I have a home with three central AC units and a gas furnace heating. Unbelievably all three ac's did not cool on the same day. Tech came over and said all out of gas--cost 700. He said I needed new units.

One guy siad to get heat pumps and was promoting carrier and Trane. Said heat pump was the way to go.

What do you think?

I find it hard to believe all 3 units were out of refrigerant at the same time.

Heat pumps will save you $$ during the heating season.

Unless some where going out before and you just waited for them all to go out, perhaps worth paying for a seond company to come out and give a estimate.

Heat pumps saved me a lot over regular costs, esp on the heating

You know what they say about heat pumps, location,location location. If you live in the north a air to air heat pump won't work. If you live in the mid south rock and roll with the heat pump it will pay for its self.

Most companies will give you a second opinion free of charge.
I am wondering how the $700.00 in charges were broken down.
If he charged $12 a pound for freon that would be for 50 lbs for freon and still leave $100.00 for labor.

I don't know what you boys charge for R-22 there but here it's going for $40 & $45 a pound. We're at $30 ourselves. It's getting crazy out here!

I doubt all of the units were out of gas as well. Sounds like a con/sales spiel. Get a 2nd opinion. What the one guy said about north and south is exactly right. Depends where you live.

I don't know what you boys charge for R-22 there but here it's going for $40 & $45 a pound


That sir is a ripoff. Cost per 30 pound cylinder here is 150.00 which works out to 5.00 per pound cost.

I really hate when people take advantage of customers. It gives the HVAC industry a bad name. No wonder people come here to ask questions. They are all afraid of being ripped off by the local hacks.

The market is what it is and that's the market here whether you agree or not. That's why we charge $30. When one is too far out of market, nobody buys suspecting something is up. Fact.

Your comments might explain why I read about so many shops back east that don't make any money and more come and go than are able to stay alive. When freon was $60 a jug we charged $15 and were below our competitors then.

The HVAC industry has had a bad reputation since it started. All we can do is try to be as reasonable as we can be, as good as we can be and keep the bills paid.

I feel guilty for charging 12 per lb,, knowing I will have to replace my freon when it runs out is the only reason I`m that high,, I have to sleep with myself at night at 30 $ a lb. I couldn`t deal with myself

Well, you would here or you'd go out of business over it.

Its not bad to make a profit, but man that's not right to sale at that price. We make a good profit selling it at $16 a pound. And we wonder why gas is high and gripe about it.

If you guys think that $30 & $40 a # for R-22 is bad, we're seeing shops get $70 & $75 a # for R-410a. Whatta you think of that?

Crazy...

Taking advantage of the consumer!!

Jimbria, I believe it is highly unlikely that all three units would be out of refrigerant , low is a possible if they were installed poorly. Please get a second opinion for your pocket books sake. You did not say if you were on natural gas or propane, I might agree if you are on propane but in most areas natural gas heating is the most efficient form of heating your home and the most comfortable.
If you are out of refrigerant in all three systems the most important thing is to find a reputable dealer who will inspect your systems and tell you where the leaks are and if they are repairable(some are not monatarily worth fixing) He will explain the cost differences and long term advantages, then you can make an informed decision.
The leaks need to be found and repaired or you are throwing your money away. Good luck, Mike

My small 37 man corporation used to mark up refrigerant 3X. That would make it 15.00 a pound today. We also used a scale for topping off so we charged for the exact amount used.

Naturally the refrigerant like RB-13 and other special FDA stuff we marked up 4X. It was used in cascade systems if you know what they are. EPA and FDA used some really wild refrigerants. They were always testing something special.

I am sorry but I made a boat load of $$$ with my corporation and while I am retired they are still in business and doing very well while not ripping off the customers.

Many HVAC businesses went under over the years in this area especially the crooks but by charging fair prices we kept the customers happy and never were slow. One other thing I am proud of is the corporation or myself never had to go to court to defend ourselves from a lawsuit. That is because we did the right thing from the start and never had to look over our shoulders.

R-22 sales are down since it is the law that you recover. Unless it is burnt you just put it back in the machine through a filter.

There is a bad side to heat pumps remove the front panel and you can find mold growing.
Where can you find R22 at 150.00 its going over 200.00 Memphis TN.

I have a home with three central AC units and a gas furnace heating. Unbelievably all threee ac's did not cool on the same day. tech came over and said all out of gas--cost 700. He said I needed new units.

One guy siad to get heat pumps and was promoting carrier and Trane. Said heat pump was the way to go.

What do you think?
There is a bad side to heat pumps remove the front panel and you can find mold growing.

Grainger has some. Just got a quote for the university the other week. $156.66 30 pound. Now we do get a special price since it is for education purposes.