HVAC died

[wangspeed]

Well this sucks. Our HVAC died last night. The fan on the condenser is seized up. Tank was 80 before I turned off the lights. I've got Air Stream coming out today, but I already know I want to replace this old unit, so I doubt anything will get fixed today.

 

In the meantime I bought 2 5000 BTU window units for our townhouse and I'm turning off all but the LEDs. I may blast the T5s for a little bit late in the day, but that depends on the temp of the house.

 

Of course all of this has to be during the hottest week of the year, so far.

 

 

--

Warren

[Delphinus88]

Fans pointed at the top of the tank work great. Evaporate more water but it will keep it cool.

[AlanM]

Fill ziploc bags with salt water and freeze em into icebergs that can be dropped into the sump?

[matt]

A couple days of lights out probably won't hurt ya

[gmerek2]

I did iceberg of RODI in sump no problem

[surf&turf]

You can make your own chiller with a power head in the sump, some hose thru a cooler of ice and return to the sump. 

Edited June 13, 2015 by surf&turf

[epleeds]

You can make your own chiller with a power head in the sump, some hose thru a cooler of ice and return to the sump.

That sir is an awesome idea!!

[wangspeed]

We are back in business. Capacitor on the condenser died. $414 to replace that and clean out the condenser, and refill the refrigerant a little. I'm considering to just eat the cost now and get a new HVAC unit.

 

He was guessing 7000-7500 minus some of today's charges. I need to get a few other proposals as well though.

 

I did float a few bags of frozen RODI when the temp was higher. These little window units don't drop the temp that much.

 

 

--

Warren

[YHSublime]

Dang man, it's hot out, that bites.

[surf&turf]

That sir is an awesome idea!!

 

 

Thanks, works pretty good. 

[Brian Ward]

We are back in business. Capacitor on the condenser died. $414 to replace that and clean out the condenser, and refill the refrigerant a little. I'm considering to just eat the cost now and get a new HVAC unit.

 

He was guessing 7000-7500 minus some of today's charges. I need to get a few other proposals as well though.

 

I did float a few bags of frozen RODI when the temp was higher. These little window units don't drop the temp that much.

 

 

--

Warren

Sounds high unless you're going 18 SEER. 2.5-3 ton 15 SEER w 80% gas furnace and air handler should be about $5500. If you're in Fairfax/Arlington/DC I used R&B for both my and my sister's houses and was really happy. They unfortunately don't come to Loudoun.

[dave w]

Sorry to hear about your AC cost.  Remember that those poor guys have to make a year's living and only 3 months to make it in.  But having said that, a capacitor costs $5-10 at the local shop in Manassas, R.E. Michels, acid or foam to brighten up the coil cost $3 and you needed absolutely no freon.  

 

Freon is often put in just for show because the gauges look impressive to the homeowner.  If you really had a freon leak you'd have needed more than "a little".  Freon doesn't go anywhere in a closed system so you didn't have any leak out. When they put in too much freon it makes the compressor start under a higher pressure backload, which shortens the life of your compressor and gets more business to the AC company.

 

Finally, a typical townhouse unit of 2.5 or 3 tons of 16-17 SEER should only cost $1,500.  Look on the internet or get a buddy in the construction trades to help you.  You don't need a new unit until the old one breaks.  And a $5 capacitor isn't a broken AC system, just a small electrical part that holds a charge to help the motor start easier.  It just went out. Capacitors come in different sizes.  Each capacitor has numbers written on the side that tell you what the replacement part should be.

 

Now that I've said this, I'll probably be flamed by some WAMAS folks in the AC business.  Sorry to insult anyone.  But I've never understood the markup charged by AC companies.  

[Jhead85]

Wangspeed u ever have ac problem pm me and I'll give u my number and save u a lot..7-8k on a new system..I'll do it way cheaper

[sen5241b]

This is why I keep my tank in my basement. When the derecho hit a few years back, the power went out and it was in the 90s, my basement tank stayed right at 80F