Home Air Conditioning Unit - Repair or Replace?

[corinthos]

Hi All,

About 2 seasons ago, cold air stopped coming from our home AC unit, but the fan was still working. Had someone come out and take a look at it, and they said the capacitor went bad, so we had it replaced and cool air started flowing again until. We enjoyed cool AC for about a year, then the AC again stopped working. Had the same guy come out and look at the AC unit and he said this time the problem was a bad compressor. He said it is still under warranty but that labor to replace the compressor would be well over $1000.

Since that price seemed quite high, we had another guy come out to examine the AC unit and give us a repair estimate as well as an estimate for replacing the entire AC unit. He said if we could get the compressor replaced under warranty, he could fix the AC for about $750. When asked how much a new unit would cost (we have a Trane - for a 1350 sq ft house), he said he could get an equivalent model new and installed for around $1400-$1600.

My question: The AC unit is like 8 years old only. Given the $750 price range to repair (provided I can get a replacement compressor from Trane under warranty), and price to get a brand new unit + installation ($1400-$1600), which option would make the most sense?

On one hand, if I get the AC fixed, I can save about $650-850. It's possible something else could go wrong with the unit in the future, but would it be safe to say that the big ticket items have been fixed and addressed, so whatever else could go wrong with the unit would be minor? Then again, labor to get those minor items addressed would be a good amount of money.

On the other hand, if I get a brand new unit, I could reasonably expect it to be problem free for years.

I'd appreciate some experienced input and feedback if you guys can share some experienced advice on this matter.

Pointlessly necroed thread is locked. -Admin DrPizza

 

[Imp]

How often do you run the unit, how hot does it get, what's the efficiency of your current unit?

If a new unit saves more juice and you use the A/C a lot throughout the year, you may be able to recoup your "investment" fairly quickly.

 

[Binarycow]

Replace it. If you live in a hot place like I do (OKC), you will recover the cost of a the new unit in a couple of summer seasons. Around here it is recommended that you should replace your unit every 10-12 years. You pay either way, for a new unit or for the monthly extra cost in electricity the old unit incurs due to loss of efficiency.

 

[The Stigenator]

there is no way the new AC unit is 1800.. check around prices.. its probably cheaper to fix teh compressor

 

[corinthos]

I run it all summer long. Temps get to be in high 90s to say under 105 or so. House is 2 stories, so it gets especially hot upstairs. About this time of year, I'm not feeling the need to run the AC... it's only around 85-89 degrees or so, and I can open the window and be okay. But maybe starting sometime in May through late Aug/early Sept, I'm using the AC daily starting in the mid-afternoon and overnight, mainly because I have a retired family member at home during the daytime.

I'm not sure what the efficiency is on my current unit, but efficiency is something I will definitely take into consideration when I make a decision on repair vs replace. I'm guessing new units for the same price are more efficient now, but if I want greater efficiency it may cost me...

 

[corinthos]

That was just a quote from the 2nd guy who looked at my AC.. but I'll check around to see if that is true or not.. i have heard AC's costing several times that.. so wonder if he is trying to quote me prices on units that aren't really new.. rebuilt/refurbed?

Also, if I get a new AC unit, one thing I am wondering is if it's possible for me to get the compressor replacement under warranty from Trane, and then sell that compressor on eBay or something to help partially fund the new AC unit?

 

[Schmide]

Buy rubber hammer, whack that compressor.

 

[corinthos]

BTW I just found some rough pricing here, so maybe it isn't far fetched that I could get a new unit for $1600 or so:

http://www.qualitysmith.com/request/articles/articles-cooling/trane-air-conditioner-prices/

 

[Imp]

We got a new central A/C unit last spring. If I remember right, it was around $3k for a 2-story house including service. It was a mid-range model though, since we're cheap and our summers aren't that long or hot usually.

 

[corinthos]

Here's an update on the situation:

It appears that indeed the compressor is BAD in my AC. It is under warranty by manufacturer but the total labor to install is about $700. This is a Trane X11 R22 unit.

So here are my options:

1. Replace compressor only ($700 labor; part under warranty - assuming it's honored)
2. Replace entire AC with new unit ($1500 for new Goodman R22 unit ; includes installation)

Here is the dilemma:

My house is 20 years. I was told the lifespan of furnaces is about 20 years, and when they need to be replaced, you need to take into consideration the specifications on your AC unit.
I guess the coil in the furnace has to be able to handle a certain amount of pressure to be
compatible.

