Home Air conditioner repairs - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

intecel · 08-03-2006, 11:49 AM

Does anyone in here have good knowlege of home AC units? My air conditioner has been running like crap for the past couple months. I called out an AC guy and he filled my freon and said I had a leak at the coil. The coil is rusted up around the pipes.

He says I need to have the coil replaced at around $1100. Is this something that can be repaired, or does it make sense that I would have to replace the whole thing?

newtx · 08-03-2006, 12:00 PM

I would get at least a second opinion. If the condenser coil needs replacing (and it may) the price sounds too high.

intecel · 08-03-2006, 06:18 PM

I'll ask around a bit to other people then. The unit is only 5 years old so I really can't see having to replace something that major yet.

newtx · 08-03-2006, 08:23 PM

If the unit is only 5 years old you shouldn't have leaks and it almost certainly doesn't need replacing.

BadNick · 08-04-2006, 05:10 AM

5 years is way too short for a "normal" life for that coil, but if for some reason it was exposed to conditions that accelerated corrosion, it could fail in very short time; e.g. improper drainage, frequent cycles of unusually high wet then dry like flood immersion then drying, or if a gutter or runoff from a roof is dumping water right on it everytime it rains.

catback · 08-04-2006, 02:55 PM

Yea 5-years is a very short life but if it's rusted or corroded as the tech said then it'll likely need to be replaced.

thingstodo · 08-04-2006, 03:15 PM

I'd sure want to find out why it rusted in the first place so I wouldn't have that problem again. YOu also might check the warranty as compressors are pretty long but I have no idea on coils.

CoachAlan · 08-13-2006, 10:51 AM

If it has a leak, charging the system with more refrigerant is only going to be a temporary fix. It won't be long before that refrigerant leaks out, too. Sometimes it's possible to repair a leak by soldering over it, but condensor coils can be very hard to get a clear shot at, and if they're rusted over, it probably wouldn't be worth it anyway.

I'm a universal refrigerant tech, and I'll tell you that five years is not really an exceptional time for a unit to develop a leak. In fact, before we send units out we pressure test them at the shop because about half of them come from the factory with leaks.

It looks like a new condensor coil is in your future. Be happy that's all you have to replace.

Deltona Couple · 09-05-2006, 09:43 AM

A couple of questions, if the unit is 5 years old, is it new construction? or a replacement unit? Many replacement units or even new construction units have large warranties. What brand is it? I just had a new Trane unit installed, and was given a 10 year total parts and labour warranty.

intecel · 09-07-2006, 06:01 PM

My house was built in 2001 and it was a brand new unit when it was put in. Unfortunately, the unit only has a 3 year warranty on it.

Deltona Couple · 09-11-2006, 07:15 AM

What brand is it? because I am supprised that it only had a 3 year warranty. Even no-name brands have a 5 year warranty, excluding labour charges. Hey, even if it's only the cost of a part, $300.00 is better than $700.00! lol.

08-03-2006, 11:49 AM	#1 (permalink)
intecel Psycho	Home Air conditioner repairs Does anyone in here have good knowlege of home AC units? My air conditioner has been running like crap for the past couple months. I called out an AC guy and he filled my freon and said I had a leak at the coil. The coil is rusted up around the pipes. He says I need to have the coil replaced at around $1100. Is this something that can be repaired, or does it make sense that I would have to replace the whole thing?

08-04-2006, 03:15 PM	#7 (permalink)
thingstodo A Storm Is Coming Location: The Great White North	I'd sure want to find out why it rusted in the first place so I wouldn't have that problem again. YOu also might check the warranty as compressors are pretty long but I have no idea on coils. __________________ If you're wringing your hands you can't roll up your shirt sleeves. Stangers have the best candy.

08-13-2006, 10:51 AM	#8 (permalink)
CoachAlan Psycho Location: Las Vegas	If it has a leak, charging the system with more refrigerant is only going to be a temporary fix. It won't be long before that refrigerant leaks out, too. Sometimes it's possible to repair a leak by soldering over it, but condensor coils can be very hard to get a clear shot at, and if they're rusted over, it probably wouldn't be worth it anyway. I'm a universal refrigerant tech, and I'll tell you that five years is not really an exceptional time for a unit to develop a leak. In fact, before we send units out we pressure test them at the shop because about half of them come from the factory with leaks. It looks like a new condensor coil is in your future. Be happy that's all you have to replace. __________________ "If I cannot smoke cigars in heaven, I shall not go!" - Mark Twain

09-05-2006, 09:43 AM	#9 (permalink)
Deltona Couple Addict Location: Spring, Texas	A couple of questions, if the unit is 5 years old, is it new construction? or a replacement unit? Many replacement units or even new construction units have large warranties. What brand is it? I just had a new Trane unit installed, and was given a 10 year total parts and labour warranty. __________________ "It is not that I have failed, but that I have found 10,000 ways that it DOESN'T work!" --Thomas Edison

09-11-2006, 07:15 AM	#11 (permalink)
Deltona Couple Addict Location: Spring, Texas	What brand is it? because I am supprised that it only had a 3 year warranty. Even no-name brands have a 5 year warranty, excluding labour charges. Hey, even if it's only the cost of a part, $300.00 is better than $700.00! lol. __________________ "It is not that I have failed, but that I have found 10,000 ways that it DOESN'T work!" --Thomas Edison

08-03-2006, 12:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
newtx Addict	I would get at least a second opinion. If the condenser coil needs replacing (and it may) the price sounds too high.

08-03-2006, 06:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
intecel Psycho	I'll ask around a bit to other people then. The unit is only 5 years old so I really can't see having to replace something that major yet.

08-03-2006, 08:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
newtx Addict	If the unit is only 5 years old you shouldn't have leaks and it almost certainly doesn't need replacing.

08-04-2006, 05:10 AM	#5 (permalink)
BadNick Riding the Ocean Spray Location: S.E. PA in U Sofa	5 years is way too short for a "normal" life for that coil, but if for some reason it was exposed to conditions that accelerated corrosion, it could fail in very short time; e.g. improper drainage, frequent cycles of unusually high wet then dry like flood immersion then drying, or if a gutter or runoff from a roof is dumping water right on it everytime it rains.

08-04-2006, 02:55 PM	#6 (permalink)
catback Psycho Location: North America	Yea 5-years is a very short life but if it's rusted or corroded as the tech said then it'll likely need to be replaced.

09-07-2006, 06:01 PM	#10 (permalink)
intecel Psycho	My house was built in 2001 and it was a brand new unit when it was put in. Unfortunately, the unit only has a 3 year warranty on it.