SavvyCat
Member
- Joined
- Jan 4, 2009
- Messages
- 133
- Reaction score
- 13
I'm afraid to call an HVAC company because I won't know if I'm going to be bamboozled or not. The last time I had one out for a system tune-up, I forgot to keep an eye on him and I don't know if that $200 capacitor replacement was legit.
As some of you know, we had a massive heatwave in north Texas. I don't know if it was just the oppressive heat being too much for any a/c unit, or just too much for mine. I had my thermostat programmed to 85 degrees during the day so it wouldn't get too hot to cool off, and then changing to 78 degrees 45 minutes before I would get home. The thing is that it could never pull off the 78 degrees. Not until after the sun went down. It would hit 80 or 81 and stay on the whole evening, or shut off at 80 degrees to regroup and try again. I had it set for 74 degrees at 10:15 for bed, and it could manage it, so it's not like it's totally broken.
Here is my concern: The 3-ton air handler was replaced when I bought the house, so that's just over two years old. The condenser is original for all I know. The house was built in 1982. One person gave me a heads-up that the new handler was probably charged with R22 because of the condenser, and that they have now stopped making R22 condensers. Am I screwed? If I try to replace this unit because it's just not good enough anymore, are the R22s still around? Will I have to replace an essentially new air handler? Or were they anticipating the refrigerant switch and the air handler can convert to R410a? It's a Goodman ARUF364216. Would it be really stupid to get an R22 condenser just to avoid converting the handler?
Help, help, and more help! Before I place that call, I need a better education than the one I have. I need to know what I need, the best to get, and the most cost-effective approach.
Many thanks!
As some of you know, we had a massive heatwave in north Texas. I don't know if it was just the oppressive heat being too much for any a/c unit, or just too much for mine. I had my thermostat programmed to 85 degrees during the day so it wouldn't get too hot to cool off, and then changing to 78 degrees 45 minutes before I would get home. The thing is that it could never pull off the 78 degrees. Not until after the sun went down. It would hit 80 or 81 and stay on the whole evening, or shut off at 80 degrees to regroup and try again. I had it set for 74 degrees at 10:15 for bed, and it could manage it, so it's not like it's totally broken.
Here is my concern: The 3-ton air handler was replaced when I bought the house, so that's just over two years old. The condenser is original for all I know. The house was built in 1982. One person gave me a heads-up that the new handler was probably charged with R22 because of the condenser, and that they have now stopped making R22 condensers. Am I screwed? If I try to replace this unit because it's just not good enough anymore, are the R22s still around? Will I have to replace an essentially new air handler? Or were they anticipating the refrigerant switch and the air handler can convert to R410a? It's a Goodman ARUF364216. Would it be really stupid to get an R22 condenser just to avoid converting the handler?
Help, help, and more help! Before I place that call, I need a better education than the one I have. I need to know what I need, the best to get, and the most cost-effective approach.
Many thanks!