AC Repair

[hogsrunwild]

Jesus.  What did you buy?  I picture a mansion made out of double wides. Sure you're not counting window units?

It looks just like the William J Clinton Library...


3 AC units (outside ones) and a shitload of thermostats/zones it seems.  I looked at the inspection report and it does list that some/a few of the zone dampers or whatever aren't working.  That for sure needs to get fixed and I'm thinking the big unit that serves most of the downstairs should get replaced (20+ years old).  It is like 13 Seer which apparently is not very good.


Houses are confusing.  I had hot water issues and couldn't figure out WTF was going on as part of the house had wonderful, instant hot water (had one of those recirc things) and other parts were barely warm.  Thought I only had two water heaters, found out there was a third one hiding that had a temperature limiter that was somehow tied into a switch in the master bath for 'safety'.  Took like a week of troubleshooting to figure that shit out.  Guess they had kids or old people are something and didn't want actual hot water.

[bleedinred]

It’s easy to replace dampers. YouTube it. Honeywell makes the dampers.

We have two hot water tanks and one went out a few years ago. Didn’t realize it until the second one went out.

Owning big homes can be a pita.  We still own our first home; 3 bed/2 bath, 2100 sq ft. House is awesome. So little to go wrong. The AC unit in it is 20 years old and still performs great.

[hogsrunwild]

Will have to look.  The issue is that I have no idea where all of them are or which ones are working.  I might as well just let the AC guy do it unless it is super obvious.  I don't even know where to control them. Still trying to figure things out.  There is one secret room and I'm convinced there are more.

[porksamich]

I just had my entire unit replaced for $4500. That’s the inside unit with gas furnace, 4 ton outside unit, and new thermostat. Y’all getting raped.

[BASS]

my old house had a dual zone system - upstairs and downstairs running off one unit.  the dampers in the zone system are designed to operate off of each thermostat.  the thermostats kick on and call the system to divert air/heat to that area, thus flipping the dampers.  I had issues over the years where the dampers were not working correctly, had many a service calls where the zones had to be fixed.  i don't reccommend a zone system.  if you've got it, you've got it. 

hrw, i can't imagine a house with that many zones.  even with 3 units you may not have large enough units to push the amount of air you need, therefore your systems are running 24/7, resulting in an $800 electric bill.  the only way you can fix the # of zones would be to have all of the duct work redone and the zone dampers removed.  I'd think the optimal thing for you would be to scrap the zone/damper system and have 3 units each running a separate area of your house.

[hogsrunwild]

I’ll call someone and have them have a look and see what’s the best thing to do within a budget of course

[1st_down_streak]

I just had my entire unit replaced for $4500. That’s the inside unit with gas furnace, 4 ton outside unit, and new thermostat. Y’all getting raped.

If you have a single story home with good attic access and no need for a new line set or new duct work and find a small shop with low overhead, I could see that price.

Dealer cost for our 4 ton 16 seer Trane split system and accouterments such as plenum box, dampers, new pad etc was $3000. Any shop is going to mark that up about 25-40% so that's +/- $3800.

Then it is just a matter of labor - probably a 10-16 hours between 2 guys so, assuming a low $40/hr rate, that's $500.   

Sales tax is going to add at least another $275-300 even the installer is paying it on their cost.

[porksamich]

If you have a single story home with good attic access and no need for a new line set or new duct work and find a small shop with low overhead, I could see that price.

Dealer cost for our 4 ton 16 seer Trane split system and accouterments such as plenum box, dampers, new pad etc was $3000. Any shop is going to mark that up about 25-40% so that's +/- $3800.

Then it is just a matter of labor - probably a 10-16 hours between 2 guys so, assuming a low $40/hr rate, that's $500.   

Sales tax is going to add at least another $275-300 even the installer is paying it on their cost.

You nailed it. Single story, existing line sets, no new duct work. Inside unit easily located in hallway. 9 hr job.

[TexZilla]

I’ll call someone and have them have a look and see what’s the best thing to do within a budget of course

In Texas you have to look at more than just an modern efficient AC system.  You should look at your insulation, radiant barriers, garage door insulation, roof venting and ridge vents, clear soffit vents, ductwork leaks, windows.

[hogsrunwild]

In Texas you have to look at more than just an modern efficient AC system.  You should look at your insulation, radiant barriers, garage door insulation, roof venting and ridge vents, clear soffit vents, ductwork leaks, windows.

