Residential hvac parts

[F4R/T]

Why is this a business that is so locked down to buying over the counter parts? Is this all about job security? I needed a constant torque blower motor and had to pull teeth to get one, the worst part is it was on a Saturday so getting folks to answer the phone was scarce. I know things are different after the plandemic but seriously I worked hvac for a living and the counter guys can’t sell to me no matter what. If you have a good supply house always keep them handy...My have times changed... I was always grumbling about selling a 5$ capacitor for 75 on top of the service call and everything else I couldn’t deal with shafting the customer in my mind. It seemed I was expected to sell at every single stop.. I hated it!

 

[davek]

I heard AC is going up again by 18% and now they are changing the freon to 2 different ones. This means now you would have to carry 4 different freons in your truck. What the heck. 1500 square house new system $12,000.

 

[hunt2elk]

I heard AC is going up again by 18% and now they are changing the freon to 2 different ones. This means now you would have to carry 4 different freons in your truck. What the heck. 1500 square house new system $12,000.

I have a feeling it will be more than a 18% increase. And on top of that, at the last AL2 meeting I attended, we were told that if you have an older gas water heater in the house, it will also need to be replaced along with the AC system. This is because the new refrigerant blend is slightly flammable and heavier than air.

 

[F4R/T]

Omg I was just quoted 12-14 thousand for a new system the other day! I about fell over and looked up a new Goodman system online and delivered and could save a bunch but I don’t have a torch set for the lines or a vacuum pump with gauges to charge it ... otherwise I would but I was on the fence of buying it. The other problem is if I buy it elsewhere not many guys will just install it , I can handle it all but charging and welding the connections, and a vac pump.

 

[F4R/T]

The government ....

 

[hunt2elk]

The government ....

It is. Apparently this new refrigerant change was pushed through as a attachment to one of the Covid relief bills by a senator who wouldn't sign unless his pet project got attention. Bunch of bs imo. I had planned on retiring before having to buy new equipment to deal with yet another refrigerant blend.......

 

[Detective D]

They also won't repair them.
I don't think anyone would be shocked at the idea top shelf product lines from the 90's were built to a higher standard with parts from our country, then the CPU board infested plastic/chinesium global stuff is more recently.
Good luck getting anyone to repair a unit from back then. They get literally angry if you ask them why not.
"Save the planet" but we should buy an entire new system instead of spending $600 on replacing one component in an otherwise working system. Repair is always, ALWAYS less impactful on the environment and energy use.
We are about a skip and jump away from HVAC as a service because the units won't last more then 5 years and will require specialized permits and license just to look at. My 1996 unit is R22 and is down about half a pound, possibly the coil in the ductwork in my furnace has a leak, but not sure.
I can't even convince the guy with the stuff in his truck to recharge my unit to find out.
He absolutely won;t replace the potentail failure point.
They make a 100% plug and play drop in replacement for R22. He won't buy it and doesn't want to look into it.

The place that pitched a fit and charged me with 3 extra "service" bills to repair the exchanger in my furnace won;t get calls from me anymore, replaceing every single component in my 1996 furnace(95% efficiency high end furnace, LP) was $1200 less then a new install. Why TF would I replace then? So he got pissed and sent me an extra bill with off hours charges, some other undisclosed service fee, and a disposal fee(lol) for my old exchanger instead.

All I can figure is they want to make a really good living at this and there is too many of them in too small an area and they want hired help to do all the work. SO they need to upsell everything where they can layer a fat margin on top. Gotta pay for a new F450 truck every 3 years somehow.

 

[F4R/T]

Wow how pathetic, it’s all about $$$ and who gets their pockets lined first will get what they want.. never worried about flammability now we do. If it worked better and was more environmentally friendly and user friendly I’d be fine with it. Leave it to the big guy! Not going political just stating the facts!

 

[hunt2elk]

They make a 100% plug and play drop in replacement for R22. He won't buy it and doesn't want to look into it.

Don't know where you got that info, but it is not true. There is nothing made that is a true plug and play for adding to an existing R22 system. There is a blend that can be retrofitted into a R22 system, but it requires total evacuation, filter/dryer replacement, AND an oil change. Hard to get all the existing oil out of the bottom of a compressor. And on top of all that, it doesn't have the cooling capacity of 22. Not a very common alternative, around here anyway.....

 

[Detective D]

Don't know where you got that info, but it is not true. There is nothing made that is a true plug and play for adding to an existing R22 system. There is a blend that can be retrofitted into a R22 system, but it requires total evacuation, filter/dryer replacement, AND an oil change. Hard to get all the existing oil out of the bottom of a compressor. And on top of all that, it doesn't have the cooling capacity of 22. Not a very common alternative, around here anyway.....

Comstar® RS-44b Refrigerant, Drop In Replacement for R22

Comstar® RS-44b Refrigerant, Drop In Replacement for R22. Ships in One Business Day. Buy it and Save at GlobalIndustrial.com

www.globalindustrial.com

I found that with a 5 second search. Drop in replacement.
As for evacuating the system, considering the cost of this vs what R22 sells for now you would think the HVAC guys would be frothing at the mouth to claim the R22 to sell somewhere else. According to this manufacturer, not required. But you would think they would want to so they can upcharge it to someone else anyway.
If I called the place that did my furnace they would probably charge me a disposal fee on top lol.

