A/C unit coil

Dear Sally, I suggest another opinion from a different company. Frozen coil could be one of several problems. Including dirty filter, low air flow, low on freon, or some other causes. But at this point, I'd wonder if the coil really needed replacing. Maybe, but not sure yet. Can't see the application from here, but 1800 sounds high priced.

The coil is frozen? As in "full of ice"? There's nothing wrong with the coil--it's chilling just fine. Air flow maybe? Clogged filters? The coil itself is just dirty?

I"d get a second opinion for that kind of money, especially when his comments don't add up. Even if he's right, he owes you an explanation. Take notes, and ask around.

Also for what it's worth, if the unit is 9 years old, it's likely not nearly as efficient as something you could invest in today. If you run it a lot, getting a higher SEER rating could pay you back in a few years.

snipped-for-privacy@cox.net wrote

Maybe not. I had one yesterday. Frozen solid. Nine year old Carrier coil with a leak and severe corrosoin. I'm replacing it tomorrow.

Don't let my 20 year old unit hear that.

I know that A/C repairs tend to be expensive,

Post some pics of your t*ts!

Mine was almost 30 yrs old when it gave up - and the complete replacement cost only $1100 (2 ton).

First of all, I'd like to thank everyone for their feedback and would welcome any additional thoughts / opinions.

Regarding the ice, all I saw was a ball of it around some kind of hose coming out of the compressor (?). Despite having an appointment for 2:30, he didn't arrive here until 8:00 in the evening so it's possible that the ice wasn't the real reason he wanted to wait until tomorrow. That's just as well, though, since this has given me time to ask you folks for your opinions, for which I'm grateful.

I should add that he didn't say that the coil definitely needed to be replaced -- he simply listed that as one of the possibilites. He did mention other possibilities such as the coil simply being dirty or having a minor leak that could be fixed relatively cheaply. The part that concerned me was his claim that coils normally only last 5-7 years, although the consensus here seems to be that that's not true.

They only last 5-7 years when they were incorrectly installed in the first place. And without seeing the installation, there is no way I can even guess as to what a reasonable cost is.

Sally I typically work on commercial and residential ac systems up to

Ask your friends and neighbors how often they replace their coils.

The part will cost him about $300.

The labor will likely take less than a full day.

The AC trade considers $1500/day profit reasonable. They whine about how much it costs to run a pickup truck and pay some high-school graduate ... as if you didn't need transportation to get to your $20/hour job.

This is what you get by allowing politicians to license tradesmen and legalize the restraint of trade.

Poor Richard. It sounds like you got f***ed real hard by a serviceman because you were too stupid to change your own dirty filter. Life must suck to be you.

Sally, I have seen many many many coils now lasting only 2, 3 , 5 years and then leaking. Sad but true. Ive replaced 3 so far this week. If your system is 30 years old you probably dont know what a leaky coil is. The older ones were made differently. Check out the weight of the older ones versus the new ones and you will understand. Your coil could very well be leaking. It could also be several other things. Electronic leak checking just isnt hard. If you dont like the opinion you got, get another. Now, how about posting that pic of your t*ts. Bubba

He really means he can't sell new coils to someone if they are more than

"Sally" wrote >

They SHOULD last 20 years, but do they always? No. Carrier had a rash of bad coils in the 90's. I'm replacing one today, only

and of the three you've replaced, were they of the cheaper constructed, thinner variety that typically last 2, 3 or 5 years?

besides lining your pockets with cash, are you solving the problem?

replacing leaky coils with other potentially leaky coils isnt the answer, however it does provide us with job security..... :-))

Okay "fish". I'll bite. YES, the ones Ive replaced are the newer s*it. In particular, Lennox, Goodman and Carrier this past week. None newer than 6 yrs old. Am I solving a problem you ask? I am solving the customers problem at present. Can I solve the manufacturers problem of making a coil that last longer? Hell No. I wont even try. I install what's available. I dont make the s*it. I just sell and install it. Soooooo, that being said, What are you doing? Manufacturing your own coils? Installing a contrapction that auto feeds refrigerant to a leaky coil? Holding the customers handkerchief while they sob controllably to you? I give, "fish". What magic are you performing that makes your customer happy, makes coils last forever, takes away job security and doesnt line your pocket with cash? Speak Oh wonderous one. Bubba

If they're all cr*p, the cheapest one wins.

hi sally, i recently went on a call to give a second opinion on an evap coil replacement. the tenant was getting water on the floor and the last service company told them the drain pan was rusted through and it would be $1200 to replace it. it ended up that the PLASTIC drain pan wasnt rusted at all.......the drain line was plugged and a $10 shot of nitrogen (plus the cost of the service call - $70) fixed it right up. know your service company.