Fortunately, the person that has this place built seems to have cared about those things.  Unfortunately, I don’t know shit about AC and the attics are a maze so I’ll just have someone come and give it a full inspection and bite the bullet

[bleedinred]

Just curious, but what did the home inspector say when you went through the buying process?

[hogsrunwild]

Just curious, but what did the home inspector say when you went through the buying process?

Said the units were in good repair but that the main unit is old and likely to need replacing soon.  He said he couldn’t tell if all the zone things were working, but suspected some were not.  The vents and insulation and everything were good. 

We did switch electric companies already and it seems to have made a difference...3-4 cents x 5-7000kW adds up. 

That makes things a little less urgent

[DRYANKNPULL]

I just recently moved into a house that I’m having a little ac problem with. I have two floors and a separate system for each. Most of the house stays very comfortable, but two rooms upstairs stay very warm and one room downstairs stays warm. I had a guy come look at it and he said the duct work was not screwed together and whatever adhesive wrap they used to wrap the joints has broken down and they are leaking. Everything with the equipment seems to be functioning properly. He is wanting to take all of the wrapped insulation off the ductwork, screw all the joints, tape the joints, re wrap the ducts, and add a return air exchange to aid with air flow.  The ducts upstairs are in the attic, downstairs ducts are in the crawl space that ranges from 60 inches to 30 inches. All this for the tidy sum of $15,000. Was wondering if this seems reasonable.

[BASS]

I just recently moved into a house that I’m having a little ac problem with. I have two floors and a separate system for each. Most of the house stays very comfortable, but two rooms upstairs stay very warm and one room downstairs stays warm. I had a guy come look at it and he said the duct work was not screwed together and whatever adhesive wrap they used to wrap the joints has broken down and they are leaking. Everything with the equipment seems to be functioning properly. He is wanting to take all of the wrapped insulation off the ductwork, screw all the joints, tape the joints, re wrap the ducts, and add a return air exchange to aid with air flow.  The ducts upstairs are in the attic, downstairs ducts are in the crawl space that ranges from 60 inches to 30 inches. All this for the tidy sum of $15,000. Was wondering if this seems reasonable.

fuck no.  if he did all that and replaced both your units, maybe.

[CrocodileHunter]

fuck no.  if he did all that and replaced both your units, maybe.

That’s what I was thinking. $15,000 for ductwork?  Are we talking about a 20,000 sq ft house?

[DRYANKNPULL]

It’s nowhere near 20000 sqft. He’s not talking about replacing the duct work. Just installing screws in joints and sealing the joints in the existing duct work.

[hogsrunwild]

It’s nowhere near 20000 sqft. He’s not talking about replacing the duct work. Just installing screws in joints and sealing the joints in the existing duct work.

Maybe he meant $1,500?  That actually sounds more realistic.

[razorwire]

I just had my entire unit replaced for $4500. That’s the inside unit with gas furnace, 4 ton outside unit, and new thermostat. Y’all getting raped.

Did that price include new duct work?

[pigsteye]

You nailed it. Single story, existing line sets, no new duct work. Inside unit easily located in hallway. 9 hr job.

you in NWA?

[Swahili Steve]

Who can I call in LR for AC clean? I swear I used someone maybe animal? For my AC check and clean last time that was from Jacksonville? I have a fucking renter bitching that there’s mold or something in my ac and he’s become ill and sick. Then he said he has not changed the filter since early fall and said the filter needed to be changed at minimum every three months and not with a cheap ass filter but one that picks up allergens ect. I also said it’s spring time in arkansas but he says his sister stayed the night and is now stuffy and sick too 🙄.

[BASS]

Middleton used to be good, no idea about them anymore

[pigtacular]

Speaking of filters.  Which are the best to use?

[bleedinred]

Speaking of filters.  Which are the best to use?

The cheap ones. Just change them regularly. Most people don’t.

[Swahili Steve]

Speaking of filters.  Which are the best to use?

i use the higher dollar Nordic pure ones and have had zero issues. They are blue. Animal is the person to ask. I have his folks coming out tomorrow.

[Animal]

Speaking of filters.  Which are the best to use?

Merv 4 is what to look for. Anything with a higher Merv number is going to be really restrictive and really needs to be designed/sized for the system (and they usually aren't)