If I get a new AC unit, I'm told that unless I go with an older R22 type AC unit (Goodman or
Trane), like the R22 Trane X11 I currently have, a newer model AC unit other than R22 may
not be compatible with the old furnace I have.

BUT, if I go with a new AC unit that uses the same R22 type AC unit as my old one, it will be compatible, however the refrigerant will cost more (although I was told they usually will last forever if there is no leak) should I ever need to replace. And should my old furnace break down and I replace it with a new, current model, it may end up not being compatible with the old style R22 type AC unit.

Another option is to just try to get the compressor replaced for $700 total (under warranty so this is mostly labor), and ride it out until my furnace breaks and needs replacing, at which time I replace both the AC (around $1500 for a base model 3 ton Goodman) and the furnace (around $6000) with new units. This is an option if the manufacturer honors its warranty on the compressor (doesn't come back and say it's due to a non-covered issue) and assuming the refrigerant in my old AC is still good - had no issues with cooling when it was working, so it is likely still good?).

I've had no problems with the furnace thus far... and I guess the 20 year lifespan is just an average, so it's possible mine can keep going for many more years?

Anyway, do you guys think it would be better to fork up the extra $700-800 for a new AC unit (R22) that's compatible with my old furnace and have faith that my old furnace will still go strong for years to come? If it doesn't last and breaks down in the next few years or maybe sooner, then I'd likely need to change out the AC unit again with one compatible with a new furnace.

Or would it be better to try to get the old AC working for about $700 (assuming refrigerant still good and compressor replacement comes through) and ride it out with the old gear until the furnace reaches end of life, then replace both AC and furnace with brand new units?

One last tidbit... I've owned the house for a few years, but am thinking about whether I should consider selling it in the next few years or so for several reasons... as a first time home buyer i think i made some rookie mistakes.. while the house is good, and area is convenient and pretty safe.. the commute time to work is about 40 mins each way, so the time, mileage and gas put in could have been applied towards more home elsewhere, closer to work, perhaps. with the age of the home, things are going to start to need repairing more and more.. like maybe the roof eventually.. the house is currently upside down by about 20k, not uncommon right now in my area after all the foreclosures that occurred.
But since inventory is low, I'm looking at how things rebound here and whether it may be viable to sell without a loss and purchase newer and closer to work as a 2nd time homebuyer who hopefully makes a wiser decision. Other option is to rent out the house, but i hear that has its share of headaches... Anyway, if I sell in near-term, that kind of changes the furnace/AC replacement strategy that would make most sense vs the strategy when intending to keep the house long term. But that decision is more dependent on the selling or rental market, and whether either of those options make sense.

 

[Markbnj]

I never had just the compressor replaced, and I never replaced one myself, but I'm still having a hard time buying that it's $750 worth of labor to do the job. There's just not that much to it, and they're not even hard to get to. Have you spoken with the manufacturer of the unit? Do they cover only parts in their warranty?

 

[BUTCH1]

$700 just for labor seems like a lot, the compressor itself is readily accessible and just bolts to the condenser frame, of course the system would have to be pumped down and the new compressor's fittings will need to be brazed on, the system re-charged and possibly a new receiver-dryer installed and the wires attached but most of that needs to be done when replacing the whole condenser unit anyway...

 

[rsutoratosu]

You can buy a new ac unit and get it replaced, have them pull the old unit and get the warranty compressor and sell it as a package someone probably want it for something

 

[Mixolydian]

if it needs a new compressor you might as well just get a hole new unit.

i'm eyeing the trane xl20i, myself.

 

[ponyo]

$750 seems really high just for the labor. I would call around and see if someone will do it cheaper. Trane has 10 year warranty so your compressor should be covered. Personally I would replace the compressor under warranty. Trane is premium brand compared to Goodman.

 

[pcgeek11]

Goodman is cheap garbage.... You will need repairs sooner than you would think with the Goodman unit. The Trane warranty depends on which compressor you have some are indeed 10 years, but many are not and some require that the unit is serviced twice a year ( spring and fall ).

Trane is worth 10 times a Goodman. I would also never replace just the outside unit and connect it to an old air handler. They work better when bought as a matched set. They are more efficient that way. You could piecemeal one together, but don't expect it to work as well.

 

[BUTCH1]

Goodman is cheap garbage.... You will need repairs sooner than you would think with the Goodman unit. The Trane warranty depends on which compressor you have some are indeed 10 years, but many are not and some require that the unit is serviced twice a year ( spring and fall ).

Trane is worth 10 times a Goodman. I would also never replace just the outside unit and connect it to an old air handler. They work better when bought as a matched set. They are more efficient that way. You could piecemeal one together, but don't expect it to work as well.

