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HVAC Help Needed
Posted on 4/8/24 at 5:02 am
Posted on 4/8/24 at 5:02 am
Long story short, my HVAC unit is 9yrs old with 1 year remaining under warranty. I started having issues with it running low on refrigerant after 2 years. My HVAC guy thought that the leak was coming from the expansion valve and replaced it that time with it being covered under warranty. A couple of years later, the unit can't keep up, so he comes out again, he can't locate a leak and refills it with refrigerant again. I had to call him out again last week for the same thing, he still can't locate a leak, but thinks it "may" be in the coil but he's not certain. This time charges me for 6lbs of refrigerant which was over $330.
So my question is this, if the leak is caused by a manufacturer defect, should I be charged for the refrigerant? I can handle paying the labor, I know manufacturer warranties don't cover the labor costs.
He also tells me that the unit will leak down again and that it would be between $700-$800 just in labor to replace the coil. I guess I'm struggling with paying that kind of money for a job, that he's not certain will fix my issue. Any HVAC guys have any advice or thoughts?
So my question is this, if the leak is caused by a manufacturer defect, should I be charged for the refrigerant? I can handle paying the labor, I know manufacturer warranties don't cover the labor costs.
He also tells me that the unit will leak down again and that it would be between $700-$800 just in labor to replace the coil. I guess I'm struggling with paying that kind of money for a job, that he's not certain will fix my issue. Any HVAC guys have any advice or thoughts?
This post was edited on 4/8/24 at 5:03 am
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Posted on 4/8/24 at 5:08 am to TheYellowhammer
I can maybe give you how we would do it from the plumbing angle. If a part is under warranty or if the homeowner's insurance is paying, the homeowner still has to pay us for it then get reimbursed. If we work on a water heater that is 9 years old that we've had to work on multiple times, we recommend replacing it. There are so many little things on these units that can be wrong that you can some times end up paying as much in labor to find out what's wrong with the damn thing as you would just replacing it.
Not sure if that helps or not, but that's what we do.
Not sure if that helps or not, but that's what we do.
Posted on 4/8/24 at 5:57 am to TigerLunatik
plumbing angle 
now i know
now i know
Posted on 4/8/24 at 6:17 am to Armymann50
One of Tigers work pics.
Posted on 4/8/24 at 8:22 am to OK Roughneck
I'm an office ho. I work in operations. You don't want me working on your plumbing. I will 100% make it worse. 
Posted on 4/8/24 at 8:57 am to TheYellowhammer
The pessimist/curmudgeon in me thinks refrigerant leaks like this typically occur in the coil, but since it's under warranty he won't be able to "find" it for another year, at which point he'll do so and then recommend you replace your entire system.
But in regards to your question, it's 100% BS, but more than likely replacement refrigerant wouldn't be covered under a limited warranty.
But in regards to your question, it's 100% BS, but more than likely replacement refrigerant wouldn't be covered under a limited warranty.
Posted on 4/8/24 at 3:16 pm to TheYellowhammer
First thing I would do is probably find another HVAC guy.
Posted on 4/8/24 at 3:29 pm to TigerLunatik
quote:
I'm an office ho. I work in operations. You don't want me working on your plumbing. I will 100% make it worse.
Plumbings a tough job... total respect I'm glad your a guy that gets to direct and point.
Posted on 4/9/24 at 12:25 pm to TheYellowhammer
Need to get you a different hvac guy
Posted on 4/9/24 at 3:31 pm to BFANLC
most assuredly the coil. tell him to look harder. all 3 of mine (Trane) failed within 10 yrs. None under warranty. (2) were replaced. I bought the parts and paid someone to install. Can't remember the labor cost.It didn't strike me as unreasonable, though. last one was 2.5 ton, rarely used, upstairs unit. so just replaced the whole AHU.
Posted on 4/9/24 at 6:47 pm to TheYellowhammer
They should perform a nitrogen isolation. That will show which component is leaking. Most warranties state that refrigerant is not covered.
Posted on 4/11/24 at 9:13 pm to TheYellowhammer
I don’t know your the guy but I manage a lot of rental property in SW Ga…and I can tell you this I would have fired him if he couldn’t find the sources of the leak. A refrigerant leak is no bullshite matter…and that being said there are leak detectors that can be used to find the source. I don’t know the brand you have, but I know some Carrier/Bryant had some shitty could manufactured about ten years ago. Right now Rheem TXV valves are failing left and right…and the manufacturers DGAF. My tech has raised hell with his rep and there’s nothing that can be done about it unless someone with deep pockets and a lot of connections in Washington gets involved.
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