HVAC Issue

[handieman]

I hope you all saw or read about the resolution the VHA announced in The Daily Sun.

It basicaly says that the devloper has agreed to reimburse the costs of premature line set failures and extend the warranty on this failure. The form to accomplish this is available on www.thevillages.net.

This is an issue that I discovered in 2009 in my patio villa area and with the help of Bill Gotschalk (chair of VHA district 6), gave to the VHA for their assistance in resolving.

It took longer than expected and I lost my patience many times with the progress but I have to applaud the VHA and Mark Morse for stepping up and doing the right thing. My apologies to to the VHA for my impatience. I'm a retired businessman and not used to bureaucratic resolvement of issues.

My favorite answer to people who ask me "how do you like living in The Villages"? is "There is no place else in this world that I would rather be".

Now that this issue is over, I'm looking forward to working with crime watch to eliminate unscrupulous service company's flim flamming homeowners. This is another story for another time.

Good luck to all who obtain reimbursement on the HVAC issue. Maybe the check will be in time for Christmas shopping.

John Wharton AKA Handieman

[Whalen]

Thank you Handie for all the hard work you do on behalf of homeowners.

[Posh 08]

:bigbow:

[PennBF]

It was the VHA who first agreed with the "5 year warranty" and it was not
until the POA became involved that the warranty was extended and the
Developer stepped up to his/her responsibility.
Too many times the work of the POA is hijacked and the VHA takes credit.
This is a fine example of that taking place.
It is the the POA that consistently ONLY looks out for the Property Owner's and does not let a partnership's with the Developer impact what is right for the owner's. Credit where credit is due.:clap2:

[Bill-n-Brillo]

I noted in the article that the warranty coverage for the lineset issues has to be worked through the Villages' Warranty Department, even if your home is beyond the normal new home one-year-warranty timeframe.

I was relieved to hear they're agreeing to stand behind things for 10 years. Five years was great - this gives me even more peace of mind! It's nice to see the developer step up to the plate on these kinds of things.

Bill :)

[Pturner]

Handie, thanks for your efforts and for keeping us informed. Thank you also to all who volunteer their time with VHA and POA.
:bigbow:

Wish I were there to help with the effort to rid us of unscrupulous service providers. Indeed if there is something I can do from afar to help, please PM and let me know.

Sometimes it takes a Village. ;)

[handieman]

The first check is on the way for one of the first AC failures reimbursement resolution. My neighbors are now, once again, enjoying a renewed spirit of living in The Villages. Correction please: the form is available on the VHA website www.thevha.net . Thank you all again for bringing this to a "win win" closure.
Handie
:bigbow:

[Virtual Geezer]

The first check is on the way for one of the first AC failures reimbursement resolution. My neighbors are now, once again, enjoying a renewed spirit of living in The Villages. Correction please: the form is available on the VHA website www.thevha.net . Thank you all again for bringing this to a "win win" closure.
Handie
:bigbow:

Handie
Great effort and thanks for getting involved in something for the betterment of everyone in TV.

Can you please provide some information as to what is done to correct the problem. Is the line just replaced by snaking a replacement line or is the slab dug up to replace the line? I have also heard that the replacement line is run up the side of the house and into the attic and then down to the unit. Do different A/C contractors make the repairs in different ways?

VG

[handieman]

The common repair for homes with the AC compressor behind the home is to run the two copper lines up to the attic from the air handler in the garage and then through the attic to the rear then down down the outside back through a trough, as I call it, down to the compressor.
They may or may not use a matching color for the "trough" and they may or may not pull the old copper lines from beneath the slab. (wonder what it weighs and whats the salvage price of used copper)?
Note the newer patio villas use Carrier vs Trane for AC and the compressor is now located on your patio instead of the rear.
handie

[Russ_Boston]

It was the VHA who first agreed with the "5 year warranty" and it was not
until the POA became involved that the warranty was extended and the
Developer stepped up to his/her responsibility.
Too many times the work of the POA is hijacked and the VHA takes credit.
This is a fine example of that taking place.
It is the the POA that consistently ONLY looks out for the Property Owner's and does not let a partnership's with the Developer impact what is right for the owner's. Credit where credit is due.:clap2:

Without turning this into a political issue could anyone confirm/deny this statement.

As a new homeowner I'd like to know.

Russ

[NJblue]

The common repair for homes with the AC compressor behind the home is to run the two copper lines up to the attic from the air handler in the garage and then through the attic to the rear then down down the outside back through a trough, as I call it, down to the compressor.
They may or may not use a matching color for the "trough" and they may or may not pull the old copper lines from beneath the slab. (wonder what it weighs and whats the salvage price of used copper)?
Note the newer patio villas use Carrier vs Trane for AC and the compressor is now located on your patio instead of the rear.
handie

A word of caution: make sure that the lines through the attic are WELL insulated. I had a Mitsubishi "mini-split" system installed in my lanai. The lines went through the attic and were "normally" insulated. The result was condensation on the lines which caused damage to the sheetrock in the ceiling and adjacent wall. This in turn caused mold to grow. The remedy was to put extra thick insulation around the lines.

[renielarson]

Without turning this into a political issue could anyone confirm/deny this statement.

As a new homeowner I'd like to know.

Russ


Russ,

Here is the POA's website publication of their paper. Go to page 10 to read about their involvement in the case.

http://www.poa4us.org/bulletins_files/bulletin201109.pdf

[JohnN]

I'm pleased it's extended, as it should be.

[Russ_Boston]

Russ,

Here is the POA's website publication of their paper. Go to page 10 to read about their involvement in the case.

http://www.poa4us.org/bulletins_files/bulletin201109.pdf

Thank you!

[handieman]

Without turning this into a political issue could anyone confirm/deny this statement.

As a new homeowner I'd like to know.

Russ

As far as timing is concerned, this statement is true. HOWEVER who, what, or when the "tide" was turned, I have no clue.
Lets take the high road Russ, and think it was a joint effort. I spent many hours with both groups and shared my data with both so they both had equal opportunity
Its a wonderful day in The Villages
Handie

[graciegirl]

bumping this thread about the problems with air conditioners.

[Mark1130]

Thank you Graciegirl for the bump.

[CarGuys]

Careful Russ- In and out remember!

Can't wait to meet up with you friend-

Herv

[Russ_Boston]

Lesson learned Herv - this was from a few months ago before I tempered my stance.