[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Risuli

We pay for an annual service plan with Sunshine AC that includes furnace & A/C maintenance & system checks every 6 months. This also includes service discounts, no emergency service charges, and a promise to repair units within 24 hrs of an outage. It isn't all that expensive and I look at it as some insurance against getting stuck without A/C for more than a day due to a break down.

Is their promise to repair a unit in 24 hours in writing, with compensation if they don't?

[jrref]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

Are you sure that most HVAC companies check the items you mentioned in your post? And, if they do and they find an issue, do they repair it for free? If not, I think that some homeowners would feel scammed and refuse to pay for the repairs. I doubt that they send their best technicians for maintenance visits. On their website, Sunkool shows a 21-point checklist of items they perform, but I don't see these items listed. Also, if you read the list, I don't think they spend enough time at the house to perform all of the items on their list. Personally, I think most HVAC companies are more interested in getting the $100 or more maintenance fee. Some even recommend coming every 6 months. If I were trying to prevent failures, I would replace the start capacitor every 3 years or so, but I have not heard of a single company that does this. Call me skeptical.

Are you sure that most HVAC companies check the items you mentioned in your post? Yes a reputable HVAC company will check all these items.

And, if they do and they find an issue, do they repair it for free?No they do not. Depending on your maintenance agreement you will pay for the part and labor.

I doubt that they send their best technicians for maintenance visits. No way to verify this but you don't need the "best" technician for maintenance generally.

On their website, Sunkool shows a 21-point checklist of items they perform, but I don't see these items listed. I've heard this before so time to get another company but I'll bet they do everything since I know SunKool is reputable.

Also, if you read the list, I don't think they spend enough time at the house to perform all of the items on their list. If your system has been maintained, generally it should take under an hour to perform this maintenance. I have Sunshine and I get an e-mail confirming all that was done and the readings they took. I check their readings to what I witnessed and they are the same. They have an iPad and as they are taking readings they are entering all the information so you can compare to previous maintenance visits.

If I were trying to prevent failures, I would replace the start capacitor every 3 years or so, but I have not heard of a single company that does this. Right, no company is going to do this since the life of the capacitor will depend greatly if your condenser unit is in the sun all day or not and how much you use the system and what temperature it's set to. The more starts, the more wear on the capacitor.

I know you are skeptical but that's OK, just trying to describe what needs to be done. Since I have a background in HVAC, since moving to the Villages I've tried a couple of companies and personally, I feel the most comfortable with the Sunshine techs. Granted, every company has there "good" and "less good" techs but I know with Sunshine it's going to be done correctly and honestly and I also know if I have a concern and call them, they will make it right.

[Michael G.]

Originally Posted by mrf6969

For $100.00 annually, I see it as a no brainer to get this service performed. We use DeSantis as they installed units in both of our homes here in TV.

The OP could save a lot of typing by just "YES"

[UpNorth]

Being a snowbird, we always get our A/C checked by Patrick's in April. Earth Day special, $22. They check and service everything listed. I don't think I'd want to fool with a capacitor anytime soon. They can store plenty of electrical energy.

[jrref]

Originally Posted by UpNorth

Being a snowbird, we always get our A/C checked by Patrick's in April. Earth Day special, $22. They check and service everything listed. I don't think I'd want to fool with a capacitor anytime soon. They can store plenty of electrical energy.

Are you sure it's $22? I saw their advertisement recently for $19.95. I remembe this because this is the same price that Earl Scheib would pant any car, any color in the 1960's.

[DrMack]

Originally Posted by roadrnnr

OK Thanks Guys Great info

I do the water down the drain once a month, Check and change the filter regularly
And am planning on getting a spare capacitor. I also clean the outside coils

So I guess I need to get the freon checked and air handler cleaned once a year

Get the Freon checked? If the system leaks, it leaks. I don’t agree with that at all. Checking for a leak doesn’t prevent a leak.

[UpNorth]

Originally Posted by jrref

Are you sure it's $22? I saw their advertisement recently for $19.95. I remembe this because this is the same price that Earl Scheib would pant any car, any color in the 1960's.

April 22 was "Earth Day". So it was $22. Maybe cheaper after us snowbirds leave.

[Hoosierb4]

I was once an A/C engineer and think that retired guy is giving good advice. I change the filter and flush the drain a couple of times a year. I don't like it when the service tech hooks up the gages to check the refrigerant charge level, as I've seen them lose a considerable amount of refrigerant when they do it. Making sure that the outdoor coil is clean is also important.

