HVAC - shit

Who'd you go with? I'm in need of replacement myself...

 

HVAC shit is about right. Got my attention while reading around TBR. I often visit to read the BS posted around here. Mainly on the political board, those liberals are always good for a laugh. Anyway the refrigeration, AC, heating, electrical shit is what I do. I actually think I’m an expert at such things. Not because of the AAS degree or the countless hr’s in some manufactures Tech. class, not he NATE cards, not even all the design shit driven into my head, Must be the lumps from the low floor joist or that my balls have decreased two sizes due to the sweat from all the 120+ degree attics I’ve been in.

Meatpile you may have very well solved your problem of freezing up simply by changing your filter. Two things cause Evap. Coils to freeze. Low charge (R-22) or improper air flow which can be caused by a restricted filter. Most systems are installed with Min. return air. ( they do it as cheap as possible.)If you are using the expensive pleated filters, then throw the damn things away. Buy the cheap blue filters you can see thur and change them more often. (every 30 days would be nice). If you are low on refrigerant, that you got problems. A system that is properly charged should never run low. R-22 doesn’t wear out, vapor to liquid a billion times. (simple, if you have to add than you got a leak). If you need a coil, then good luck buddy, you are not going to find one that will match up to the condenser. Coils today are 13 seer and greater and you have 8 seer or less. Maybe a leak in the coil can be fixed (brazed) but it not going to be worth the expense. On the bright side if it’s a slight leak than just get a magic can and add some juice. On the bad side those magic cans have got expensive ( appox. $190 for a 30 lb can). Yea but ,some of the dickhead Co.’s in Char. Are charging around $100 / lb.
But anyway you look at it dude, if you got a 20 year old system, get ready to dig deep in your crusty pockets in the near future.

About some of the Co.’s in Char., just this week a soccer mom over on Sharon Rd. showed me where some dick from MJ charged $240 to change a capacitor during a service check. I can buy the cap. For < 30 bucks(they get them cheaper). One screw off, 3 wires off, 3 wires on, one screw in, 3 minutes. Damn thing wasn’t bad anyways, like a light bulb the thing either works or not. Now who the hell can predict when a light bulb going to burn out. Damn crook does simple service on two systems and walls away with $900+.Lesson here, do not deal with a Co. that pays their service tech. on commission.(Duh)

El Bastardo-What do you want? A Kia or a Jaguar? How concerned are you about total comfort, indoor air quality. What about heating, gas or heat pump? If you want something cheap than get someone to throw something like a Goodman in. Hey man, it will dump cold air into a warm room or warm air in a cold room. Or what about a Trane 19 ic communicating system. It will call your cell phone while you are on a Caribbean beach building sand pussies and let you know the temperature dropped 2 degrees at home. Ask you what the hell you want it to do. Hell it can be programmed to call you and let you know your house is on fire. A 13 seer has the potential to be 38% more energy efficiency than an old 8 seer, 14 seer 43%, 15 seer 47%- you need to figure out how long it takes to get pay back on more expensive equipment. Really, it would pay to do some research before throwing thousands at a system. Me , I’d stay away from R 410A, but I’m not a tree hugger.

 

It's like farting in an elevator.

 

That surprises me since the commericals are SO bad. I have to change the channel. The commericals alone would make me NEVER call them.

 

Greyback, so what kind of system would you recommend? What's a seer?

 

Thanks greybeck. If you're in the area ( i think your are ), then I'll be sure to give you a jingle in the future.

 

(seer) seasonal energy efficiency ratio-an equipment efficiency rating that takes into account the startup and shutdown for each cycle. Think of it as (mpg) in your car. The greater the seer rating the more efficient the equipment.
If you do all the proper calculations and ESTIMATE that a 15 seer unit will save $10 a month vs.: a 13 seer unit but the equipment cost $1000 more. Then it take 8.3 years to payback. Kinda pay now or pay later. Every application is different but can be ESTIMATED. Some salespeople like to use the word guarantee, to which I say bullshit.

What kind of system? Dude…what’s right for me could be wrong for you. I personally wouldn’t want anything in my home other than a heat pump, for efficiency reason. I hate paying energy bills. The problem with heat pumps is that the supply air is only 20 degrees higher than the return air. So if you got 70 degree air going into your return , than you got 90 degree air coming out your vents. Below body temperature and may feel cool if blowing directly on you. Some people only want natural gas for comfort reason. They like that warm 130 degree heat coming out of the vents.

If your talking about what manufacturer, well some people like Chevys and other Fords. Most manufacturers make low end contractor models as well as high end efficient models. Me, guess I ‘m partial to Trane but they make some junk too. Gotta have something cheap for the contractors building million dollar houses, after all whoever looks at the heat & air.

 

I’ve read this board enough to know you’re alright dude. Buts that’s Greyback…I don’t know what the hell a greybeck is.
I’m not looking for any work, hell that’s my problem now. Too much work and too little play. I don’t live in Char., but I end up there most everyday. If I can help you with something, then I will

 

check out bradham bros. ( trane dealers) very good standing on angies list and came highly recommended from friends. my a/c died last year when it was hot as heck, it was an old system and had a bad leak came out gave me estimate $1300.00 cheaper than someone else in town, but would not be able to install until a week later so he had one of his guys come out that pm and put in 4# freon at n/c so i would have a/c until they could install my new one. also got some good warranties from both bradham and trane.

 

Old units freeze up easier with clogged air filters, and also when you turn the t-stat down too much....Generally, if you go bwlow 68, you run the risk of freezing. But sure, you did the right thing. TUrn it off, let it thaw, clean that puppy up the best you can, and let her fire back up.