I have a Frigidaire FA5186N2A A/C unit. It is just shy of 5 years old. It crapped out on me for the second time last weekend. I have a 5 year extended warranty which will expire soon.

The first time it crapped out, the serviceman said it was losing coolant. He recharged it and it was working OK. Then a few weeks ago, it started icing up and I could hear crashing inside when the ice broke up. And then it stopped blowing cold air this weekend.

I have a service call scheduled for next week (still under the warranty).

My question is mainly should I renew the warranty? It will cost about $175 for 3 more years. Or should I just put the money towards a new machine. This is a high powered machine (I think its 18K BTUs) and runs off a 220 volt dedicated circuit. So my replacement options are limited (I did some quick pricing and I'm looking at $400-$500 for a new unit).

I'm also wondering what might be wrong and what should I tell the serviceman to check.

For my money I'd go with the next 3 year warranty price of $175. That's not bad for a 3 year warranty. Then in the meantime save up and get a better model when the 3 years are up. If the warranty includes parts and free labor, I'd say go for it.

$175.00 probably won`t pay for even one service call if/when something goes wrong
I`m sure you meant 4 to 5 thousand for replacement not hundred
The 175 dollars for 3 years is a good deal

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Originally Posted by wmproop

$175.00 probably won`t pay for even one service call if/when something goes wrong
I`m sure you meant 4 to 5 thousand for replacement not hundred
the 175 dollars for 3 years is a good deal

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No, I meant hundred. This is a through the wall room unit, not a central A/C unit. But thanks, looks like going for a renewal is a good idea.

Bump!

Any other input?

Hope I'm not too late.
A new 18,000 BTU for $400-500 sounds cheap to me (not sure these days), and that means high amps. I learned years ago that low amps works out to a huge savings in electric bills, despite higher investment, and they seem to be better made too. I had to have 6.5 amps max where I lived at the time, and the cheapo units were about 12 amps.

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Originally Posted by joypulv

Hope I'm not too late.
A new 18,000 BTU for $400-500 sounds cheap to me (not sure these days), and that means high amps. I learned years ago that low amps works out to a huge savings in electric bills, despite higher investment, and they seem to be better made too. I had to have 6.5 amps max where I lived at the time, and the cheapo units were about 12 amps.

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I'll double check that. Right now the unit is in the shop. I'm not expecting it back for a couple of weeks, because Neither my wife nor I can take off any more time which means I have to arrange for a Saturday delivery. I'm pretty much decided on renewing the service contract. just haven't decided for how long.

Scott, I'd go with renewing the contract, that's a good warranty price. How old is the machine now BTW?

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Originally Posted by ballengerb1

Scott, I'd go with renewing the contract, thats a good warranty price. How old is the machine now BTW?

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Its only 5 years, which is pretty young for a unit like this.

So by my calc that gives you at least 8 years of AC for under $600 total investment. Not bad

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Originally Posted by ballengerb1

So by my calc that gives you at least 8 years of AC for under $600 total investment. Not bad

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Your calc is off. The unit originally cost me $800 in 2007. Similar units are now about $400-$500. But 8 years for under $1K is not bad.

My bad, thought you paid $400 initially

In case anyone is interested, I got the unit back today and it seems to be working well. And I did opt for the 3 yr extension.