[M2inOR]

For us, it was easy. In Oregon, we had a large house with 2 heat pumps and 2 gas furnaces for backup heating when outside temps dropped down below 35°.

Over 45 years, we replaced all systems except gas furnaces 3 times. Average life was 12-15 years.

Original systems were no name generics that only lasted a few years. First replaced with Lennox, then Trane, and finally with Carrier.

We had annual contracts, and systems were checked every 6 months. Lennox failed after 10 years, but could not be repaired due to lack of replacement parts. Replaced by Trane systems that failed in year 9 of a 10 year warranty contract. Last systems were Carrier, and they were the best.

Happy to see Carrier in wide use south of 44. We've had our home in Marsh Bend for almost 6 years. Still have annual maintenance contracts with checkup by Sun Kool every 6 months. Only failure has been capacitor, which I replaced myself but let Sun Kool know for records. Complete systems checkup to make sure freon levels are ok.

Only changes made was addition of UV lights for bacteria control.

We keep systems set to 77° for cooling, 70° for heating, and units set to come on for air circulation once per hour. Also keep overhead fans on low all the time.

Why a contract? Peace of mind.

[wayneman]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

If you are only getting the condensate drain checked annually, that is not often enough. You need to be pouring hot water down the drain at least every 3 months. I think it is a good idea to replace the filter every 6 months. I use Merv 11 filters, which have made my house quieter and less dusty. I buy FilterBuy filters from Amazon. Also, if you are paying $100 for maintenance, I would ask them specifically what they are doing that will prevent your system from failing. Are they ever replacing the capacitor to avoid a failure?

Munn’s replaced my capacitor during my annual service @ no charge. It was out of spec and beginning to fail. Saved me a headache and them a Friday evening service call because that’s when they usually fail. I also keep a spare capacitor just in case.

[rsmurano]

We actually have sunkool’s 2x a year maintenance plan for both units. I change my own filters. They come out before summer then before winter. Cheap! I’ve been doing this for 15 years living in the south, in the north,I did a yearly maintenance plan.

[jrref]

Originally Posted by wayneman

Munn’s replaced my capacitor during my annual service @ no charge. It was out of spec and beginning to fail. Saved me a headache and them a Friday evening service call because that’s when they usually fail. I also keep a spare capacitor just in case.

For the first 5 years, parts are covered which is why they changed the capacitor for free. Other parts like the compressor are covered for 10 years. Right before my 5 years, we discovered our Auxillary heat unit was not working. Sunshine replaced it for free.

[jrref]

Originally Posted by Hoosierb4

I was once an A/C engineer and think that retired guy is giving good advice. I change the filter and flush the drain a couple of times a year. I don't like it when the service tech hooks up the gages to check the refrigerant charge level, as I've seen them lose a considerable amount of refrigerant when they do it. Making sure that the outdoor coil is clean is also important.

I agree on loosing some refrigerant but on the new carrier variable speed inverter systems, the techs can use an app that connects to the condenser via bluetooth and they can read all the pressures without connecting any gauges to the unit. Very cool.

[MX rider]

Originally Posted by mrf6969

For $100.00 annually, I see it as a no brainer to get this service performed. We use DeSantis as they installed units in both of our homes here in TV.

I agree with your first sentence 100%.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Originally Posted by roadrnnr

New to Florida and whole house a/c.

Can some one tell me if a Yearly service is recommended on the Carrier units supplied in the new builds?

I use to get my furnace serviced up north yearly but how often do these A/C units need to be serviced and wondering what it entails?

Thanks

Rule #1: Everything works until it doesn't, so regular maintenance helps prolong the working period until the day of doesn't.

Recommended? depends upon the individual.owner: DIY handy? motivated to do or not? reside all year round or not?

Advantages: having a maintenance contract MAY get you faster service if there is failure, you may get in line faster during the summer,

DISadvantages: depends upon your wealth level, your tolerance for the inconvenience of your lifestyle being interrupted, and your tolerance for strangers coming into your house, and your backup plan for being stuck in line during a weekend/holiday, etc when you are 57th in line in August

So pick your poison: .. . paying a bit a money for customer priority when there is a failure, or DIY save a bit of money and take your chances.

We had a something fail, i don't think it was the capacitor, as it was a copper link something something outside, the day before we had to leave. Sunshine came and fixed the issue that afternoon. . . and then installed the correct part when it came into inventory without coming into the house.

WE choose to have to pay to get in line faster when there is a failure, and chose to have someone else do the DIY stuff especially when we might not be home for several months at a time. .