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HVAC Help Needed

Posted on 4/8/24 at 5:02 am
Posted by TheYellowhammer
Aiken, SC
Member since Sep 2023
9 posts
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?
This post was edited on 4/8/24 at 5:03 am
Posted by TigerLunatik
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Jan 2005
95659 posts
Posted on 4/8/24 at 5:08 am to
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.
Posted by Armymann50
Playing with my
Member since Sep 2011
18539 posts
Posted on 4/8/24 at 5:57 am to
plumbing angle

now i know
Posted by OK Roughneck
The Sooner State
Member since Aug 2021
11991 posts
Posted on 4/8/24 at 6:17 am to
One of Tigers work pics.

Posted by TigerLunatik
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Jan 2005
95659 posts
Posted on 4/8/24 at 8:22 am to
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 by paperwasp
11x HRV tRant Poster of the Week
Member since Sep 2014
24931 posts
Posted on 4/8/24 at 8:57 am to
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.
Posted by LittleJerrySeinfield
350,000 Post Karma
Member since Aug 2013
8530 posts
Posted on 4/8/24 at 3:16 pm to
First thing I would do is probably find another HVAC guy.
Posted by OK Roughneck
The Sooner State
Member since Aug 2021
11991 posts
Posted on 4/8/24 at 3:29 pm to
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 by BFANLC
The Beach
Member since Oct 2007
19258 posts
Posted on 4/9/24 at 12:25 pm to
Need to get you a different hvac guy
Posted by Jmcc64
alabama
Member since Apr 2021
905 posts
Posted on 4/9/24 at 3:31 pm to
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 by SOSFAN
Blythewood
Member since Jun 2018
12965 posts
Posted on 4/9/24 at 6:47 pm to
They should perform a nitrogen isolation. That will show which component is leaking. Most warranties state that refrigerant is not covered.
Posted by plazadweller
South Georgia
Member since Jul 2011
11540 posts
Posted on 4/11/24 at 9:13 pm to
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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