Hi everyone, I've been reading through this group trying to pick up some advice.
I have a Rheem system that is 16 years old. The a/c gave up on me about 2 weeks ago. I'm in Southern California, and it's been super hot and running now for more than 5 weeks.
I have American Home Shield, and I know many of you are down on them, but it seems to have worked for me. The service provider came out a week ago, and changed a capacitor, fuses, and got it running, for about an hour. It then just started blowing warm air. He came back, and said the compressor was out, and AHS agreed to replace it.
He told me, however, that that was just putting a bandaid on the problem, and it still, probably, wouldn't last me through the rest of the season, which out here is into November. He quoted me $5600 for a new 13 SEER system, furnace and 5 Ton a/c system. He said it was a Bryant or Goodman system. Trane, through Home Depot, quoted a 14 SEER system at $11,490.00. A big difference. My home is about 2700 sq ft. Sears is quoting over a month before they can even come out and give an estimate.
I guess I thought the compressor pretty much WAS the system. If that's replaced, shouldn't that part of the system be like new? The furnace and blower seem to be working fine. Being in So Cal, I don't use the furnace much, but do rely on the a/c.
Is 16 years pushing the time limit anyway, and I'll need to replace everything shortly anyway? Is the first guy just trying to get me to buy that system from him, and, last, any thoughts on why the big price difference between the Bryant and the Trane?
Thanks for any advice you might have!