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Message
A/C Replacement Advice Needed
Posted on 5/5/25 at 11:29 am
Posted on 5/5/25 at 11:29 am
Didn’t want to hijack the other thread related to the cost of evaporator coil replacement, so seeking advice here for how to handle an issue I’m having with my A/C.
Moved into a new house about 8 months ago, we plan to be here for many years to come. Condensing unit is a 2011 and the AHU is 2009, I believe. 5 ton system for a 2,750 sf house. Condensing unit is leaking refrigerant like crazy, had it recharged last month and I’m already losing my cooling capacity in the house. Refrigerant is noticeably leaked all inside and outside the condensing unit.
We have a maintenance contract with a local place since living in our previous house, and I’ve found them to be straight shooters. Here were the two options they laid out for me.
Option 1 - Replace condensing unit only. This uses the older 410A refrigerant. Could not give me a price because Carrier was sold out of 410A condensing units.
Option 2 - Replace condensing unit and evap coils for a 454B system. Does make some sense to me to do the evap coils since they are older than the condenser and could be a failure point down the road. I would need to look elsewhere for a 410A condenser if I did not take this route. Quoted $10.3k.
Option 3 - replace the entire system including condenser, AHU, furnace, blower. Haven’t had any issues with heater this past winter. Unit looks to be in good shape, so don’t know if it would be worth it to lump this in for the sake of having a whole new system in place. Quoted $12.7k.
I do plan on shopping this around just to check prices but any feedback would be greatly appreciated on which course of action would be best. BR area, if anyone has good experience with other places I should reach out to.
Moved into a new house about 8 months ago, we plan to be here for many years to come. Condensing unit is a 2011 and the AHU is 2009, I believe. 5 ton system for a 2,750 sf house. Condensing unit is leaking refrigerant like crazy, had it recharged last month and I’m already losing my cooling capacity in the house. Refrigerant is noticeably leaked all inside and outside the condensing unit.
We have a maintenance contract with a local place since living in our previous house, and I’ve found them to be straight shooters. Here were the two options they laid out for me.
Option 1 - Replace condensing unit only. This uses the older 410A refrigerant. Could not give me a price because Carrier was sold out of 410A condensing units.
Option 2 - Replace condensing unit and evap coils for a 454B system. Does make some sense to me to do the evap coils since they are older than the condenser and could be a failure point down the road. I would need to look elsewhere for a 410A condenser if I did not take this route. Quoted $10.3k.
Option 3 - replace the entire system including condenser, AHU, furnace, blower. Haven’t had any issues with heater this past winter. Unit looks to be in good shape, so don’t know if it would be worth it to lump this in for the sake of having a whole new system in place. Quoted $12.7k.
I do plan on shopping this around just to check prices but any feedback would be greatly appreciated on which course of action would be best. BR area, if anyone has good experience with other places I should reach out to.
5
Posted on 5/5/25 at 11:35 am to Rob Perillo
just replaced my 5 ton condensing unit last month. Went back with a Goodman, paid $3,200 installed.
Posted on 5/5/25 at 11:58 am to Rob Perillo
I'm having to replace my entire system as well. Compressor in CU is going out and have had a leak in the ACU for some time. My guy has been keeping it limping along for a few years but this morning said it's time to put her down.
I'm waiting on a quote to come in for the swap out. He did tell me that they're having a hard time finding the 454B refrigerant so he's going to quote me an R-32 system.
I'll report back with my quotes.
I'm waiting on a quote to come in for the swap out. He did tell me that they're having a hard time finding the 454B refrigerant so he's going to quote me an R-32 system.
I'll report back with my quotes.
Posted on 5/5/25 at 1:03 pm to Rob Perillo
quote:
we plan to be here for many years to come.
Because of this..... I would go head and change both the CU and evaporator coil to accommodate the newer refrigerant.
And if I am in it 10K, I'm spending the additional 2K and change to replace everything.
