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Hey Dog Tired, they gonna rip ya man......The supply house here wouldn't sell me parts...said I had to be a licensed contractor....I still got what I needed but not from them...will never spend a dime with them anymore...I had in the past bought little stuff from them but never again. It may have been a NC thing or just some BS from them but Dickerson Supply wont never see my money anymore...
I like the way some of the contractors were telling me the EPA is doing away with r12, now r22, I have a customer in Texas who bottles freon..and they still produce r12 every day and r22...ozone my butt. Just another way to run up my bill by making my unit what they say...obsilete...they change more that than new computers, buy it this year and next year they're obsilete..probably more ozone depleting freon released everyday thru car accidents than most would imagine..
It's sad, but true there are some HVAC contactors that should NOT be in this business! Just like any other business.
Weekend, let me know who is producing R12, the EPA will bust him a new one! And I will get payed big time, i'll even split with you! He may be bottling remanufactured but is illeagal to produce virgin R12. R22 is being phased out. Search the Montreal Protocol. Now, I dont believe for a minute this is destroying our ozone as only a handful of scientist claim it does; I think 3 in 10 claim it does....
Dog,
3 leaks can cause a compressor to fail! Refrigerant is used to cool the compressor and if you have a leak.... Also, you could have liquid refrigerant come back on the compressor as a result of leaks. Its the whole physics thing!
Gary...I had to look because I know I saw r12 but I looked um up and its a alternative called FREEZE- 12 Refrigerant, I just saw the "12" on the side of the bottle.... I had to stock up on r22, that stuff has really gone up...
I'm sorry that y'all have had bad experiences with HVAC companies. You may have run into some distributal types, there certainly many out there in many different trades. I sure wish I could work on my vehicles like I was able to 30 to 40 years ago. With computer diagnostics,dealerships and independent garages have a lock on the industry. I could replace things, but how would I know if I got it right?
Doing things and doing them properly can be two different things. I have designed, built and/or remodeled many buildings in several states and two countries. Even though as a home owner one is allowed to do many things without a contractors license, there's many things you can't do. You can't design and build a building in a "wind zone" without engineered plans. You can wire a house, but you can't touch the main circuit panel. Any work you do has to have a permit and pass inspection. The EPA says you have to be certified to work on and handle equipment depending on what kind of refrigerant it has.
I have helped 10's, if not 100's of "do it yourselfers". I've also done even more for the elderly on fixed income, people in need, for Vets and others. I even charged a fair price for the over compensating, ostentatious 10,000 sq ft home owners. Not ALL are out to rob you.
Now, maybe someone could come up with some comments that would be helpful to the original purpose of this thread. Hopefully, chilipenquin has gotten his heat fixed considering the weather that's coming.
__________________ "If Heaven ain't a lot like Dixie, I don't want to go"
Gary...I had to look because I know I saw r12 but I looked um up and its a alternative called FREEZE- 12 Refrigerant, I just saw the "12" on the side of the bottle.... I had to stock up on r22, that stuff has really gone up...
No problem. Freeze 12 is a drop in replacement; supposed to be just as good.
Crooks!!!!!! No such a thing as three leaks and a shot compressor at one time! No such thing!
It most certainly is possible to have 3 or more leaks and low refrigerant is the leading cause of compressor failure. You obviously have no idea what you are talking about. I bet it was a Carrier (Bryant, Payne), those things love to leak.
I'm new to the forum, and need some advice on my home HVAC system. Live in a townhome (in center of building) in Clayton NC. Current system is a natural gas forced air furnace with 2 repairs in last 9 years. Heat exchanger is rusty and beginning to crack. A/C needed freon added this summer for the first time. Both systems are now 15 years old, and have had intermittent maintenance.
With the tax credit deadline looming near, I'm seriously considering replacing the current system. Considering 4 options: 1) Replace with same system but higher efficiency to meet tax credit requirements; 2) Heat pump with electrical strip heat; 3) Heat pump with gas furnace aux heat, and 4) Gas Pack.
I have one quote for each of the systems outlined above, and they range from $6,000 to $6,800, depending on the specific system. I value comfort, efficiency, and reliability in that order.
Given this information, what advice can be given on a replacement system?
Davedowneast, thank you very much for your response. I realized the thread was old; I found it by Googling for advice on HVAC systems. I could not find another place in the forum to start a new topic, so I just jumped onto this one. Answers to your response below.
Townhome is 1440 sq ft.
One for each of the systems. However, a neighbor is doing the same thing and we're comparing prices. Mine were lower than one of her estimates and about the same as another estimate.
I have researched gaspacks a little more and have decided to eliminate that option.
Heat pump with gas furnace (instead of heat strips) is only $800 more than replacing what I have now, so it seemed like a viable alternative. Not being argumentative, but help me to understand why "overkill"?
