Owning a home is exhausting when you combine it with being nearly criminally "frugal".
I'm sick of having to distrust everyone so that I have to read up on crap just to know that I'm not getting ripped off.
The compressor in our condensing unit...the box with the fab outside...burned out. 20 years old, so I don't begrudge it the right to die. That's reasonable, ESPECIALLY in MS where we use these things almost year around and 24/7 in the summer.
I was quoted $3400 to replace just the compressor, which turns out to be a scare tactic IMO. "At this point you might as well but the whole thing." That line usually sets off alarms in my head. $4500 for the entire unit. Not furnace and coil unit, just the condenser unit outside.
I'm still waiting for a guy to come around for another quote, but I'm finding a compressor just like our 20 year old one for $450!! WTF! Add a couple hours labor, some liquid gold R22 refrigerant and this should be a $1000 job.
Oh, and I found every other 3.5 ton unit (while thing) for $1200! Far from $4500 even after adding labor etc.

Makes me sick. Now I have to see if I can find someone honest out there. It also tells me we probably got ripped off a few years ago when we got the furnace and coils replaced. It was in the heat of the summer and no time to do it properly and shop. You're lucky to get anyone fast then.

/rant

If it's 20 years old I would replace it, a new modern more efficient unit will pay for the difference in energy savings over a few years.

And I'm a real cheapskate too

Don't forget to add the cost of disposal, freon and CFC needs to be removed before any condensor replacement can commence.

Air Conditioner ??? What does that do ??? Ice in the puddles this morning

The thing is that...IMO...they inflated the cost of the repair to push me into replacing. The compressor is the heart of the thing. I'm seeing the same that's in there for $450. Even with labor, R22 (the old expensive refrigerant) it's still a FAR cry from $3300.
Also new systems this size are about $1200, $2500 for a Lennox they quoted me at $4300, installed in 2-3 hours.
I expect a markup on parts etc, 10-20%, but not to pay 3-4 times the cost over all.

Units here have to meet a higher efficiency rating than other parts of the country due to the intense usage. ANYTHING we buy will be more efficient than we have now, even just the part for a repair.

I highly doubt that a new compressor, even an updated design more efficient compressor, will increase your efficiency much at all if installed into an old system with an old condenser etc,.

I can live with that. LOL

replace the whole outside unit if that thing is 20 yrs old otherwise not cost effective - you can expect to pay about $3000 per outside unit for 3.5 ton unit

How so if the unit runs about $1200? 2-3 hrs to install, 7-8 lbs of the new cheaper refrigerant...
Didn't get anyone out today, but should tomorrow for comparison estimates.

We just replaced our unit completely and it was about $4000--but that included the FURNACE too, not just the air conditioner, as well as some ducting work that had to be done to meet our silly code.

Also be advised that the R22 refrigerant is old and is being replaced by a new one (R-410A). EPA says no more production of it by 2020--right now this year it costs $90/lb (in Chicago) next year it will cost $180/lb, and the years after that it will be even higher. I have a medium sized house and with the old unit it took 3 lbs of R22 to cool it and though our summers are hot, I'm sure it's not as consistently hot as yours. So you may be able to replace the condensor, but you will most likely still be using the R22 through its last years where it will cost more, then have to replace the unit altogether anyway when R22 supplies run out or the price of it becomes way too high.

Keep that in mind...

v6,
boNes

LOL


Without A/C in Florida you'd die in about an hour.

It is a wunder that anyone survived to live and breed in the tropics.

Hi.

Try the HomeAdvisor app on your phone (from the app store). It is free and you get 3 quotes in seconds. You also get a phone call from the top 3 businesses pretty much within 10 minutes. They are paying for the service, so they are often willing to do the job for a bit less.

With some jobs, they want it to be worth their time - other times people are just trying to take advantage of you. I wanted to change my spa air blower, and the cheapest price I found was $600. The blower itself is $150 and it is a 3 wire install - so a 30-60 minute job.
I ended up doing it myself and saved $450!

Good luck!
Juggernaut

Keeping a 20+ year old AC (assuming it was actually used) working is money down the toilet.

Kryptonite, I would replace the unit, the whole thing. New condenser, new heat, new cooling agent which means it works at higher pressures.
Besides the EER improvements, you want no leaks in old fittings, or in old heating system,( CO, and CO2 leaks can kill) or the expense of old refrigerant.
Much more efficiency in newer units. Clean or replace old ducts if they are that old too. Yes, add a carbon monoxide detector in the living area. An old A/C man.

The outside unit is pushing 20, age of the house, but the coils and furnace we replaced 6 years ago. CO/explosive gas detector taken care of, seperate from smoke detectors.
The real issue is why the cost either way comes in 3 times the cost of the unit, if not more. Seems like its taking adventage of people in a tight spot.

Because sometimes (often) the cost of keeping old things alive is more expensive than simply replacing them.

"Being Cheap" (often) gets really expensive in the long run.....

You’re still missing my point, the same issue applied with replacing the unit.
...as I verified with the guy that came by yesterday. He’s local, so has more invested in being honest, answered my questions and gave me an itemized estimate instead of just a total.
He’ replacing the entire unit for $700 less than the first company would charge for just a repair, $2000 less than they were going to charge to replace the unit...and with a more efficient unit. I never told him about the first company or their estimates, so he didn’t lowball to get the job.

It pays to know when someone is trying to play you. It helps you recognize the honest guys too. Clearly it saves a crapload of money. I’m happy again, faith in humanity somewhat restored. No need to accept getting cheated, that’s not the same as being cheap.

Had the same kind of thing happen with my car recently.

It was diagnosed as a bad drivers side front strut and they want $900 to fix it. I found the complete strut online for $150 and thought I'd better get another estimate. Went to someone a friend used and he said he'd do BOTH front struts for $500!

Bottom line, I bought some tools/jack stands and replaced the upper motor mount myself for half the cost including tools and 75% of the problem is solve. The struts are not critical and can wait till spring at least. My almost 23 yr old car runs so smooth now it's amazing. I now should be able to do them both myself for under $300.

Live and learn.. and yay YouTube car repair vids.

I hear ya! I once had a dealership try to convince me I needed a new clutch when all it needed was a slave cylinder, under warranty at that. I called them on it and the story magically changed.