We have an under three-year-old, 5 ton Lennox unit that recently started blowing warm air. The A/C service guy found the evaporator had iced over. We turned the compressor off for three days to let the evaporator thaw.

When the service guy returned, he turned on the A/C and it worked fine. He said the freon level was good, but the TXV valve needed to be replaced - at a cost of $1600.

Does this sound reasonable? What would cause the valve to go bad after less than three years? The service guy (same company that installed the unit) said moisture in the freon was likely the cause. How does moisture get into a closed system?

We're willing to get it fixed, but want to make sure the problem has been properly diagnosed.

Thanks-

1st. At not even 3 years old if it is the txv it should be under warranty
2nd. 1600 bucks sounds very high not at all reasonable
3rd. I would get a 2nd opinion.
4th. If it has moisture its because the job wasn`t done right the first time,and it shouldn`t have taken 3 years for the problem to pop up
5th. Moisture doesn`t just get into a closed system
6th. Again I would call a different company to look it over,the next time it freezes up

1st. at not even 3 years old if it is the txv it should be under warranty
2nd. 1600 bucks sounds very high not at all reasonable
3rd. I would get a 2nd opinion.
4th. if it has mosture its because the job wasn`t done right the first time,and it shouldn`t have taken 3 years for the problem to pop up
5th. moisture doesn`t just get into a closed system
6th. again I would call a differant company to look it over,the next time it freezes up
The part is under warranty, but not labor. It seems a big chunk of the cost is the replacement freon (which apparently is not considered a "part").

It may have happened before, we just didn't notice it, we don't run the A/C very often. Is there a way to definitively determine the valve is bad?

We have an under three-year-old, 5 ton Lennox unit that recently started blowing warm air. The A/C service guy found the evaporator had iced over. We turned the compressor off for three days to let the evaporator thaw.

When the service guy returned, he turned on the A/C and it worked fine. He said the freon level was good, but the TXV valve needed to be replaced - at a cost of $1600.

Does this sound reasonable? What would cause the valve to go bad after less than three years? The service guy (same company that installed the unit) said moisture in the freon was likely the cause. How does moisture get into a closed system?

We're willing to get it fixed, but want to make sure the problem has been properly diagnosed.

Thanks-

You are being taken for a ride. There should be hardly no refrigerant (Freon) costs since a quality contractor following the EPA regs would recover the refrigerant first before service is performed. All that has to be done is install a drier on the liquid side and use the old refrigerant gas over. There is something really wrong with this picture especially when you are being taken to the cleaners for $1,600.00. BTW the replacement TXV is only 150.00 at the most but I really doubt that it is needed.

Thanks for the responses. I called the service manager of the A/C company who came out, and he had a very casual attitude like "these things just happen", "could be a number reasons", etc.

I'm having another company come out to take a look.

amedad,
I have the same problem, and will go for a 2nd opinion, but my worry is that they will all say the same thing. Hard to get a real trustworthy person who is also knowledgeable.