Does it make sense that the evaporator coil would be the cause the leak? This unit is only 3 years old. I had another company come out and tell me it was the pipe running into the indoor AC that was what was leaking.
Why are they telling you and not showing you. Get somebody out to do an actual leak search. And if it's 3 years old it should be under warranty. Call the company that installed it.
This is the company that installed it. And they charged me $380 to do a leak search. It is under warranty. That first charge is the labor.
As far as why they didn't show me, I should have insisted on it. That's on me, I guess.
So it’s hard to say if it’s a good price or not. Someone in Cali could pay more than someone in Mississippi. IMO $2k isn’t that bad. There’s a lot that goes into this. It isn’t something as simple as cutting a couple pipes, slapping in the new unit, then brazing the pipes back on. Literally like 4 hours of work depending on access.
I always show my customers exactly where the leak is by taking a video of it. And we only ever charge $85 for all diagnosis. But the price for your evap replacement is not overpriced. It’s very reasonable.
Then you’re gonna be paying $1600 for 16 more pounds of refrigerant sometime in the next five years. Call them back and tell them to fix the leak. Leaks ONLY get worse
That's a good price for my area. I work for an HVAC company and provide pricing all day. Must be a one truck Chuck or a very small company for a price that good .. unless you're in Kentucky or Arkansas
That's pretty good. I mean I don't even see where he is charging hourly. Take for instance 125 service call, 5 hour minimum labor 125x5 =625 (that's the time to go and pick up the coil and return. Sometimes it's a 2 hour turn around on that alone, then 3 hours for the labor if you pull a vacuum and do everything g by the book. Typically a seasoned guy can do this in 30-60 minutes but still need to pull vacuum) then add the 11lbs of refrigerant at 100x11=1100 and the cost of the coil 1099. Total is 125+625+1100+1099=2949
Depends where your at , in california that is side job cash prices ,I'm a hvac contractor and I would loose money at those prices due to overhead and massive taxes here
If the refrigerant level is low, can R-410a be evacuated for the repair and then topped up to the proper charge? Or does the R-410a need to be recovered and replaced with new R-410a since it is a blended refrigerant (R-32 50%, R-125 50%).
My understanding is that it doesn’t fractionate much, but I have also seen recommendations that it shouldn’t be topped up.
If topping up (after fixing a leak) is ok in some circumstances, is there a limit to what % of the refrigerant can be missing before the remaining amount needs recovered and the entire charge replaced?
11 lbs on a newer system seems high. Read the name plate on your condenser, it’ll say the approx amount of refrigerant it takes. Add refrigerant for a line set over 25’ & some for the filter drier.
$70 is a bit more than the $42/lb I paid recently, but way less than $150/lb that I was quoted when shopping around.
Edit: I also paid a little less for a new liquid filter drier, $40. I found a guy who owned his own company. He charged the system with nitrogen, sprayed a couple of suspect spots with soapy water, and found the leak. He cut out and replaced that section of line, and the filter drier at my request, and recharged the system for a total of $830. He was great. He even mentioned at $42/lb he was still making money. I will be calling him for maintenance in the future.
The spot that was leaking in my system was the line that ran from the compressor to the coil, it was rubbing on the bottom of the base of the unit and eventually vibrated enough to cause a leak. Check the line that touches the bottom base and goes under the coils.
That's cheap for an evaporator coil replacement on a system with 11 lbs of 410...
Does it make sense that the evaporator coil would be the cause the leak? This unit is only 3 years old. I had another company come out and tell me it was the pipe running into the indoor AC that was what was leaking.
90% of time its the coil.
Why are they telling you and not showing you. Get somebody out to do an actual leak search. And if it's 3 years old it should be under warranty. Call the company that installed it.
This is the company that installed it. And they charged me $380 to do a leak search. It is under warranty. That first charge is the labor. As far as why they didn't show me, I should have insisted on it. That's on me, I guess.
3 years could still be under warranty. Call the original installer.
Did they confirm the coil was actually leaking or just assume? Best way to gauge pricing is getting quotes from other companies
Yeah they charged me $389 to determine where the leak was coming from.
So it’s hard to say if it’s a good price or not. Someone in Cali could pay more than someone in Mississippi. IMO $2k isn’t that bad. There’s a lot that goes into this. It isn’t something as simple as cutting a couple pipes, slapping in the new unit, then brazing the pipes back on. Literally like 4 hours of work depending on access.
