HVAC not working properly
 

Looks like my air conditioning unit is on it's last legs. Any recommendations on how to proceed in replacing my HVAC unit. Make, model, installation professional, etc. Thanks in advance for your replies.

How old is the unit, IMHO, if less than 10 years I would contact the original installer and ask about repairs. As for replacement, if the original installer is not interested, I have neighbors that were satisfied with Munns. In any case I would get 2 or 3 estimates.

SunKool

and

Sunshine

are both good firms

Happy with Munns servicing our AC but would get several quotes if not reparable.

Thanks for your reply.

The unit is the original (12 years old) and was installed and serviced annually by SunKool. It is a Carrier unit 2.5 ton capacity for a 1641 sq. ft. villa (perhaps a little small). I'm a little disappointed that it did not last longer since our place was only occupied an average of 3 months a year.

thank you

Thank you for your reply.

I would get 3 quotes, but I would use Munn's even if they are "slightly" higher than the others. This is because I think they are the most responsive for warranty repairs, especially for a Carrier unit. The system will come with a 10-year parts and a 5-year labor warranty. Before getting the quotes, I would decide if you need to upsize a 3 ton unit. Some will recommend a 2-speed or a variable speed compressor, but, personally, I would buy a single stage compressor. That is the most commonly installed system in The Villages. Good luck.

This thread may be helpful.
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...highlight=HVAC

Agree. Munn's is a bit more spendy but--well, you get what you pay for, both in product (Carrier) quality and service tech. knowhow.

Our next-door neighbor was having A/C problems about 4 months ago: saw a service truck from an A/C company that I'd never heard of, parked in his driveway several times over a two-month period. Then one day we saw a Munn's van out there with the same installation guys that did our unit. No problems after that.

You should first have it looked at? How do you know it’s on its last legs? 12 years is a long time for unit.

Last legs means that is cooling but not at 100%. What was the problem that the tech said it was?

Usually it has to be condemned when the compressor fails. The typical cause is shorted or open windings. Everything else should be repairable.

The best way to extend the life of standard compressor is to install a soft start to limit the inrush current.
Amazon.com

Your first response should be to call Chuck Farrell Air Conditioning and have him check your system. He will honestly advise you as to what is needed and give you the best price. Be careful, as there are some companies that will charge you outrageous prices and suggest options that are not needed or necessary to repair or replace your unit.

Get a second and third opinion. These repair technicians get a bonus for what they can sell you.

curious .. do you leave ac off for the other nine mths .. no worries with mold ? tx

If comfort is your highest priority I would recommend that variable speed unit. I was one that would buy the least expensive unit which is what The Villages puts in until I bought a house that had the variable speed. With a single speed it blows cold air full blast so you are cold then shuts off so you are warm. The variable speed you usually don’t even know it is blowing you are just comfortable all the time. It also does a good job of dehumidifying without making you cold.

Good advice but you could always purchase based on lowest price and then use Munns for maintenance (????). All things being equal, why pay more for the same unit with installation?

I have a single stage compressor, and I don't have that experience at all. The supply fan always blows air at the same rate and I can barely hear it or feel it. The temperature is maintained to within one degree of the thermostat setting. I really don't understand how a variable speed compressor could improve anything. The supply fan can be adjusted to low, medium, or high. Mine is set to medium, and my house is always very comfortable. The optional humidity setting, which will overcool your house to reduce humidity, is turned off and I have never had a humidity issue.

Personally, I do my own maintenance, but I do use Munn's for warranty work and repairs. I guess you could use another installer and then switch to Munn's for everything else. But, I would prefer to negotiate a fair price initially with Munn's, if another installer offered a significantly lower price than Munn's.

When the unit does dehumidify, it does lower the supply air temperature or increase cooling, but it will bring on the heat in order to maintain room temperature set point if necessary. The variable speed prevents this and usually does not waste energy using reheat.and if you have the compressor by the bedroom it will make less noise overall.
PLUS your motor should last much longer and you won't have that blast of hot air during the summer every time the compressor starts.

Saw a YouTube video by an A/C guy. Said those soft start devices cause more harm than good.

We stayed several days in a villa, and hated the AC single speed system. Which led me to upgrade our home purchase to a 2 speed system, for several thousand more, of course. The third option variable speed unit was again double the price of our upgrade. LMO not worth what TV was asking.
I personally would upgrade to a 2-speed unit in any home, at a minimum. The variable unit if the cost, and the rest of the system can handle it. HVAC systems need to be balanced. The air handler to the outdoor unit.

