looking for a/c wizard hacker
Yama Ploskonka
Our home unit is dying. It was already described as being probably the last of its kind still in operation, several years ago, a total steampunk thing now I guess
Installers want to redo the whole thing, which is not convincing me, as the pipes, ducts, etc. are quite operational, just the compressor, maybe the outside fan thing needs updating, certainly the compressor, that thing has been running at least 20 years. Maybe because it needs some newer gas now something else?
suggestions requested/welcome
Yama
Danny Miller
Absolutely replace the whole thing. It is not that expensive. Replacing just the compressor will still involve a lot of expense and almost certainly not work well, nor will it last long-term.
The city offers rebates and financing to fully replace an aging
AC system with a high-efficiency new model. So they'll foot some
of the bill and you've got financing so you don't need to have the
cash on-hand.
This isn't the best time to get AC work done, they're all
full-up. If you really can't swing it, buy a decent window unit.
Danny
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M.H. Collins
Absolutely replace the whole thing. It is not that expensive. Replacing just the compressor will still involve a lot of expense and almost certainly not work well, nor will it last long-term.
The city offers rebates and financing to fully replace an aging AC system with a high-efficiency new model. So they'll foot some of the bill and you've got financing so you don't need to have the cash on-hand.
This isn't the best time to get AC work done, they're all full-up. If you really can't swing it, buy a decent window unit.
Danny
On 5/20/2017 8:43 AM, Yama Ploskonka wrote:
back in the day we had someone at ATXHS who really grocked A/C.--
Our home unit is dying. It was already described as being probably the last of its kind still in operation, several years ago, a total steampunk thing now I guess
Installers want to redo the whole thing, which is not convincing me, as the pipes, ducts, etc. are quite operational, just the compressor, maybe the outside fan thing needs updating, certainly the compressor, that thing has been running at least 20 years. Maybe because it needs some newer gas now something else?
suggestions requested/welcome
Yama
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Yama Ploskonka
Yop, worst time, and indeed, I am bringing in the window unit until this gets fixed.
On Saturday, May 20, 2017 at 1:01:29 PM UTC-5, Riecilla wrote:
im with danny. new units run higher pressure so will kill the inside coil soon anyway. Wouldnt think youd need new lines though.
On Sat, May 20, 2017 at 11:42 AM, Danny Miller <dan...@austin.rr.com> wrote:
Absolutely replace the whole thing. It is not that expensive. Replacing just the compressor will still involve a lot of expense and almost certainly not work well, nor will it last long-term.
The city offers rebates and financing to fully replace an aging AC system with a high-efficiency new model. So they'll foot some of the bill and you've got financing so you don't need to have the cash on-hand.
This isn't the best time to get AC work done, they're all full-up. If you really can't swing it, buy a decent window unit.
Danny
On 5/20/2017 8:43 AM, Yama Ploskonka wrote:
back in the day we had someone at ATXHS who really grocked A/C.--
Our home unit is dying. It was already described as being probably the last of its kind still in operation, several years ago, a total steampunk thing now I guess
Installers want to redo the whole thing, which is not convincing me, as the pipes, ducts, etc. are quite operational, just the compressor, maybe the outside fan thing needs updating, certainly the compressor, that thing has been running at least 20 years. Maybe because it needs some newer gas now something else?
suggestions requested/welcome
Yama
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mic...@crosscode.org
self-install a few years ago.
I agree completely that a half replacement is a bad idea. If you go the
replace route you should replace, at the very least, the compressor and
inside coil. Since that will almost certainly give you a higher efficiency unit
you'll need a new blower, too, to stop the coil from freezing up.
You'll be switching from R-22 to R-410a. The two systems have incompatible
oils that can cause acid formation if they're in the same system. So your
existing lines will either need to be cleaned or replaced. I went ahead with
the replace route because my replacement system specified a slightly larger
suction line (the larger line that carries cold refrigerant into the house)
than my old one had.
As others have said, replacing the system will save you money by being
more efficient. It will also lower your repair bills in the case where they
have to open your system. Based on the trends last time I had major A/C work
done, R-22 should be *extremely* expensive by now, with the only supply being
recycled refrigerant from existing systems.
Having said all that, I hate just calling things broken. Unless it has a
compressor failure, your current system should be working as well today as it
was the day it was installed. The refrigerant is in a brazed closed (think
super-soldering) loop and can't leak, unlike your car which uses rubber
o-rings. As long as you keep the inner and outer coils clean and unbent,
the only moving parts in the system are your blower and the compressor -
and the blower is easy to replace. If you want the newer system to save you
money over the long run then you should do that, but don't let someone
sell you a new system just because they're tired of working on old equipment.
