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HVAC Experts - How do I know if I have a coil leak?
Posted on 5/9/17 at 7:56 pm
Posted on 5/9/17 at 7:56 pm
Had the A/C guy come by for a quick check-up on my A/C system before the summer gets brutal (nothing seemed to be wrong...just a preventative check & tune-up, or whatever). He hooks his pressure gauges up to the condenser unit outside and tells me he's getting abnormally low pressure readings, and it probably means I have a leak in my coil up in the attic.
We just bought this house late last year. It's a 2 year Lennox system on a 5 yr old house. Guy says they're prone to leaks, and I can either pay them $1800 for labor to swap out the Lennox with another Lennox coil (parts under warranty, but he says labor is not...WTF?), or pay him $3000 for part & labor to swap it out with a Trane which he says is less likely to leak. Alternatively, he says we could just add refrigerant at $40/lb and keep refilling as it leaks out through the leaking coil over time.
When I told him I hadn't noticed problems, he said to check adn see if my A/C is having trouble keeping up with the thermostat on hot days. I noticed yesterday that the thermo upstairs was set at 71 and the A/C had been kicking for a while at was reading actual temp of 74.
Does all this indicate a leak like this guy said, or is he trying to rip me off? If it is a leak, what are my options and how much am I looking at? What's my best course of action? Is refilling with refrigerant to delay the big expense a bad idea for any reason?
We just bought this house late last year. It's a 2 year Lennox system on a 5 yr old house. Guy says they're prone to leaks, and I can either pay them $1800 for labor to swap out the Lennox with another Lennox coil (parts under warranty, but he says labor is not...WTF?), or pay him $3000 for part & labor to swap it out with a Trane which he says is less likely to leak. Alternatively, he says we could just add refrigerant at $40/lb and keep refilling as it leaks out through the leaking coil over time.
When I told him I hadn't noticed problems, he said to check adn see if my A/C is having trouble keeping up with the thermostat on hot days. I noticed yesterday that the thermo upstairs was set at 71 and the A/C had been kicking for a while at was reading actual temp of 74.
Does all this indicate a leak like this guy said, or is he trying to rip me off? If it is a leak, what are my options and how much am I looking at? What's my best course of action? Is refilling with refrigerant to delay the big expense a bad idea for any reason?
This post was edited on 5/9/17 at 7:57 pm
18
Posted on 5/9/17 at 8:00 pm to PenguinNinja
That unit is too new to start leaking. Get a second opinion and have the coils sniffed out. I had a pinhole leak on the tubing and my a/c guy repaired it.
How many pounds light was it?
How many pounds light was it?
Posted on 5/9/17 at 8:01 pm to PenguinNinja
Always get 3 consults / estimates
Posted on 5/9/17 at 8:02 pm to PenguinNinja
I just replaced my entire unit 3 years ago and now mine is freezing up.
It will run for 3-4 hours then (I assume freeze up) and stop. I can turn it off for an hour and it will start back.
We are moving and I do not want to spend an arse load of money on it
It will run for 3-4 hours then (I assume freeze up) and stop. I can turn it off for an hour and it will start back.
We are moving and I do not want to spend an arse load of money on it
Posted on 5/9/17 at 8:05 pm to Dont_Call_Me_RAY
He didn't say how many pounds light it was, and I didn't know to ask.
His note on the invoice says "Pressures are low on system, if temperature in home starts to raise it will be due to refrigerant lost. Box coil is under 5 yr warranty'
It's a 2012 Lennox 5-ton gas 2- zone - Box Coil 2014 Lennox 410
His note on the invoice says "Pressures are low on system, if temperature in home starts to raise it will be due to refrigerant lost. Box coil is under 5 yr warranty'
It's a 2012 Lennox 5-ton gas 2- zone - Box Coil 2014 Lennox 410
Posted on 5/9/17 at 8:07 pm to The Torch
quote:
I just replaced my entire unit 3 years ago and now mine is freezing up.
What do you mean "freezing"? Ice in the evap coils or the unit shuts off. If ice, probably low on gas. If just cuts off, check the pan for water and the pvc drain pipe. Never hurts to put some clorox in the pipe this time of year.
Posted on 5/9/17 at 8:14 pm to The Torch
Freezing up won't make the fan stop. Go look at the hoses attached to the unit and see if they have ice on them. If so the coil is leaking. You can put refrigerant in and keep going, replace the coil or go to Acme Refrigeration and get a tube of leak seal and have your ac guy use it. Cost about $85. I did it 3 years ago and I'm sitting in 68 degrees as I type this.
Posted on 5/9/17 at 8:14 pm to PenguinNinja
quote:
We just bought this house late last year. It's a 2 year Lennox system on a 5 yr old house. Guy says they're prone to leaks, and I can either pay them $1800 for labor to swap out the Lennox with another Lennox coil (parts under warranty, but he says labor is not...WTF?), or pay him $3000 for part & labor to swap it out with a Trane which he says is less likely to leak. Alternatively, he says we could just add refrigerant at $40/lb and keep refilling as it leaks out through the leaking coil over time.
