[mtdjed]

Have a neighbor who called one of The Villages larger Air Conditioner installers for a yearly checkup. Don't know how much neighbor paid for the checkup. However, neighbor was told by service rep that Capacitor readings indicate that a new capacitor was likely needed before current capacitor failed. A price of $225 was verbally quoted.

I know that a capacitor costs between $10 to $20. If service rep was reading Capacitor, he already had the panel off. That meant he had to simply, disconnect power, discharge capacitor (Screwdriver between contacts), remove one bracket screw, disconnect 3 wires, remove old capacitor and simply install new capacitor. You can replace capacitor in about same time as it takes to check capacitor readings.

Since capacitors are one of the most frequent items to fail, are inexpensive and easy to replace, why don't we as the customers expect or force this abuse to stop.

Check UTUBE

[Topspinmo]

All about up charge. Most won’t fool with 220V so they just pay.

[biker1]

How are you going to force a change? This is a lucrative, high margin service. I preemptively change mine every 3 years for $20. Despite what some may claim, electrocution is not an issue if you pull the quick disconnect and short across the three terminals, as you pointed out. You do need to match the capacitance (two numbers; for the fan and compressor) and voltage when buying a replacement. Another thing you can do to avoid a service charge is periodically blow out the condensate drain.

Originally Posted by mtdjed

Have a neighbor who called one of The Villages larger Air Conditioner installers for a yearly checkup. Don't know how much neighbor paid for the checkup. However, neighbor was told by service rep that Capacitor readings indicate that a new capacitor was likely needed before current capacitor failed. A price of $225 was verbally quoted.

I know that a capacitor costs between $10 to $20. If service rep was reading Capacitor, he already had the panel off. That meant he had to simply, disconnect power, discharge capacitor (Screwdriver between contacts), remove one bracket screw, disconnect 3 wires, remove old capacitor and simply install new capacitor. You can replace capacitor in about same time as it takes to check capacitor readings.

Since capacitors are one of the most frequent items to fail, are inexpensive and easy to replace, why don't we as the customers expect or force this abuse to stop.

Check UTUBE

[retiredguy123]

I don't pay for annual AC checkups. The technician cannot tell you when the capacitor will fail, but if they are doing regular checkups, it should provide for periodic capacitor replacements, but they almost never do. The things they do does nothing to extend the life of your system or to prevent a failure. It is just a money maker for the company. To me, charging $225 to replace a capacitor during a regular checkup is a double charge and outrageous.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by mtdjed

Have a neighbor who called one of The Villages larger Air Conditioner installers for a yearly checkup. Don't know how much neighbor paid for the checkup. However, neighbor was told by service rep that Capacitor readings indicate that a new capacitor was likely needed before current capacitor failed. A price of $225 was verbally quoted.

I know that a capacitor costs between $10 to $20. If service rep was reading Capacitor, he already had the panel off. That meant he had to simply, disconnect power, discharge capacitor (Screwdriver between contacts), remove one bracket screw, disconnect 3 wires, remove old capacitor and simply install new capacitor. You can replace capacitor in about same time as it takes to check capacitor readings.

Since capacitors are one of the most frequent items to fail, are inexpensive and easy to replace, why don't we as the customers expect or force this abuse to stop.

Check UTUBE

Seems easy enough and cheap enough to do yourself. I did. But…

- Make sure you order the correct capacitor. A mistake could be expensive.
- Order it soon so the A/C doesn’t fail while you are waiting
- Be extremely careful while replacing it. These mistakes you only get to make once.

OR… Pay the experienced professional to get the correct part out of his truck and replace it on the spot.

Is it abuse or is it fair market price a convenient, quick, safe, professional repair?

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I don't pay for annual AC checkups. The technician cannot tell you when the capacitor will fail, but if they are doing regular checkups, it should provide for periodic capacitor replacements, but they almost never do. The things they do does nothing to extend the life of your system or to prevent a failure. It is just a money maker for the company. To me, charging $225 to replace a capacitor during a regular checkup is a double charge and outrageous.

