Daughters 2011 Carrier air handlers evap coil has a leak, freezing up, low on Freon,

They have one tech who is stating that it has a leak, which we knew about a year ago but had it topped off and it's been good for a year to get by, but now it needs to be dealt with.

Options are

1) Remove coil, AC company 1 will take to shop, fix coil, bench test to confirm leak is repaired, reinstall and fill system with 8 pounds of freon at $145 per pound, including fix. Approx $1300

2) AC company 2 - replace evap coil and refill system 8 pounds at $50 a pound, plus cost of new coil and install. $1600 ish, waiting on final estimate

Net cost will be within a few hundred dollars either way. Would you save a few bucks on a 12 year old system and repair and refill at the higher per pound cost, or, get a new evap coil and fill at a lower cost per pound.

Leaning toward a new coil since the rest of the system is working fine, thinking it's best to dump the leaking old part and taking a chance that in a year it starts leaking again, needs replaced then AND refilled again...

As most leaks are caused by some type of corrosion I would go with a new coil as there is a great chance this coil can develop further leaks.

Yep. If it's only a few hundred in difference, go with the new coil.

New coil.

Just went through this, costly, issue a couple weeks ago.
Pinhole leak that they struggled to consistently locate.

Replaced the coil

Wish my estimate was remotely close to your quote.

At that delta, I'd opt for replacement.

Just a homeowner here but I’d go for the new coil. Corrosion and possible subsequent leaks, not worth the 300 dollar difference.

I’d suppose that the repair would be without any guarantee except the spot they repaired so what happens if by chance it develops another leak in a different spot in a week?

I’m retired and 64 years of age. I retired from the Postal Service as a Building Equipment Mechanic. If you get 10 years of service out of a unit you’re doing pretty good. Now,most people don’t do what I do. Every month I wash the coil,in the summer I do it weekly because we live on a dirt road. I don’t put any chemicals on it I just rinse it off. Even a fine layer of dust on the coil can bring up the the head pressures on your compressor. Keep trees and shrubs away from em too,they suck in all the dirt and debris. Anyway that’s my2 cents.

quote:

’d suppose that the repair would be without any guarantee except the spot they repaired so what happens if by chance it develops another leak in a different spot in a week?

That's the rub, they would take it back, repair and refill, at our cost for the freon....

Interesting that Shop A wants $145 a pound and Shop B $50....

I had a leak in my A/C coil. We charged it up and it did o.k. for 2 years. The parts were still under warranty so I had a new coil installed. I had to pay for labor and Freon= $2K. It is done and life goes on.

What did company #3 & #4 say?

1)old Freon - expensive, bad for environment
2) new Freon- much less expensive, better for environment
That’s price difference. New coil, new Freon.

quote:

Originally posted by SIGfourme:
1)old Freon - expensive, bad for environment
2) new Freon- much less expensive, better for environment
That’s price difference. New coil, new Freon.

True, but company 1 and 2 are pricing the older freon, and it's $100 a pound different between the two.

Nothing from #3 and #4 waiting to see if #2 can get the part to install, have to agree that if we can get the new part it's the way to go to keep the system running vs a replacement unit.

New Evap Coil installed today, took a few days to get the part, they had to repair the drain line outside, looks like it got hit at some time with a shovel, so that's fixed as well.

Hopefully we get our home back tonight as the grandkids move back home and we can get some rest!

Not that it was bad having them here, but they want to get home too!