrigerant leaks. If you didn't pay for a Freon leak check, I would seriously question the validity of any such claim. Especially if you haven't noticed any cooling problems. Why wouldn't you accept a free Freon leak check? Because then the company doing it only has the incentive of finding a leak to sell you something. [That you likely don't need.] But free sounds so good. Temp drop should be 15-20 degrees. I prefer to see closer to 20 degrees. If a home buyer is more concerned about the mechanicals of the home a new system may help you sell the home faster in that situation. Air conditioning and Heating are typically viewed as a needed accessory by anyone looking to purchase a home. So while you don't typically get a higher value for the home for having a new system, the home price can be effected when part or parts of that system have problems and are requiring a repair. If the home is located in a more extreme cooling climate the amount of time it takes to sell the home could be impacted, but only if the cooling performance is noticed while viewing the property. Cooling performance can be effected by design of the system, just as much or more than Freon leak related issues. I service the Katy, Cypress & Richmond, Texas areas....See MoreHVAC turns on, blows, but not very cool (freon never low)
Comments (8)Thank you for the replies so far. I thought my reply went through the other day, but this forum just doesn't work great for me for some reason. I lost my original post a couple times as well! I'll try again. what is your thermostat setting... Set to 70 mostly now. what is outside temperature... It was mid 80s lately and what is your supply temp at several locations within your home??? ....what is age of your AC condenser?... I believe it is 15 years old, possibly more - Is your thermostat set correctly? I think so? - Did you change your filters? yes, within the last month/weeks - Check to see if your condenser is dirty The outside fan thing? Yes I cleaned it using Simple Green, but I will do this again - Check to see if there is a refrigerant leak We had it checked a few times in the last few years and it never even needed a top off, we haven't had the freon checked since last summer however. - Is there a leak in your ductwork? I went up there and looked around and did not find anything egregious other tham mentioned in the original post. THere is that rusted area that concerns me. And the main unit was leaking quite a bit of air from the duct to the main unit, and I tried to use HVAC tape to stop it up....See MoreJennifer Hogan
2 years agoJennifer Hogan
2 years agoHU-160847019
2 years agomike_home
2 years agojrb451
2 years agosktn77a
2 years agoElmer J Fudd
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoAustin Air Companie
2 years ago
Related Stories
HOUSEKEEPINGWhat's That Sound? 9 Home Noises and How to Fix Them
Bumps and thumps might be driving you crazy, but they also might mean big trouble. We give you the lowdown and which pro to call for help
Full StoryHOME TECHA Vision of the Future for the Smart Home
Intel, a smart-home platform developer, offers a peek into the tech firm's experimental ‘living lab’
Full StoryMOST POPULAR8 Little Remodeling Touches That Make a Big Difference
Make your life easier while making your home nicer, with these design details you'll really appreciate
Full StoryMATERIALSInsulation Basics: What to Know About Spray Foam
Learn what exactly spray foam is, the pros and cons of using it and why you shouldn’t mess around with installation
Full StoryREMODELING GUIDESConsidering a Fixer-Upper? 15 Questions to Ask First
Learn about the hidden costs and treasures of older homes to avoid budget surprises and accidentally tossing valuable features
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNA Cook’s 6 Tips for Buying Kitchen Appliances
An avid home chef answers tricky questions about choosing the right oven, stovetop, vent hood and more
Full StoryBATHROOM DESIGN5 Common Bathroom Design Mistakes to Avoid
Get your bath right for the long haul by dodging these blunders in toilet placement, shower type and more
Full StoryINSIDE HOUZZHow Much Does a Remodel Cost, and How Long Does It Take?
The 2016 Houzz & Home survey asked 120,000 Houzzers about their renovation projects. Here’s what they said
Full StoryMOST POPULARHow to Work With an Interior Designer
Interior designers do much more than make a home pretty — they turn it into a harmonious haven that's uniquely yours
Full StoryHOUSEKEEPINGHow to Clean Hardwood Floors
Gleaming wood floors are a thing of beauty. Find out how to keep them that way
Full StoryColumbus Area's Luxury Design Build Firm | 17x Best of Houzz Winner!
B W