You *can* measure the capacitor to see if it is beginning to degraded. You can’t tell when it will fail but you can tell that it is no longer operating at full capacity.

[retiredguy123]

I don't have a problem with the $225 charge to replace a capacitor on a unit that has failed. But, to visit the house for a scheduled annual checkup, and to want $225 to replace a capacitor that has not failed, and to also charge the customer for the annual checkup is not appropriate. If you are visiting the house annually for preventive maintenance, capacitor replacements should already be included.

[shut the front door]

Originally Posted by mtdjed

Have a neighbor who called one of The Villages larger Air Conditioner installers for a yearly checkup. Don't know how much neighbor paid for the checkup. However, neighbor was told by service rep that Capacitor readings indicate that a new capacitor was likely needed before current capacitor failed. A price of $225 was verbally quoted.

I know that a capacitor costs between $10 to $20. If service rep was reading Capacitor, he already had the panel off. That meant he had to simply, disconnect power, discharge capacitor (Screwdriver between contacts), remove one bracket screw, disconnect 3 wires, remove old capacitor and simply install new capacitor. You can replace capacitor in about same time as it takes to check capacitor readings.

Since capacitors are one of the most frequent items to fail, are inexpensive and easy to replace, why don't we as the customers expect or force this abuse to stop.

Check UTUBE

Probably for the same reason that so many use a certain HVAC company that charges 2-3 times the "munny" than other companies.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by mtdjed

Have a neighbor who called one of The Villages larger Air Conditioner installers for a yearly checkup. Don't know how much neighbor paid for the checkup. However, neighbor was told by service rep that Capacitor readings indicate that a new capacitor was likely needed before current capacitor failed. A price of $225 was verbally quoted.

I know that a capacitor costs between $10 to $20. If service rep was reading Capacitor, he already had the panel off. That meant he had to simply, disconnect power, discharge capacitor (Screwdriver between contacts), remove one bracket screw, disconnect 3 wires, remove old capacitor and simply install new capacitor. You can replace capacitor in about same time as it takes to check capacitor readings.

Since capacitors are one of the most frequent items to fail, are inexpensive and easy to replace, why don't we as the customers expect or force this abuse to stop.

Check UTUBE

I would like to know how many capacitors has that service rep replaced within the past week for $225, and how is the customer supposed to know if they really needed to be replaced?

[mtdjed]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I don't have a problem with the $225 charge to replace a capacitor on a unit that has failed. But, to visit the house for a scheduled annual checkup, and to want $225 to replace a capacitor that has not failed, and to also charge the customer for the annual checkup is not appropriate. If you are visiting the house annually for preventive maintenance, capacitor replacements should already be included.

That is exactly what my reason for starting this forum. The Villages has 150,000 people, most of whom haves no HVAC knowledge. Many of our contractors abuse that position. It is said that one of the most common AC problems are from Capacitor issues. Most of us simply wait until we have an AC issue. Then we call the HVAC expert to diagnose and fix the problem.

It is warm season and you have the thermostat set at 75 degrees. Then one day you notice that AC is on but temp exceeds setting. Gradually temp rises to uncomfortable. What to do? Call trusty AC company. They come and check Temp and setting. They check internal fan and it is working. They go to outdoor fan and compressor and that is buzzing or not running. Most likely a capacitor change. Spend 10 minutes to change out $15 capacitor and you are happy to get cool air. They charge you $200+ and you may even tip them.

Waiting for first HVAC company to step up and offer guarantee that checkup includes replacement of capacitor or free Capacitor replacement if failure within 1 year.

The current routine is a scam.

[star20166@yahoo.com]

or learn to do for themselves

[rsmurano]

Who was the company? It would help all of us. I actually have my system maintained 2x a year, right before the heating season and in the fall.

