Talk of The Villages Florida - View Single Post - Hvac--questions to help resolve problems
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Old 08-27-2014, 05:34 AM
Papa Cuma Papa Cuma is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lopheim View Post
Original HVAC installed in 2002. Yearly maintenance service indicated low coolant. Told it will take 4-5 lbs at $70/lb and could leak out very quickly, as there is high probability of a leak somewhere. We keep air around 78-79 degrees in house and unit seems to be cooling okay (maybe running a bit longer). Should we invest in new unit or wait until this one fails and then purchase?

Unless your unit was undercharged from it's initial installation you do in fact have a leak. There are several methods that can be used to find the leak. Any good tech can visually spot a leak ( oil trail ) if the leak is substantial. Another would be electronic detection, would take no more than an hour ( assuming the leak source is not under your slab ) Cost of this service including recovery and recharge of the unit would be minimal compared to installing new equipment. But of course everything I mentioned hinges on the quality and proficiency of the technician.
I am a professional HVAC tech with no dog in this fight.