The only way I'd go option one is if I planned to stay there a year or two. Because you're right, if the already 16 year old evap coil begins to leak, well now your searching for another 410A coil and everything 410A is about to begin going up over the next couple years.
Posted on 5/5/25 at 1:33 pm to Rob Perillo
Personally, I'd buy the whole new unit.
One thing you didn't state is what is the SEER rating on the new unit?
that make a decent amount of difference in the price.
We've been in our house for 16 yrs. We bought it new. The original units were goodman and they were shite. Not a single year went by that we didn't have to fix something on them.
There are 3 units. And we have replaced all of them with 17 seer carrier. So, far, so good on them. Have replaced a capacitor on one and I was able to do that myself.
Plus, consider the warranty you get on a new unit vs replacing parts.
One thing you didn't state is what is the SEER rating on the new unit?
that make a decent amount of difference in the price.
We've been in our house for 16 yrs. We bought it new. The original units were goodman and they were shite. Not a single year went by that we didn't have to fix something on them.
There are 3 units. And we have replaced all of them with 17 seer carrier. So, far, so good on them. Have replaced a capacitor on one and I was able to do that myself.
Plus, consider the warranty you get on a new unit vs replacing parts.
Posted on 5/5/25 at 1:52 pm to bbvdd
Goodman is used by almost all real estate companies who maintain their own properties so they obviously make lot of financial sense if you can handle minor issues yourself.
Carrier is fine, but their retail markup is typically 100% instead of 20% and their dealer certification mandates a ton of overhead costs that don’t necessarily contribute to a better installation. It doesn’t mean you can’t get a fair, competitive price, but you’re not getting one in May.
Carrier is fine, but their retail markup is typically 100% instead of 20% and their dealer certification mandates a ton of overhead costs that don’t necessarily contribute to a better installation. It doesn’t mean you can’t get a fair, competitive price, but you’re not getting one in May.
Posted on 5/5/25 at 2:54 pm to Rob Perillo
The outdoor condensor, being the high pressure side of the system, is going to leak refrigerant at a much faster rate than with a leak in the evaporator coil, the low pressure side - it’s why you are losing refrigerant at a much more rapid rate than if you had an equivalent small leak in the evaporator coil.
The average life of a HVAC in the Deep South is 13-15 years, so obviously you have a system that’s at the end of its life. Being this is a house you plan to be in for a long period, option 3, complete system replacement, would be your most prudent approach.
I was where you were 2 years ago, and opted for a complete system replacement - existing rigid ducts were fine and properly sized so those were kept, though I did add a second return air intake as my existing return air capacity was several hundred cfm short of recommended air return capacity. I mention that only as a suggestion to also look at your existing duct work, and if any tweaking is required, the time of HVAC equipment replacement might be a good time to address it.
The average life of a HVAC in the Deep South is 13-15 years, so obviously you have a system that’s at the end of its life. Being this is a house you plan to be in for a long period, option 3, complete system replacement, would be your most prudent approach.
I was where you were 2 years ago, and opted for a complete system replacement - existing rigid ducts were fine and properly sized so those were kept, though I did add a second return air intake as my existing return air capacity was several hundred cfm short of recommended air return capacity. I mention that only as a suggestion to also look at your existing duct work, and if any tweaking is required, the time of HVAC equipment replacement might be a good time to address it.
Posted on 5/5/25 at 2:56 pm to Dallaswho
Appreciate all the feedback. Going to pull the trigger on the full replacement. Luckily was able to call in a favor from a family friend who runs a HVAC company and he’s going to get me a good deal on a complete replacement for a carrier unit for < 10k. Not something I was planning to come out of pocket for but a pretty good result all things considered. He’s on his way to retiring so in another year or two this probably wouldn’t have been an option.
Posted on 5/5/25 at 2:58 pm to CrawDude
Good looking out. I will consider this, I only have one return currently.
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