[Ellwoodrick]

Scam artists are Every ware!

When we first bought our home in TV (the Villages) I got a cold call from a HVAC (Furnace and Air Conditioning system) contractor offering a low cost $39.00 checkup of our system. Ok, I said, I would like to get a local guy and not a big Chane Shop. He went through his routine. I had already changed the Hepa filter. He had blown out the condensation drain. Went to the compressor and checked pressures as I watched. Then he went back to the Gas Furnace itself. He opened the inside up and put a meter he called a Megger on the wiring inside. He then proceeded to show me how the furnace was showing a very low reading and by his indications was going to fail. He indicated that the furnace and AC system need to be changed. He even told me he wrote a book on how to test systems this way.

It was then I told him back in the day I worked as an Industrial Electrician for 10 years. That I had gone to a Vocational High School with a background in Industrial Electricity. I also explained that I worked for an Electrical Testing Company as a field Engineer doing testing and documentation for the NRC in a Nuclear Power Plant during the final 14 months of construction. I proceeded to explain that I have used the type of meter (Megger) in the past and was very familiar with the protocols necessary to produce the needed results. I then said do you really want to stick to that story? He never missed a beat and tried to tell me the entire system needed changed. What I should have done was reported his attempt at fraud but I did not. I paid his fee, $39.00 and told him to go that I did not need his service. What a Con Artist. I feel sorry for those who don’t ask for a second opinion or are trusting and get taken advantage of.

[elle123]

Originally Posted by mtdjed

That is exactly what my reason for starting this forum. The Villages has 150,000 people, most of whom haves no HVAC knowledge. Many of our contractors abuse that position. It is said that one of the most common AC problems are from Capacitor issues. Most of us simply wait until we have an AC issue. Then we call the HVAC expert to diagnose and fix the problem.

It is warm season and you have the thermostat set at 75 degrees. Then one day you notice that AC is on but temp exceeds setting. Gradually temp rises to uncomfortable. What to do? Call trusty AC company. They come and check Temp and setting. They check internal fan and it is working. They go to outdoor fan and compressor and that is buzzing or not running. Most likely a capacitor change. Spend 10 minutes to change out $15 capacitor and you are happy to get cool air. They charge you $200+ and you may even tip them.

Waiting for first HVAC company to step up and offer guarantee that checkup includes replacement of capacitor or free Capacitor replacement if failure within 1 year.

The current routine is a scam.

I'll add it to the list of already "existing scams" by every business which currently services my property.

[La lamy]

Originally Posted by mtdjed

Have a neighbor who called one of The Villages larger Air Conditioner installers for a yearly checkup. Don't know how much neighbor paid for the checkup. However, neighbor was told by service rep that Capacitor readings indicate that a new capacitor was likely needed before current capacitor failed. A price of $225 was verbally quoted.

I know that a capacitor costs between $10 to $20. If service rep was reading Capacitor, he already had the panel off. That meant he had to simply, disconnect power, discharge capacitor (Screwdriver between contacts), remove one bracket screw, disconnect 3 wires, remove old capacitor and simply install new capacitor. You can replace capacitor in about same time as it takes to check capacitor readings.

Since capacitors are one of the most frequent items to fail, are inexpensive and easy to replace, why don't we as the customers expect or force this abuse to stop.

Check UTUBE

I had a tepid air issue where my HVAC worked perfectly fine except for the heater blowing lukewarm air all of a sudden. Tech guy decides to change the capacitor without even telling me and charged me $250. It of course did nothing to fix my problem but they told me to wait for hours before the heat would work. WTF!!!!!! I sent them a text saying we ALL know the capacitor had nothing to do with my issue and that I was VERY DISAPPOINTED with that visit. Next day they taped my check to my door. Good for their karma!!!

My issue was a disconnected duct under my house, which I fixed myself.

The moral of the story: educate yourself and let people know you are not a fool when they're trying to scam you.