IF one knows what they are doing, you can also purchase the outdoor unit online, delivered to your house. But that leaves the quest of finding an installer that will hook it up. Factory warranty intact.

Most systems installed by the builder do not have a true dehumidifier setting, so there is no reheat function. They are designed to lower the temperature by about 3 degrees to reduce the humidity, but the compromise is that your house gets colder than the thermostat setting. There is no reheat. That is why I do not use the humidity setting.

The humidity setting can be used by snowbirds to save electricity by setting the thermostat a few degrees higher, and still keep the humidity down when it is needed.

Well, there are a lot of other "a/c" guys that say otherwise on YT.

https://youtu.be/7Gim96oyczw?si=vGdoJw3fdt0IV2C8

Sunshine. Excellent

you are correct a 2.5 unit for 1600 is a little small..

That probably works OK but there are 2 main factors that increase RH. Lower ambient temperature and increase moisture.

I had sunkool do my yearly service the last time the technician was here he told me they No longer clean the compressor because of possible damage to the blades on the fan. Which is BS so proceed with caution if this is who is giving you advice.

Highly recommend Sunkool
 

Our unit died last week and we called SunKool. They came within two hours with a portable unit and installed a brand new air conditioner within two days. The guys are great, clean up after themselves, and were very communicative about how to operator newly installed thermostat.

Carrier through Kalos!

Be advised that on 1/1/25 prices will increase 20 to 25% or more. The EPA has mandated a new refrigerant that is slightly flammable and requires completely different equipment and different installation procedures.

Chuck Farrell
 

I was very pleased with Chuck Farrell. They installed a good sized American Standard unit and had to restructure my inside attachments in the garage. They did an excellent job. Their # is 352-633-9364.

Describe the malfunction and age of the unit.

I would pay the extra and get one with dedicated solar panels.

I have had Chuck Farrell install new systems in 6 different houses over the past several years. Always satisfied. Knowledgeable, honest, good workmanship, excellent service after the sale and great prices. I highly recommend Chuck Farrell HVAC.

I keep a file of people recommended on talk of the villages. We were due for periodic service. I called and set up an appointment with Chuck Farrell. He did NOT SHOW UP. Ok I've made mistakes, I called him and set up another appointment and again he did not show up. Three strikes and your out. Two strikes is all he gets with me.

It seems the life of a heat pump, ac system in the Villages is around 14 years. No shortage of OPINIONS. Reminder the expert we call is a business looking to,needing to make money. Of course part of that is your reputation. Obviously some have been happy with Chuck Farrell perhaps their location or timing.

Rumor of fact. I don't know. I've hear from a tech the are not made like they used to be and they will not last as long as they used to. Like anything else. The assembly is all the same age.
Most anything can be repaired. At what point is it wise to repair and what time to replace is the choice you need to make.

Estimates. Those selling to you know better than you do. An estimate. They will charge you around a hundred for a service call. Three estimates will cost you three hundred dollars.
Your own research. I found a recent article on line from Barron's magazine you do not need to have a subscription. I found it understandable. I'm no expert. They showed prices on many brands. Some I've never heard of They gave prices including installation. Sleeping. It is not heat that keeps me up. It is wife SCREAMING IT'S HOT.

We had ours done by Sun cool. I chose Carrier. Because that is what we had.Value? Carrier is not the cheapest and it is no longer made in the US now Mexico. At no charge to you the electric company sends an expert to inspect and sign off on the installation work. He stated they typically fail on the proper circuit beakers. He told me they only need to reverse the two separate 220v beakers. The installing company sent a guy over to solve the problem another guy not the installers who made the mistake.

Another VILLAGES ADVENTURE. Our previous home was built in 1948. It had real plaster walls etc. No one builds like they used to. You can't even buy the wood they used. .

I take issue that 3 estimates will cost $300. I would pay for a service call to diagnose a problem, but I would never pay a company anything to provide a quote on a new system. Chuck Farrell and Munn's are both good companies, but I would more likely hire Munn's because of their size and capability to repair almost any problem on a Carrier system in a very efficient and expeditious manner.

They have refrigerant that can be used instead of 410A. It is flammable and striated so you have to Only add liquid.

I believe that the real problem is if a compressor goes bad.Then you have hard time finding a replacement so you'll have to get a whole new system. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. But I think they have to stop making all 410a equipment by the end of this year

had mine replaced aboutna year ago, used sun kool, happy with the price and results