It's getting almost impossible to do so anyway, the newer types of freon are not compatible with an old evap core..

 

[corinthos]

You can buy a new ac unit and get it replaced, have them pull the old unit and get the warranty compressor and sell it as a package someone probably want it for something

I actually thought about this and checked on eBay, but it doesn't look like alot of auctions ending with a sale and the price they're going for seems a bit lower than I expected.. aside from that, the manufacturer will only send replacement to a certified AC repair person, not to any end user, or so I'm told.

 

[corinthos]

Goodman is cheap garbage.... You will need repairs sooner than you would think with the Goodman unit. The Trane warranty depends on which compressor you have some are indeed 10 years, but many are not and some require that the unit is serviced twice a year ( spring and fall ).

Trane is worth 10 times a Goodman. I would also never replace just the outside unit and connect it to an old air handler. They work better when bought as a matched set. They are more efficient that way. You could piecemeal one together, but don't expect it to work as well.

Yeah, based on all the feedback, it sounds like the clear thing NOT to do is to just get a new AC unit, but probably trying to get the current AC fixed (compressor replacement) and wait for the old furnace to fail before changing the entire system as a matched set - new furnace and new AC unit.

$700 does seem kind of high for compressor replacement labor (considering the part would be replaced under manufacturer's warranty), and the cost of installing a new AC unit seems kind of low by comparison since the Goodman the AC guy quoted is probably costing them $1350 wholesale... so $1500 total would mean labor is $150.

I don't get these AC repair guys.. the first guy said around $1200-1400 to replace the compressor under warranty, the second guy is saying $700, which is better but still does seem high.. if in fact the same type of work goes into installing a new unit, you'd think the labor would be $150 or in that ballpark...

Does anyone know what a reasonable price to replace a compressor would be?

 

[sdifox]

Tons of complaints with Trane

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/homeowners/trane.html

 

[BUTCH1]

Tons of complaints with Trane

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/homeowners/trane.html

Wow, some of the comments come from dealers who will no longer install Trane product because of the failure rates, I don't blame them, when a 2yr old coil goes bad it's their reputation on the line. OP, $150 is not realistic, most co's around here charge $50-75 just to roll a truck out but I do think you can do better than $750, call around..

EDIT: OP, I found this site which has consumer reviews of all the major brands, interestingly most brands have a lot of negative reviews but I'd imagine that someone who had a system installed and has had no trouble in years probably won't bother to go online and do a positive review, OTOH if you spent $4-8K and it goes bad one would be inclined to go online and bitch about it..
http://http://www.furnacecompare.com/air-conditioners/rheem/reviews/

 

[Slacker]

While reading this, because I had a problem with the start cap on my a/c a couple years ago, I realised that in the 17 years I have lived here thats the only problem the 40 year old unit had ever given me.

40 year old compressor<<
40 year old fan motor<<

start cap went twice in a couple months, end result was a couple of old wires all burnt and crusty needed to be replaced, that was several years ago and all has been fine since.

 

[Mixolydian]

While reading this, because I had a problem with the start cap on my a/c a couple years ago, I realised that in the 17 years I have lived here thats the only problem the 40 year old unit had ever given me.

40 year old compressor<<
40 year old fan motor<<

start cap went twice in a couple months, end result was a couple of old wires all burnt and crusty needed to be replaced, that was several years ago and all has been fine since.

It's probably horribly inefficient and costs a fortune to operate, unless you live in an area where you don't need to use it much.

 

[Slacker]

It's probably horribly inefficient and costs a fortune to operate, unless you live in an area where you don't need to use it much.

I set it at 70 and let it eat, I am on one floor, front of the building is below grade, back is open to an ascending slope covered with trees. Running it from june to mid september costs a total of about $350 added to the electric bill.

 

[BUTCH1]

While reading this, because I had a problem with the start cap on my a/c a couple years ago, I realised that in the 17 years I have lived here thats the only problem the 40 year old unit had ever given me.

40 year old compressor<<
40 year old fan motor<<

start cap went twice in a couple months, end result was a couple of old wires all burnt and crusty needed to be replaced, that was several years ago and all has been fine since.

LOL, yea my evap coil was installed in 1972, still works, I replaced the condenser in 2003, I have to add charge every 3 yrs or so, still blows out 20 degree air cooler than ambient room temp which is about where it should be according to the tech that charged it last summer. Might be a good idea to check your duct-work though, I did that 2 yrs ago and found several large cracks that I repaired, that helped a lot..