[biker]

We have had at least 10 of 61 villa units experience major failures in their Trane Heat Pumps. Obviously this is a very high failure rate considering our villas are less than 2 years old. We wonder whether this is an anomaly or if there has been a history of problems with these heating/cooling systems.

[judithtal]

Mine cost $2800.00 this past summer.

[EdWilliams]

They should last at least 10 years. Call the Home Warranty Service Ooffice at 753-6222.
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Originally Posted by biker

We have had at least 10 of 61 villa units experience major failures in their Trane Heat Pumps. Obviously this is a very high failure rate considering our villas are less than 2 years old. We wonder whether this is an anomaly or if there has been a history of problems with these heating/cooling systems.

[NYVette]

Biker.....
Yes, there is a definite history of failed Trane units. My A/C could barely maintain 78 degees last summer. Two weeks ago it failed. After 3.5 hours labor Sun Kool determined it was the fault of the evaporator coil. The part is covered by Trane but I have to pay the $637.00 labor charge. The part has to be ordered so it will take a little while but I'm not in TV at this time. I called Trane to inquire if this is a frequent problem (903 581-3200) and was told there is no recall and that it's "a mechanical item and sometimes things happen...there are many variables." I rent this house in the winter. I notified my management company about the repairs because they can let Sun Kool into the house. The management person told me I'm about the eighth person she knows of with this same problem. I asked the Home Warantee people if they had many problems with the Trane A/C's, or, since TV buys so many A/C units do they have any "pull" with Trane for additional warantee coverage. They said "no". Yes....I think there are defective parts in the units and we are paying the price.

[hobey_b]

Many people have had "defective A-coils". Including me. My service man told me that the aluminum tubing used in them is extremely Thin and holes easily develope in them. The newer ones are suposed to be thicker, but my replacement was the same exact part number. I live in fear.

Hobey_b

[NYVette]

While looking to see if Trane is the subject of a class action for these HVAC units I found this website.
https://www.lawyersandsettlements.co...rement-village

In this forum we are a very small group of homeowners relative to the thousands of homes in The Villages. If we have, or know of, A/C coil failures, how many other residents have had a similar problem? I filled out the simple questionaire. It would be a good idea for anyone with this problem to do so also. Tell your neighbors.

[redwitch]

I've had four of the houses I watch have AC problems -- all but one less than one year old (2 Trane, 2 Carrier). One had a major problem and they had to re-run the lines from the garage to the outdoor unit through the attic. Another had a drain pan crack. The two others had condensation leakage.

I will say that both Sun-Kool and Munn's were super about fixing the problems promptly, professionally and, it appears, completely.

There definitely seems to be something going on with the units here -- too many problems (both minor and major). My biggest concern is what happens when the problem doesn't crop up until after the warranty period. It is pretty easy for the AC repairperson to claim it is something that just happened rather than an ongoing problem with certain units -- not many of us know enough about A/C to even remotely understand what they're talking about.

[chuckinca]

Originally Posted by NYVette

Biker.....
Yes, there is a definite history of failed Trane units. My A/C could barely maintain 78 degees last summer. Two weeks ago it failed. After 3.5 hours labor Sun Kool determined it was the fault of the evaporator coil. The part is covered by Trane but I have to pay the $637.00 labor charge. The part has to be ordered so it will take a little while but I'm not in TV at this time. I called Trane to inquire if this is a frequent problem (903 581-3200) and was told there is no recall and that it's "a mechanical item and sometimes things happen...there are many variables." I rent this house in the winter. I notified my management company about the repairs because they can let Sun Kool into the house. The management person told me I'm about the eighth person she knows of with this same problem. I asked the Home Warantee people if they had many problems with the Trane A/C's, or, since TV buys so many A/C units do they have any "pull" with Trane for additional warantee coverage. They said "no". Yes....I think there are defective parts in the units and we are paying the price.

For info:

Our evaporator coil on our unit in California went out this summer. Got part replaced for free as it was still under warranty (about 9 years old) and paid $85 total labor for two trips of the service guy, first trip to check out the unit and second trip to install the coil.



.

[GatbTester]

My opinion is, you get what you pay for. The developer in these cases, and many more to come, simply bought the cheapest or best buy equipment for A/C in the Villages. It is no wonder that after the warranty program is gone so is your hard earned cash.

[BogeyBoy]

The "A Coil" went out in our home in Virginia Trace while it was still under warranty. We were told that there were many failures of that part.

[BobKat1]

Originally Posted by GatbTester

My opinion is, you get what you pay for. The developer in these cases, and many more to come, simply bought the cheapest or best buy equipment for A/C in the Villages. It is no wonder that after the warranty program is gone so is your hard earned cash.

No surprise. Most everywhere builder grade materials, plumbing fixtures HVAV etc. are used in basic new construction. The buyer always has the option of upgrading if they choose. Upgrading might not change the length of the warranty though.

[NYVette]

This isn't a matter of the unit failing shortly after the warrantee expires. These units are only 2-3 years old with a five year warrantee for most parts. Trane's warrantee will cover the part, not labor. In my case the labor to diagnose the problem and replace the evaporator coil is $637.00. SunKool said the evaporator coil replacement is back ordered. That should tell us something about the frequency of repair for this part. The problem is that Trane manufactured the unit with a defective part. It doesn't cost them much to reimburse the repair company for the cost of the part...it's the big labor cost that we have to pay. Trane made the decision to use a cut rate part, they should share more of the repair cost.