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I should replace this AC system, right?

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WalnutFarmer
WalnutFarmer Member Posts: 52
in A-C, Heat Pumps & Refrigeration

We have a central ac system that is coming up on 30 years old. Had it checked recently and it is down more than a lb of R22. House is in central CT, so relatively short cooling season. No one has tried to locate the leak yet.

My gut and brain are telling me it's time to bite the bullet and replace the system, but my wallet doesn't like the thought of spending up to $10k for something that is otherwise still working.

Is it worth trying to repair and nurse this thing along? Is that good money after bad?

Please share you're wisdom!

Comments

  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 7,194

    Only 1 # short. I question the tech on site. Di he say it was time to replace?


    90% of the contractors are sales oriented.

    weed through the mine field and find someone you can trust.

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 17,223

    If you can find the leak it will probably not leak after you fix it. A new system is likely to leak out of the box or after a couple years. If you can keep on top of keeping things clean and painted so they don't rust it will last a long time in a climate with a short cooling season. Would be a good idea to test the caps, sometimes the fan motors go bad(oiling the bearings from time to time will help), the sealed system parts usually last a very long time.

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 17,223

    also might be the kind of leak that that will lose a pound over 30 years. if like @pecmsg said it even is low and the issue isn't with the person measuring. If someone keeps hooking up a manifold set to it, the amount in the manifold set will make it a pound low over a decade or 2 of doing that every year.

  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 20,397

    All you need is the right tech to keep it running.

    The reason they can't find the leak is because they won't take the time to look for a leak. In Ct a unit can go 40years is not uncommon.

    The leak could be in the coil where it may not be possible to fix or it could be as simple as a Schrader valve leaking.

    If it was mine, I would look for the leak. A good tech with the right equipment should find a leak within an hour or so.

    Most companied want to sell new equipment so they will not bother looking for leaks.

    Ironman
  • pedmec
    pedmec Member Posts: 1,446

    I think getting 30 years out of an A/C unit here is nothing short of a miracle. The shoddy workmanship is a system killer. Just received a call from a former employee who told me about the tech he's working with right now. The tech is cutting refrigeration piping with a band saw. 300k Rooftop system and he's cutting the piping with a band saw.

    Robert_H
  • GGross
    GGross Member Posts: 1,941
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1895579#Comment_1895579

    after he cuts it he waves his hand over it and declares de minimis 🤗

    Robert_H
  • pedmec
    pedmec Member Posts: 1,446

    @GGross They did the start up friday and it went right into failure. 125# of refrigerant has to be recovered. nothing short of unbelievable.

  • WalnutFarmer
    WalnutFarmer Member Posts: 52

    Thanks everyone. Glad this is not a 300k unit!

    The tech (and more importantly his boss, the owner, who I trust) are not pushing for a new system. They are just pointing out that we'd be looking at $300+ to recharge this system with R22, plus time to diagnose the leak, plus repair cost… assuming it is repairable. Would likely exceed $1000 and could be a bunch more.

    I need to weigh spending that kind of maintenance money on a system now and more to nurse it if other items fail soon after… and potentially leave us sweating in August.

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 17,223

    i thought you said it was a pound low. a pound of r22 is pricey but it isn't $300. i'd start with adding the pound and seeing if it escapes again in any sort of unacceptable time frame. you could look yourself and see if you see anything oily or corroded to the point it could leak and then try some soap on it to look for bubbles. if it is a new leak then it could require attention. if it leaked a pound over 30 years you are not likely to find that leak so the more cost effective solution is to just charge it once or twice a decade.

  • ratio
    ratio Member Posts: 4,259

    One thing is certain: you won't get this kind of life from a replacement.

  • WalnutFarmer
    WalnutFarmer Member Posts: 52

    @mattmia2 It is "at least" a lb low. Could be 2 or more. I figured 2 lbs @ $100/lb plus a visit from a tech to do the recharge. Can't see it being much less that $300.

    Nonetheless, that's the route I'm headed. I asked the contractor to do a recharge and to look at the likely, repairable places leaks could be happening. If I can get another year or 3 that's great. I don't want to be dumping R22 into the air, so if this repeats, it's time for a new system.

    Wish me luck!

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 17,223

    you'll be dumping whatever refrigerant is in the new system in the air. residential systems isn't where the majority of refrigerant in the atmosphere comes from, commercial systems leak and it is less expensive to charge them than to fix the leak, packaged stuff rarely gets recovered when it gets scrapped, just the residual refrigerant in a big chiller after it has been recovered is more than what is in a residential system.

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