I've gotten one estimate for each of the 4 systems described in my original post, all from one vendor. However, in the townhome complex, all the owners are about in the same situation as I am (15 year old systems beginning to give trouble), and one other owner is doing exactly what I'm doing. Our systems are essentially identical (size, age, brand, etc), so we're actually considering trying to get a "group purchase" (multiple replacements) if the vendors will give a price break for doing more than one system. While I don't know for sure, I think the vendors are inflating prices while the tax credit is going on, knowing that buyers are willing to spend money on equipment to take advantage of the tax break.
I'll answer any other questions as best as I can. Any advice you can give will be appreciated.
Davedowneast, thank you very much for your response. I realized the thread was old; I found it by Googling for advice on HVAC systems. I could not find another place in the forum to start a new topic, so I just jumped onto this one. Answers to your response below. It's fine, just didn't know if you realized it was old.
Townhome is 1440 sq ft. Depending on windows, insulation, etc., probably 2 1/2 to 3 tons and 40,000 BTU's heat. Most existing systems are oversized.
One for each of the systems. However, a neighbor is doing the same thing and we're comparing prices. Mine were lower than one of her estimates and about the same as another estimate.
I have researched gaspacks a little more and have decided to eliminate that option.
Heat pump with gas furnace (instead of heat strips) is only $800 more than replacing what I have now, so it seemed like a viable alternative. Not being argumentative, but help me to understand why "overkill"?
There are pros and cons. The heat pump with a gas furnace would be overkill, gas and AC only would be fine. A heat pump with and air handler w/ the strips would be a good way to go if a 220 volt line is readily available where the furnace is. With an interior townhouse, your heating and cooling cost shouldn't be that much.
I've gotten one estimate for each of the 4 systems described in my original post, all from one vendor. However, in the townhome complex, all the owners are about in the same situation as I am (15 year old systems beginning to give trouble), and one other owner is doing exactly what I'm doing. Our systems are essentially identical (size, age, brand, etc), so we're actually considering trying to get a "group purchase" (multiple replacements) if the vendors will give a price break for doing more than one system. While I don't know for sure, I think the vendors are inflating prices while the tax credit is going on, knowing that buyers are willing to spend money on equipment to take advantage of the tax break. I did a 2 Ton replacement of an existing heat pump in a 5 story condominium complex a couple of years ago. I had to get the outdoor unit on the roof (6th story) with a crane and the indoor unit was on the 3rd floor. It was a 13 SEER unit and the total price was under $4000. I'm retired and not familiar with prices and/or the requirements for tax credits, but I don't think prices have gone up that much.
I'll answer any other questions as best as I can. Any advice you can give will be appreciated.
My advice would be to get prices from more HVAC contractors.
__________________ "If Heaven ain't a lot like Dixie, I don't want to go"
I'm in the buisness and would love to take care of it for you .. but seems you are little out of my area. If you know a hvac installer. I can send a system up there to deliver at your home.. as far as installing yourself if you know nothing about it . best not try .. a poor install will last the rest of the life of the system. I have seen many installs from not quilified persons, let me tell you it more exspensive to have someone fix it the second time. also with the higher seer systems you need to insure you have the proper amount of airflow. let me know if I can help
Last edited by tbouknight; 09-28-2010 at 06:35 AM.
I'm in the buisness and would love to take care of it for you .. but seems you are little out of my area. If you know a hvac installed I can send a system up there to deliver at your home.. as far as installing yourself if you know nothing about it . best not try .. a poor install will last the rest of the life of the system. I have seen many installs from not quilified persons, let me tell you it more exspensive to have someone fix it the second time. also with the higher seer systems you need to insure you have the proper amount of airflow. let me know if I can help
What?
You must be in that text generation, everything written in code.
Anyway, with 35yrs experience, I knew it was a bad idea to have him do it himself. First off, he'd be violating federal law if he doesn't have the proper recovery equipment.
It's good that you're willing to help, but I think he's best off getting estimates from local HVAC contractors.
__________________ "If Heaven ain't a lot like Dixie, I don't want to go"
be carful when your qouting laws. He has a gas pak and he has no responsiblilty to have a recovery machine.. The law saids that it is the last mans responsibilty in the disposal chain to recover freon . so if he gives it to a junk man then it is the junk mans job . I think you need to try and read my post again or put down the beer. It is very clear.
be carful when your qouting laws. He has a gas pak and he has no responsiblilty to have a recovery machine.. The law saids that it is the last mans responsibilty in the disposal chain to recover freon . so if he gives it to a junk man then it is the junk mans job . I think you need to try and read my post again or put down the beer. It is very clear.
I don't drink, I might start.
You can't spell or put a coherent sentence together. He has a gas furnace and a split AC system. You jumped in days late and apparently without reading the contents of all the posts.
I do however, apologize for busting your ____, bad mood on my part.
__________________ "If Heaven ain't a lot like Dixie, I don't want to go"
