Ridiculous HVAC Company

**menace** · 07-02-2009, 09:05 AM

So yesterday I had to work at the house to wait on the HVAC company to get out there and repair our AC system again. We've only been in our new house for almost exactly two years and they've had to come out at least six times for repairs ranging from leaks to an unbalanced fan (due to a towel being left in the duct work by the installation crew) to our new problems.

Just to get them out there they charged us $89.00 for a diagnostic test. Well, they found the system was low on freon. To do a leak test they charged me another $99.00 which the guy found in thirty seconds. To refill the system with the 2-3lbs of freon it was low they charged another $99.00 on top of that. Good news though, they did find the source of the leak and the piece is covered under manufacturer warranty. The main "id coil" - whatever the crap that is - is leaking. Unfortunately, they want another $477 in labor to install the part.

Someone explain the logic to me on this one because I'm not seeing it. How is that I should be held financially responsible for a defective component of the system when it is covered under manufacturer warranty?? That's like saying I would have to cover repair costs on my new truck if the transmission is defective. It's covered under warranty!! If I have a transmission problem I take it back to the dealership and they charge the manufacturer for the time/labor to repair the part, not the consumer.

What's worse is that I've found at least two other companies that are willing to do the repair work for less than half of what this company is wanting. It's still ridiculous to have to come out of pocket for this but at least it isn't $477.

Quite irritated at this entire situation especially considering we haven't been in the house much more than 2 years.

/rant

**FreeBird** · 07-02-2009, 09:11 AM

wow... why not just install a new system... how you notice your AC system isn't running full tilt

i needed to readjust our heat pump's fan once, but that was 3 bolts and about 15 minutes and pffft done...just past the year makr last month and really haven't had tooo much in the way of issues :knockonwood:

**menace** · 07-02-2009, 09:12 AM

Well, we walked in at 10:00PM on Tuesday night and downstairs was at 82 degrees and upstairs was at 96. I can only imagine what it was during the day. Walked outside and looked at the unit and it was basically one large block of ice.

**FreeBird** · 07-02-2009, 09:15 AM

touche'...

how old is the system...

**menace** · 07-02-2009, 09:16 AM

New system will be around $4000.

**Flash!** · 07-02-2009, 09:20 AM

It's pretty common in the HVAC industry for the regular manufacturers warranty to only cover parts. Usually the manufacturer or the installer will offer longer or complete warranties. In hotter areas I would strongly suggest getting the longest warranty available (usually 10 years) because the new AC systems just don't last, repairs are expensive, and warranty customers usually get faster service. Since your system is still under the regular manufacturers warranty, you might want to check on getting an extended that will cover labor. They won't do it now since your system is down so you're screwed there... but if you've had problems before it might be worth the extra money. I think we charge right around $1k for a 10 year parts/labor.

**FreeBird** · 07-02-2009, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by menace

New system will be around $4000.

i heart the summertime in Florida, a few local companies are always running deals during the summertime. Our current Heatpump and air handler system is only like 4 years old

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreeBird

how old is the system...

:whathesaid:

might be worth it to get a new system if this one is old and keeps having problems...

**menace** · 07-02-2009, 09:24 AM

I saw your ninja edit. It did say "but still.."

House is only two years old.

**FreeBird** · 07-02-2009, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flash!

It's pretty common in the HVAC industry for the regular manufacturers warranty to only cover parts. Usually the manufacturer or the installer will offer longer or complete warranties. In hotter areas I would strongly suggest getting the longest warranty available (usually 10 years) because the new AC systems just don't last, repairs are expensive, and warranty customers usually get faster service. Since your system is still under the regular manufacturers warranty, you might want to check on getting an extended that will cover labor. They won't do it now since your system is down so you're screwed there... but if you've had problems before it might be worth the extra money. I think we charge right around $1k for a 10 year parts/labor.

yeah ours has a 5 year according to the paperwork we found. i have not confirmed that though. I'm thinking i may try to see about extending that one.

**Flash!** · 07-02-2009, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreeBird

yeah ours has a 5 year according to the paperwork we found. i have not confirmed that though. I'm thinking i may try to see about extending that one.

Yeah, you should check on that. See if it's parts/labor or just parts. Some do a 1 or 2 year complete and 5 years on the coil or some nonsense like that. Mine has a 1 year parts/labor but I'll add the 10 year here in the next few months. I've seen how expensive this stuff can get, and we really rape our AC units here in FL. I think we're covering the Tampa area now, but our warranty prices are fixed (I don't even get an emp discount

) so I can't help much there.