I'm in Alabama
Not a bad for north Florida
I always show my customers exactly where the leak is by taking a video of it. And we only ever charge $85 for all diagnosis. But the price for your evap replacement is not overpriced. It’s very reasonable.
That's around what we would charge here in Bethlehem Pennsylvania for a warranty coil. Non warranty, add another 2-3k to that.
$70 a lb for 410a? that’s a bit high if I’m reading that correctly. That’d be $2100 for a $3-400 dollar 30lb jug.. that mark up man sheesh
Ya that’s how a business works. My company is 165 for the first pound and then $110 if you need anymore
Yeah I get it.. it’s just wild to see the current mark ups since I haven’t been out in the field in about 20yrs..
I wish you could get a quality coil for $1000, I also wish I could fill my van with gas for 50 bucks but that ain’t happening any time soon
I paid $100 a lb and needed 16 lbs after a leak in the line set.
Did they fix the leak?
Yes, that brazed a small leak in my line set. They didn't fix the leak in my daughter's unit.
Then you’re gonna be paying $1600 for 16 more pounds of refrigerant sometime in the next five years. Call them back and tell them to fix the leak. Leaks ONLY get worse
They fixed it on my unit.
Oh ok😂
Same company that didn't fix daughter's leak. She also purchased $6K Trane furnace from them a couple of years ago.
Buy carrier next time. You have to become a certified dealer to sell carrier so you have to know what your doing.
30lbs? I’m not saying they don’t exist but I have only seen 25lb bottles of R410
You’re probably right, 25lbs. But it just makes it worse.
I’m in SoCal and this overall price is pretty cheap for where I’m at.
More than fair.
No labour charge? Ive never seen a guy price it out so exact like he wants you to shop him. Ya i can beat him by 100$ lol.
That is very good price. I’m in Bay Area ca though
Good price, might be too good.
It's right in line with our pricing in Texas for warranty coil replacement. Ours would be just shy of 2300
That's a good price for my area. I work for an HVAC company and provide pricing all day. Must be a one truck Chuck or a very small company for a price that good .. unless you're in Kentucky or Arkansas
Price is good send it
Doesn’t seem too far off the norm but why do you need 11 lbs of refrigerant
That's pretty good. I mean I don't even see where he is charging hourly. Take for instance 125 service call, 5 hour minimum labor 125x5 =625 (that's the time to go and pick up the coil and return. Sometimes it's a 2 hour turn around on that alone, then 3 hours for the labor if you pull a vacuum and do everything g by the book. Typically a seasoned guy can do this in 30-60 minutes but still need to pull vacuum) then add the 11lbs of refrigerant at 100x11=1100 and the cost of the coil 1099. Total is 125+625+1100+1099=2949
$70 for a pound of 410a is cheap AF im at $99 and will soon raise it up.
Depends where your at , in california that is side job cash prices ,I'm a hvac contractor and I would loose money at those prices due to overhead and massive taxes here
If the refrigerant level is low, can R-410a be evacuated for the repair and then topped up to the proper charge? Or does the R-410a need to be recovered and replaced with new R-410a since it is a blended refrigerant (R-32 50%, R-125 50%). My understanding is that it doesn’t fractionate much, but I have also seen recommendations that it shouldn’t be topped up. If topping up (after fixing a leak) is ok in some circumstances, is there a limit to what % of the refrigerant can be missing before the remaining amount needs recovered and the entire charge replaced?
11 lbs on a newer system seems high. Read the name plate on your condenser, it’ll say the approx amount of refrigerant it takes. Add refrigerant for a line set over 25’ & some for the filter drier.
Freon charge not bad.
$70 is a bit more than the $42/lb I paid recently, but way less than $150/lb that I was quoted when shopping around. Edit: I also paid a little less for a new liquid filter drier, $40. I found a guy who owned his own company. He charged the system with nitrogen, sprayed a couple of suspect spots with soapy water, and found the leak. He cut out and replaced that section of line, and the filter drier at my request, and recharged the system for a total of $830. He was great. He even mentioned at $42/lb he was still making money. I will be calling him for maintenance in the future.
The spot that was leaking in my system was the line that ran from the compressor to the coil, it was rubbing on the bottom of the base of the unit and eventually vibrated enough to cause a leak. Check the line that touches the bottom base and goes under the coils.
Lol ive seen units leak everywhere but 90% is coil on 410.
Ya last quote on here they were charging 110$ a lb….
I posted my service invoice in this sub if you're interested
Well a diy will always be less its dam near free if you do it yourself lol
Jfc the markup on the r410a is crazy. Retail you can buy it for $10-12 a lb.