[Elcmax]

Yesterday, my technician diagnosed my Goodman 2.5 Ton 14 Seer outdoor AC unit is leaking refrigerant. Missed the 5 year warranty by 10 days! Indoor furnace was also installed at the same date five years ago. Questions:
1. Repair or replace AC unit?
2. If replace AC, should I also replace both AC and furnace?
3. AND Services reviews?
4. Getting quotes next week from Home Depot, Lowes, Farrell, and Kalos. Advice on which contractor to go with (also AND who services Sumter County)?
5. Replace with Goodman or a different brand?

Thanks for your input!

[Toymeister]

I take it that the technician who diagnosed the problem also was ready to replace it. Most firms offer incentives for techs to sell new equipment.

Interesting that a sealed system suddenly developed a leak. Why did you have it serviced? There are few serviceable parts, effectively, (relay and capacitor), no lubrication points. Just exterior coils to clean which you can do with a garden hose.


So I would get another opinion if it is bad. If so I would repair. No, I would not replace any extra parts. You will get over five (likely 7-8) from the rest of the system. The SEER rating is reasonable.

Goodman also makes Amana, nothing wrong with them.

At the risk of sounding smarty pants, I wouldn't have a unit 'serviced' unless it is actually broken. I would identify and purchase a spare capacitor (Amazon) and have it ready when the unit goes down. YouTube has videos. Anyone, macho man or petite female can do this, no strength or high diagnosis skills are required. Or just save the 89.00 for several 'service calls' for replacement of the capacitor when it fails (300.00).

[valuemkt]

Goodman is a low end HVAC often used in apartment complexes and entry level housing. If your unit has been diagnosed by a competent repairman as needing something other than a nominal repair, I wouldnt waste my money on it and would replace with a name brand like Carrier or TRANE. Just my opinion

[Topspinmo]

Only 5 years old? I maybe smell snow job. Arn’t there ways of finding leak?

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by valuemkt

Goodman is a low end HVAC often used in apartment complexes and entry level housing. If your unit has been diagnosed by a competent repairman as needing something other than a nominal repair, I wouldnt waste my money on it and would replace with a name brand like Carrier or TRANE. Just my opinion

On contrary Goodman same as trane.

Googled; The Goodman system is the same as Trane where one can buy it piece by piece. It is always recommended with high SEER equipment that matching equipment is installed. This means the air handler should be matched to the condenser to get the rated efficiency levels listed on the equipment.

[retiredguy123]

Regarding your No. 2, you would usually replace both the condenser (outside unit) and the furnace. Are you certain that the leak is in the outside unit? The refrigerant is in a closed system that runs through the condenser coil and through the evaporator coil (furnace) and the two coils are connected by copper piping underground. Technicians often don't know where the leak is, so they just add refrigerant and hope it lasts awhile. If the leak location is known, it should be repairable. But, replacing just the outside unit means that you will probably have no system warranty because everything is connected and operates together.

[Elcmax]

Thank you!

[karostay]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

On contrary Goodman same as trane.

Googled; The Goodman system is the same as Trane where one can buy it piece by piece. It is always recommended with high SEER equipment that matching equipment is installed. This means the air handler should be matched to the condenser to get the rated efficiency levels listed on the equipment.

There all designed to fail it's engineering fact
When you were a kid growing up remember the ugly fridge
our parents and grand parents had in garage or basement
you couldn't kill em They rusted to death

[retiredguy123]

Note that if you buy a system from Home Depot or Lowes, you don't know who will install it. But, it won't be one of the better companies, because they have plenty of business and are not going to share their profit with anyone. I would consider adding Munn's to your list. They may be more expensive but they are available for repairs every day, and after hours. If I had to replace my system, I would buy a Carrier system from Munn's, as long as their price was reasonable when compared to the less expensive companies.

[cb1972]

you may want to have the refrigerant topped off and take a wait and see approach especially if you hadn't noticed any change in how your system was working. If you notice your system beginning to work harder then you may consider replacement at that time . You may have to wait a few days to get the new equipment but if your here full time it may be a minor inconvenience. If you decide on replacement i would recommend Kalos. Recently had a new Carrier system installed ( mine was ten years old) , very professional . Techs were no nonsense , left the place spotless in and out. price was several hundred less than some of the better known companies. good luck

[Elcmax]

Thank you!

[Elcmax]

Originally Posted by Elcmax

Yesterday, my technician diagnosed my Goodman 2.5 Ton 14 Seer outdoor AC unit is leaking refrigerant. Missed the 5 year warranty by 10 days! Indoor furnace was also installed at the same date five years ago. Questions:
1. Repair or replace AC unit?
2. If replace AC, should I also replace both AC and furnace?
3. AND Services reviews?
4. Getting quotes next week from Home Depot, Lowes, Farrell, and Kalos. Advice on which contractor to go with (also AND who services Sumter County)?
5. Replace with Goodman or a different brand?

Thanks for your input!

So far I have had two contractors visit. Both recommended replacing outdoor compressor (yes it is leaking with oil stain drip) and one recommended heat pump to replace gas furnace. Does anyone have experience with heat pump or duel system (heat pump + gas furnace)?

[Toymeister]

If a heat pump is installed it is a better sale for the installer. Call me suspicious...

[Topspinmo]

IMO It would have to be awful big leak for me to replace unit that working? Was the unit not cooling or was this routine annual maintenance? If it was annual maintenance I would just have it topped off and see how long it cools. Especially if that was nothing wrong with it? Also when he put the gauges on it should show how low it was? Now, if it was so low the unit wasn’t cooling, then yes it has big leak. IMO I would just buy another 14 seer outside unit for around 1400 than spend 6K to 8K for new unit or more? But that’s me.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Elcmax

So far I have had two contractors visit. Both recommended replacing outdoor compressor (yes it is leaking with oil stain drip) and one recommended heat pump to replace gas furnace. Does anyone have experience with heat pump or duel system (heat pump + gas furnace)?

I had heat pump in OKC with electric assist. It work good but didn’t have instant heat like natural gas. Don’t get that cold down here so it will work fine. Now is it worth the extra cost being’s winter not really winter down? I use very little natural gas down here for heating in so called winter month