With the lovely HOT temperatures

[HoneySuckle]

Our A/C had to breakdown today.  It is about 17 years old, so I guess we were due?

My plan was to put in a new (improved) system anyway, but geez, I wasn't ready for this!

Which Heating/Air company would you guys recommend?  There are a bunch out there, but I prefer to have a recommendation.

Also, we have a Heat/Air guy who has another job and does stuff on the side, but I don't know if it is worth going with a 'one man' show, though it would be cheaper...what if there are problems down the road?  

Any ideas or suggestions, highly appreciated.

[FOTD]

Planned obsolescence sux.

The new ones are built to last 10 years....

[patric]

quote:Originally posted by HoneySuckle

Which Heating/Air company would you guys recommend?

We were satisfied with the job Air Assurance out of BA did when they installed a new unit, but I doubt we will call them again for repairs after they charged us $200 in parts for a $22 transformer that burned out.

The multi-speed units are really nice.  Instead of turning on and off they softly ramp up and down, which is less disturbing and helps gently circulate air in the summer.

[cannon_fodder]

If you decide to get a new AC unit, most professionals and manufacturers will tell you they should last from 12-15 years.  They make keep trucking for a while after that, but their efficiency is lost as parts wear out, seals begin to leak, and you're really just waiting for failure.

A few years back my furnace motor burned out 3 days before the bar exam.  No furnace motor = no AC.  So I feel your pain.

[HoneySuckle]

Why would you be charged for something that burns out?  Wasn't there some type of warranty?

[patric]

quote:Originally posted by HoneySuckle

Why would you be charged for something that burns out?  Wasn't there some type of warranty?

Warranty's are shorter and less inclusive than most people think.  They blamed it on a power surge, and those are often exclusionary.

[moosedaddy]

I have heard Dale and Lees out of Owasso is very good.

[fairlycrazy23]

Get at least 3 estimates.

[Breadburner]

Masters Heat and Air.....633-5687....

[Breadburner]

quote:Originally posted by FOTD

Planned obsolescence sux.

The new ones are built to last 10 years....

Lol...Same ole bull$hit from you...

[HoneySuckle]

We had several HVAC companies come in. They're expensive[:O]

Don't have too many choices though.  One suggested we "fix" the problem and wait until September/October when prices go down (as if) to get a new furnace etc.  

What do you guys think?  Could such a thing happen?

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by HoneySuckle

Our A/C had to breakdown today.  It is about 17 years old, so I guess we were due?

No, you were not due.  I live in a midtown Tulsa home (Lortondale) constructed in 1954.  I bought my house in 1986 and I still have the same outside condenser unit (a Freidrich unit)  that came with my home.  I replaced the indoor gas furnace, cooling coil, and thermostat in 1989.  Still have all the same equipment today, and it all still works 100%.  I have never had to make a service call for my A/C, and it has never had to be recharged with refrigerant in over 22 years.

Preventative maintenance is the key.  I wash my furnace filters about 3 times a year.  During A/C season, I make sure my outside unit is debris free, I remove the fan motor and hose off the cooling fins and the inside of the unit to remove all obstructing debris.  I also snake out my A/C condensation line at least twice every cooling season.  My house is single story, concrete slab construction, with all duct work and A/C plumbing through the slab.

A/C units will last for lifetimes, with preventative maintenance that any homeowner can perform. Honeysuckle's failure was definately premature, based on my experience.

HVAC companies tout "A/C tune ups" and such, but it is all a big waste of money in my opinion.  They don't do anything that any well informed homeowner can not do on his own.  

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by HoneySuckle

We had several HVAC companies come in. They're expensive[:O]

Don't have too many choices though.  One suggested we "fix" the problem and wait until September/October when prices go down (as if) to get a new furnace etc.  

What do you guys think?  Could such a thing happen?

Depends what went wrong with it.  If it's a fan motor, fix it and soldier on.  If your A-coil or condenser/compressor unit took a dump, then you might want to consider total replacement now.

Consider what your repair costs are and how much that could apply to a new system and how much of a crunch it puts on the budget right now.  I know it would be poor timing for me with a daughter leaving for college in a few weeks.

I can see you getting great gains in efficiency if the current unit were 30 years old with total replacement, but being a 1990 or 1991 unit, your gain is going to be a little more marginal.  I'm willing to bet you are looking at a 15% improvement in efficiency.

[HoneySuckle]

Update.  DO NOT USE "Superior Service of Broken Arrow" for HVAC needs.

I was very impressed with their sales guy yesterday and we were "close" to going with them, but I wanted a few more quotes.  Anyway, he called saying his quote wasn't ready and wanted to make sure his was the last quote in!  I told him to drop it off but I had someone else to interview.  He said no, he has to be the last one in.  Then I called and told him that the others weren't coming so he can drop his quote off.  No can do he says, he has to present his quote and show the options, and he has to be here when my husband is at home.  Called the company to verify this and found out it is true, this is how they work.  Sounded too damn much like timeshare pressure to me, so I told them they are not getting my business!!

[HoneySuckle]

Okay guys, I hadn't seen your posts before I made the last one about Superior Service of BA.  They are definitely a company to be wary of. I called for the owner or head office, and they refused to give me any information. The woman who answered said she's the manager, and will not put me on higher.

Anyway, it's the fan motor and we're getting a second hand one (a friend who does that work) is putting it in to tide me over until we decide what to do.

Steve, I had no idea what maintenance we could do.  Have hired people before to tune up and make sure everything was well. Glad to know we can do this ourselves!  Thanks for the tip.