**FreeBird** · 07-02-2009, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flash!

Yeah, you should check on that. See if it's parts/labor or just parts. Some do a 1 or 2 year complete and 5 years on the coil or some nonsense like that. Mine has a 1 year parts/labor but I'll add the 10 year here in the next few months. I've seen how expensive this stuff can get, and we really rape our AC units here in FL. I think we're covering the Tampa area now, but our warranty prices are fixed (I don't even get an emp discount

) so I can't help much there.

yeah i was really happy to hear our house came with a relatively new one, and that instead of an AC unit it had a Heat Pump

save extra monies during winter... i just wish our air handler had a far more powerful fan or something... the air comes out at just about the 56 degree mark it should, its just not quite as fast as i wish it would be

but still heads above our apartments...

**timeless2** · 07-02-2009, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by menace

New system will be around $4000.

That sounds like a relatively nice price. We just replaced our HVAC (35 year old unit made by Chrysler...yes, Chrysler) with a new Lennox Heat Pump & 2-stage natural gas furnace. Gross amount (before rebates, tax incentives, etc) was about $7500. Net cost after rebates and filing my taxes next year for the incentives will be around $4900.

krly79 · 07-06-2009, 06:00 PM

Sears has some program where you pay like $300 per year and if your fridge breaks they come and fix it for a flat rate of like $65 (parts and labor and everything). Same for everything I think. If your A/C caputs, $65 and they fix it for ya. Done, you have air and your happy cause you didn't plop down $477 for labor to install your canuter valve.

**FreeBird** · 07-07-2009, 06:04 AM

i just saw a commercial from a A/C company 2 days ago touting 12 years parts and labor warenty included free, free instilation, and if you finance through them it was 0% interest for 1 full year. The main settup they were plugging was a $4,500 Carrier system with all that included

07-02-2009, 09:05 AM	#1
menace Thread Gestapo Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 4,115	Ridiculous HVAC Company So yesterday I had to work at the house to wait on the HVAC company to get out there and repair our AC system again. We've only been in our new house for almost exactly two years and they've had to come out at least six times for repairs ranging from leaks to an unbalanced fan (due to a towel being left in the duct work by the installation crew) to our new problems. Just to get them out there they charged us $89.00 for a diagnostic test. Well, they found the system was low on freon. To do a leak test they charged me another $99.00 which the guy found in thirty seconds. To refill the system with the 2-3lbs of freon it was low they charged another $99.00 on top of that. Good news though, they did find the source of the leak and the piece is covered under manufacturer warranty. The main "id coil" - whatever the crap that is - is leaking. Unfortunately, they want another $477 in labor to install the part. Someone explain the logic to me on this one because I'm not seeing it. How is that I should be held financially responsible for a defective component of the system when it is covered under manufacturer warranty?? That's like saying I would have to cover repair costs on my new truck if the transmission is defective. It's covered under warranty!! If I have a transmission problem I take it back to the dealership and they charge the manufacturer for the time/labor to repair the part, not the consumer. What's worse is that I've found at least two other companies that are willing to do the repair work for less than half of what this company is wanting. It's still ridiculous to have to come out of pocket for this but at least it isn't $477. Quite irritated at this entire situation especially considering we haven't been in the house much more than 2 years. /rant __________________ - Marc

07-02-2009, 09:12 AM	#3
menace Thread Gestapo Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 4,115	Well, we walked in at 10:00PM on Tuesday night and downstairs was at 82 degrees and upstairs was at 96. I can only imagine what it was during the day. Walked outside and looked at the unit and it was basically one large block of ice. __________________ - Marc

07-02-2009, 09:16 AM	#5
menace Thread Gestapo Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 4,115	New system will be around $4000. __________________ - Marc

07-02-2009, 09:20 AM	#6
Flash! With a baseball bat! Hexxagon Champion! Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: MY OWN FUCKING HOUSE in a tourist infested swampland aka Orlando Posts: 21,150	It's pretty common in the HVAC industry for the regular manufacturers warranty to only cover parts. Usually the manufacturer or the installer will offer longer or complete warranties. In hotter areas I would strongly suggest getting the longest warranty available (usually 10 years) because the new AC systems just don't last, repairs are expensive, and warranty customers usually get faster service. Since your system is still under the regular manufacturers warranty, you might want to check on getting an extended that will cover labor. They won't do it now since your system is down so you're screwed there... but if you've had problems before it might be worth the extra money. I think we charge right around $1k for a 10 year parts/labor. __________________ teh brian

07-02-2009, 09:24 AM	#8
menace Thread Gestapo Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 4,115	I saw your ninja edit. It did say "but still.." House is only two years old. __________________ - Marc

07-06-2009, 06:00 PM	#13
krly79 Simon Champion! Skee Ball Champion! Battleship Champion! Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 1,979	Sears has some program where you pay like $300 per year and if your fridge breaks they come and fix it for a flat rate of like $65 (parts and labor and everything). Same for everything I think. If your A/C caputs, $65 and they fix it for ya. Done, you have air and your happy cause you didn't plop down $477 for labor to install your canuter valve. __________________ -Chris- 03 Sonic Blue GT 5spd If you run 16's, I'll own you 85 Camaro Berlinetta SC

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