Ask Me Help Desk - Grounded condenser?

Hi every one.I have a problem I live in Las Vegas and my 3 tons central cooling system stop (10 yrs old).One of the contractor told me that condenser is grounded,and to repair that it will cost me $3,500 or replace the whole unit will cost me $ 7,300 (410A) and $5,300 (R22). My question is which one you recommend among the 3 ? And is that normal that condenser is grounded? Thanks in advance for your reply. Especially HVAC 1000 I always read your comment and advice.

Thanks again,

Therdy64

The condenser is probably not grounded out but the compressor (heart of the unit) is grounded out. While it is just a play on words accuracy is always best.

For 3500.00 you are probably just getting the compressor replaced and at that price you have to be getting ripped off. The compressor (tin can as they are sometimes called in the trade) for a 3 ton unit should cost the dealer no more than 500.00 and now if they add a suction line filter and a liquid line filter to the mix there is another 100.00. Now they are at 600.00 plus some refrigerant and silver brazing alloy and some nitrogen if they use it for brazing (PS they should but many do not) so say that stuff comes to 100.00. Now they have about 700.00 in materials for a 3500.00 job. Damn I would do those all day and be rich.

When they talk about the whole unit I assume that is the inside furnace or air handler plus the outside unit and a new copper line set. The R-22 unit is the best deal if they are going to replace all the parts and pieces I mentioned BUT to me it is still to high at 5,300.00.

I would start by getting at least 2 more estimates because the one you have just does not seem correct for what they are doing.

Also would you please post exactly what kind of complete system you have. IE gas furnace/heat pump/etc. Then is it a split system with one piece outside and one piece inside?

I know it is hot but dang those prices seem high to me unless they are giving you a quote for the best complete system available and even then I would question the price. See the file below about picking out a contractor it has some interesting points. One last item. Prices change from area to area but in my area those prices are way to high.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hvac1000

The condenser is probably not grounded out but the compressor (heart of the unit) is grounded out. While it is just a play on words accuracy is always best.

For 3500.00 you are probably just getting the compressor replaced and at that price you have to be getting ripped off. The compressor (tin can as they are sometimes called in the trade) for a 3 ton unit should cost the dealer no more than 500.00 and now if they add a suction line filter and a liquid line filter to the mix there is another 100.00. Now they are at 600.00 plus some refrigerant and silver brazing alloy and some nitrogen if they use it for brazing (PS they should but many do not) so say that stuff comes to 100.00. Now they have about 700.00 in materials for a 3500.00 job. Damn I would do those all day and be rich.

When they talk about the whole unit I assume that is the inside furnace or air handler plus the outside unit and a new copper line set. The R-22 unit is the best deal if they are going to replace all the parts and pieces I mentioned BUT to me it is still to high at 5,300.00.

I would start by getting at least 2 more estimates because the one you have just does not seem correct for what they are doing.

Also would you please post exactly what kind of complete system you have. IE gas furnace/heat pump/etc. Then is it a split system with one piece outside and one piece inside?

I know it is hot but dang those prices seem high to me unless they are giving you a quote for the best complete system available and even then I would question the price. See the file below about picking out a contractor it has some interesting points. One last item. Prices change from area to area but in my area those prices are way to high.

HVAC 1000 first of all thanks for your quick reply. For what I know my AC is York 3 ton (not sure the model but probably 8 seer that's what he said) ground installed (outside) gas furnace yes this is split system 1 inn 1 out. HVAC in this package how much is fair for charge? Thanks.

Oh yeah one thing our house is 2 story one each AC same brand (York) the one is broken is in the 2nd floor and it has 1290 sq ft. is 3 ton enough for that size?

Fair is hard to say exactly since cost differ from region to region that is why I mentioned to get two other bids.

Guess

Compressor replacement 1800.00 MAX 700.00 parts plus markup goes to 1100.00 and a very good paying 700.00 labor. It is a three hour job with smoke and coffee breaks.

I have no idea about the systems. Furnace sizes have different costs and so do brand names so it would really be a wild guess.

Three ton?? Has three ton worked before? Actually a manual J for unit sizing should be done to know for sure. If I were going to put all new equipment in my home a manual J would definitely be used so I would know exactly what the load requirements are. It changes with window sizes/facing direction towards sun/room sizes etc.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hvac1000

three ton??? Has three ton worked before? Actually a manual J for unit sizing should be done to know for sure. If I were going to put all new equipment in my home a manual J would definately be used so I would know exactly what the load requirements are. It changes with window sizes/facing direction towards sun/room sizes etc.

Yup 3 ton (1 for the first floor and fro the second floor is the old AC is that too much load for the size or too small for the size of the room? About 8 windows 3 rooms 2 bath on second floor (1,290 SQ FT) But for almost 10 years it works, it was installed for the developer when I bought the house

On a ten year old unit I would switch out the unit. At least the condenser...
Keep in mind changing the compressor will get you a one year warranty. A new unit somewhere between 5 to 10 years.
Also changing the compressor out they will also be adding new r22. I am doing a changeout on Tuesday for a three ton and the cost for compressor, capacitor, liquid line drier, r22 and labor is going to be about $1500. Granted I live in pa, but even when I worked in phoenix it would have run about that.