 

[Detective D]

Don't know where you got that info, but it is not true. There is nothing made that is a true plug and play for adding to an existing R22 system. There is a blend that can be retrofitted into a R22 system, but it requires total evacuation, filter/dryer replacement, AND an oil change. Hard to get all the existing oil out of the bottom of a compressor. And on top of all that, it doesn't have the cooling capacity of 22. Not a very common alternative, around here anyway.....

Out of curiosity, do you work in HVAC?

 

[68-500]

So far Locke Supply sells me everything I need to keep my HVAC unit running. I really need to replace it. It has to be 30+years old. My summer time bills are atrocious. Im dont care for forced air very much and am considering 2 mini splits each with 3 head units. I can install them, vacuum pumps are very affordable. The compressor comes loaded. May need 1 service call for a top off.

 

[hunt2elk]

Out of curiosity, do you work in HVAC?

I do, and honestly have never heard of that blend. Sounds interesting, and is a lot cheaper than R22. Wondering why none of the wholesale houses around here are pushing it?

 

[demonram]

My neighbor just had his two units replaced about two months ago. He’s a retired sheriff and 79 years old. He never even mentioned to me he had issues. He called a company that told him, they were too old to work on (10 years old). $44,000 later he had new units installed. The idiot fell through the ceiling and they didn’t even send out a company to clean it up. Just cleaned it haphazardly up and repaired the ceiling. I said why didn’t you tell me, I would have set you up with one of my guys. He said he didn’t want to bother me. I was ticked. When someone needs HVAC service I tell them do not call Emergency Air and give them my contacts. It sure gives the whole industry a bad name.

 

[Detective D]

I do, and honestly have never heard of that blend. Sounds interesting, and is a lot cheaper than R22. Wondering why none of the wholesale houses around here are pushing it?

Well there ya go. Corner the market and get rich, offer to actually repair stuff more then 5 years old. No one else around here(north of Appleton a ways) is.

 

[hunt2elk]

Well there ya go. Corner the market and get rich, offer to actually repair stuff more then 5 years old. No one else around here(north of Appleton a ways) is.

I for 1 do repair units if the homeowner elects to, or can't afford a new system. Got 3 going last week alone that were 30 years old. And I do apologize for my previous post about not hearing about that new blend.

 

[cr8crshr]

I heard AC is going up again by 18% and now they are changing the freon to 2 different ones. This means now you would have to carry 4 different freons in your truck. What the heck. 1500 square house new system $12,000.

13,000k plus to replace mine last year in August.

High-Efficiency Air Conditioner with Inverter Technology
Up to 24.5 SEER Performance

GVXC20
Original to the house which was built in 2007. I get it that they are an expensive part of the house but come on here!!! The same A/C unit if I bought it cost 6448.00. Add the labor cost and it rose to the 13,000 price tag by the company I used for the fix. That just shows me how out of control these installer/techs are making these days. A ridiculous amount that they charge. Plus they wouldn't do the job unless the unit was provided by them plus a guarantee and warranty for the work!!! The customer has zero control over it and the provider has the upper hand. I also understand that the work must be to code and a pro must do it. Yet when I have to bend over and take it without the benefit of intercourse, then it makes no sense!!! cr8crshr/Bill

 

[cr8crshr]

I have a feeling it will be more than a 18% increase. And on top of that, at the last AL2 meeting I attended, we were told that if you have an older gas water heater in the house, it will also need to be replaced along with the AC system. This is because the new refrigerant blend is slightly flammable.

Had to replace that as well as the A/C only the H2O heater was in April of this year. 4800.00 when the unit I could buy myself, was the same as what was replaced by the Plumber. Again they would not warranty the work if I bought it at the home center. Same unit as the original. In less than a year I shelled out nearly 20,000 to fix/replace these. Glad I had the cash to pay for it without financing both, but my cash stash took a very big hit so now I am slowly filling it back up. Glad I could use some of my Silver Bullion to help out as well...cr8crshr/Bill

 

[cr8crshr]

I do, and honestly have never heard of that blend. Sounds interesting, and is a lot cheaper than R22. Wondering why none of the wholesale houses around here are pushing it?

No need to wonder as they are only out for themselves and want a bigger profit margin over the less expensive options because they can get away with it thanks to the Gov't mandates!!! Basic ripping off of the customer...cr8crshr/Bill

 

[Detective D]

I for 1 do repair units if the homeowner elects to, or can't afford a new system. Got 3 going last week alone that were 30 years old. And I do apologize for my previous post about not hearing about that new blend.

No need to apologize! Well your fellows in the industry don't share your mindset it seems. They do seem to share the notion they have not heard of the coolant.
It's not new though, been on the market since 2013.
Feel free to drop by next time you are in Waupaca county to repair mine! The contractors around here don't want my money it seems like.