- Michael
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Lloyd Ewing
The person you are thinking of is probably Nathan and the name of his business was Surfair. I searched the Google group for him and it only found one occurrence of the word "Surfair". I know he made a lot more posts than that. (I HATE Google Groups.)
The post I found was in this thread:
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topicsearchin/atxhs-discuss/surfair/atxhs-discuss/NX4TdJa6TlE
He had a lot of interesting ideas. I wonder what he is doing now.
Lloyd
Danny Miller
Nathan has long since moved, AFAIK. I will tell you right now,
he will tell you not to try to mix old and new components to save
$$$. It will cost money.
There are basically 5 components: evaporator (cold indoor part),
blower, lines, condenser (hot outside part), and compressor
(outside with the condenser).
They are all sized to work together as a system. For example,
putting a new "upgraded" 3 ton compressor on a "vintage" 2.5 ton
evaporator coil indoors is a recipe for failure of the whole
thing. You only save a marginal amount by not having the inside
unit replaced when he comes out. It won't perform well and may
break the compressor and its warranty coverage probably won't be
there. Getting the evaporator unit replaced in a second install
is paying for the install all over again.
You could say "well what if I find a specialist who's actually an engineer who can figure out how well the old and new mismatched components will work together". Kind of a paradox there. The low-skill AC installers will mismatch components and tell you it'll be fine. The skilled will insist you need a complete new system, because that is the correct answer from a technical perspective.
That is, anyone telling you they can mix old and new components
and save you a buck because they're "good at it", isn't good at
it.
Danny
Joe N
I believe Nathan live in California
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Nathan
Why did they say your unit was on it's last leg? Did they add refrigerant (r-22)? Or is it just old? AC guys are notorious for telling customers they need a new system, especially anything with r-22. There is usually a commission paid when condemning a unit if a new system is sold. I used to joke that if I touched my cylinder of refrigerant, you needed a new unit. So get multiple opinions/quotes before you do any work.
If your system isn't leaking and the compressor is still running, I wouldn't replace it yet. Refrigerant leaks must be verified with an electronic leak detector.
But if you do have a refrigerant leak,replace the unit asap. You don't want to deal with a broken AC in July or August.
Usually when units are replaced the ductwork and copper lines are reused. We call that a "change out". You don't have to replace the copper lines, but some units require a larger diameter suction line (the bigger cold line returning cool vapor to the compressor). The liquid line (the smaller copper tube which caries warm liquid to the evaporator) should already be 3/8" so no need to replace it. Mixing oils doesn't create acid, refrigerant and water make acid. Moisture won't be a problem if they run the vacuum pump long enough (it boils out). When replacing units a "triple evacuation" is recommended. Basically evacuate and charge with Nitrogen three times, it rinses out anything left in the lines.
Flexible ducts can degrade and fall apart. If your ducts are covered by a dull grey liner, replace them asap (the outer vapor barrier falls apart). If your flex ducts are covered by a shiny metallic vapor barrier, don't replace them. Small air leaks can be sealed with thermal mastic (aka pooky).
Ballpark on a change out should be $1500/ton. All units will be high efficiency compared to your old unit. 13seer is the lowest allowed these days.
Your old r-22 unit is probably 10 or 12 seer.
When you replace your unit make sure you are comparing apples to apples. Sort your quotes by efficiency and warranty. Manufacturer warranty covers parts ONLY (not refrigerant). The installer should offer at least one year install warranty (if it breaks in the first year, they fix it for free)
Different manufacturers give different warranties. Carrier usually gives 5 years. Goodman was offering 10 year part and lifetime compressor warranties.
Stay away from Trane (overpriced and no repair parts) and Carrier (weak evaporator coils).
I don't recommend doing it yourself. You will need permits/inspections for any Austin energy rebates. And you probably don't have access to the refrigerant recovery machine needed to swap over from r-22 to r410a.
Nathan
http://www.goodmanmfg.com/resources/energy-calculator
We always joked you were going to pay me now for higher efficiency unit or pay Austin Energy later.
Don't fall for the high efficiency furnace. There isn't any return on furnaces above 82% efficiency in Texas.
Joe Cline
https://www.slapsale.com/auctions.aspx?keyword=air+conditioning+condenser
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