Tell that asshat to take a hike. For starters, $1800 for labor to replace a coil is 3x too much.
Posted on 5/9/17 at 8:16 pm to PenguinNinja
Have you come across this? Not sure if you are eligible? I did not review it thoroughly....
Evaporator Coil Lawsuit
Evaporator Coil Lawsuit
Posted on 5/9/17 at 8:22 pm to PenguinNinja
He should have checked for a leak while he was there. He would have a "sniffer" that would have told him exactly where the leak was.
My unit in my attics was leaking and it froze up outside. The unit was 1 month out of its 10 year warranty.
My unit in my attics was leaking and it froze up outside. The unit was 1 month out of its 10 year warranty.
Posted on 5/9/17 at 8:26 pm to PenguinNinja
Not an HVAC expert but just had my system changed out in early April. I had to add 2 lbs of Freon which was the first time I ever had to do anything to the unit other than changing a capacitor. The tech showed me my temp splits between the return and the vents closest to the air handler and it was about 5 degrees. Once the freon was added, I was running 20 degree temp split. I kept a check on it over the course of a week and by Friday I was back down to a 5 degree split which indicated a prettt good leak.
I had them come back out a do a pressure test and a leak test and had multiple leaks on the air handler coil. The system would keep up with the temp I wanted, but it was also fairly mild weather at the time. It would take about an hour to drop 1 degree with outsides temps in the high 70's to low 80's.
It was more cost beneficial for me to opt for a new system over repairing an 11 yo system, plus I went from a 10 seer to a 16 seer and saw a 50 dollar reduction in my April power bill.
I had them come back out a do a pressure test and a leak test and had multiple leaks on the air handler coil. The system would keep up with the temp I wanted, but it was also fairly mild weather at the time. It would take about an hour to drop 1 degree with outsides temps in the high 70's to low 80's.
It was more cost beneficial for me to opt for a new system over repairing an 11 yo system, plus I went from a 10 seer to a 16 seer and saw a 50 dollar reduction in my April power bill.
Posted on 5/9/17 at 8:27 pm to Hussss
quote:
Always get 3 consults / estimates
Took the third one to tell me the truth.
Bell mechanical is a shitty company.
Posted on 5/9/17 at 8:37 pm to kengel2
If you are in Baton Rouge call Abbott Thibadaux. John Thibodaux is the best AC guy in town and has been for a long time. His dad was Abbott and has been in business for 50 years.
Posted on 5/9/17 at 8:42 pm to PenguinNinja
They sell a really good leak sealer it's like$40.
Posted on 5/9/17 at 8:50 pm to Napoleon
quote:
They sell a really good leak sealer it's like$40.
Some of that stuff is bad on coils.
Posted on 5/9/17 at 8:52 pm to PenguinNinja
Not Napoleon but air handlers in the attic are easy to access nowadays. if you have a coil leak, you could ask whomever is claiming such to pull access doors off, spray "leak soap" on as they are charging the unit and see if any bubbles appear. It's literally a 1990's trick but coils are coils. Leaks are leaks.
Posted on 5/9/17 at 8:55 pm to PenguinNinja
quote:
It's a 2 year Lennox system on a 5 yr old house.
Why was the first system swapped out?
Two AC units to go bad in the first 5 years of a home is highly unusual.
Posted on 5/9/17 at 8:56 pm to PenguinNinja
frick that guy.
Do you notice your pipes freezing up? Literal ice on the pipes.
You should not be liable for this I believe under the contract you "should" have signed.
Tell him to kick rocks and get a second opinion otherwise.
Do you notice your pipes freezing up? Literal ice on the pipes.
You should not be liable for this I believe under the contract you "should" have signed.
Tell him to kick rocks and get a second opinion otherwise.
Posted on 5/9/17 at 9:02 pm to PenguinNinja
My BIL has been building houses on the northshore for the last 35 years. I called him up for an honest HVAC referral as I felt I was getting scammed by a guy that I had used for a couple of years.
His response, "well when you find an honest one, send him my way. I have been looking for him for 35 years".
His response, "well when you find an honest one, send him my way. I have been looking for him for 35 years".
Posted on 5/9/17 at 9:05 pm to PenguinNinja
That could be a leak. The bad thing is that a leak on the coils can be tough to repair. Sometimes they just end up chasing the leak around.
I would try to get him to repair it without replacing the coil. Only let him try it once. If that fails, replace the coils. You don't want them pumping more R22 in there chasing the leak.
As you have discovered, R22 is very expensive. If they end up replacing the coils, make sure they convert the unit to 410.
I would try to get him to repair it without replacing the coil. Only let him try it once. If that fails, replace the coils. You don't want them pumping more R22 in there chasing the leak.
As you have discovered, R22 is very expensive. If they end up replacing the coils, make sure they convert the unit to 410.
This post was edited on 5/9/17 at 9:07 pm
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