Air Conditioning - PLEASE help! A/C problem/question

I had my A/C checked about a month ago because it didn't seem like it was cooling as well as it should. The repair person said it was down a couple pounds of freon, and so he added it.

About a week ago, the A/C stopped working for part (the hot part) of the day. It worked the next day and from then on until yesterday when it did the same thing (stopped working during the heat of the day...and in TX, that's HOT). It worked again at night (stops around 11:00 am and starts around 8:00 pm).

Anyway, the same guy comes back out today and says this:

"Compressor is out on thermal overload. Cooled comp. with water. Started & checked freon pressure. Checked OK initially. Plates in compressor separate & pressure starts to equalize & amp draw increases to 56. Veriying compressor warranty."

In short, he said that the compressor was bad but that it should still be under warranty (about three years old and the warranty is five years), but the labor was not.

I asked him how long it should take to replace the compressor and he said about 4 hours. To me, that seemed like a long time but I don't really know. I then asked him how much that would be and he said (are you sitting down....) about $600. :eek:

To that I shouted "OH MY GOSH", and he went on to explain that it takes time to do all of this...blah blah.

Anyway, does this sound like a good diagnosis, and should I just go ahead and fork over the money, or should I get a second opinion?

...Anyway, does this sound like a good diagnosis, and should I just go ahead and fork over the money, or should I get a second opinion?

Second opinions are always good, but then there is the additional service call charge.

I'm not sure I am convinced that the problem has been diagnosed correctly. If pressures equalize, amp draw should drop. It is difficult to troubleshoot from several hundred miles away but I would advise you to get a second opinion on the diagnosis and the price to repair. Try to find a company who is referred by a trusted friend or relative. Don't tell them what was suggested by tech #1, just let them figure it out and suggest the repair.

Ken

Diagnosis sounds good or at least possible. I do suggest a second opinion. Can't comment on the labor rate because of huge differences in labor rates by company & area.

Diagnosis sounds good or at least possible. I do suggest a second opinion. Can't comment on the labor rate because of huge differences in labor rates by company & area.

I called the company that installed the thing and they are going to stop by to look at it and give me an estimate for free...not really diagnose it though.

I'll see what they say.

Second opinions are always good, but then there is the additional service call charge.

I just called another repair place as well and they quoted $770!


I'll keep shopping around until I find a reputable company that will do it for something like $70/hr or so.

Unless the guy owns the business he is not getting all that money, i am sure he is getting much less

He does own the business.

I have already found a place that is certified by Carrier that will do it for $535...still higher than what I expected, but getting there.

Around $125 an hour is the going rate for any type of service in my area.