Air Conditioning - Repair or replace? Evap Coils w/ leaks and rust

I originally posted this under heat pumps, but realized this forum is more applicable. Sorry it's long.

Please bear with me, as this is the first time I've posted. I'm completely overwhelmed with trying to sort out problems with our Rheem heat pumps. We have two - one is 14 years old (better one) and the other is 13 years (problem child).

The 13 year old heat pump has given us problems since we bought the house 2 years ago. Every Spring, we have the A/C guy come out and he checks them. Last year on the 13 year old pump, the coils froze up and water started dripping into the overflow pan underneath the unit in the attic. The guy came out and "blew out the lines" and put freon in it. The other unit was fine last year.

A couple weeks ago, the A/C guy came out and added freon to the OTHER unit this year (the 14 yr old), but said they both looked fine.

My husband left last week for a year deployment and BAM...I notice water dripping all over the outside of the house from the upper condensation pipe. (I know the lower one is supposed to drip) So, I go up in the attic and, sure enough, there is water 3/4 the way full in the metal overflow pan under the 13 year old unit. I turned off the thermostat for the unit and siphoned off all the water in the overflow pan...I'm just thankful it didn't mess up the ceiling in the house. I called the A/C guy and he didn't show up.

So, a couple days later I called another company. I was leary of them, but didn't know who to call. The guy came over and started pushing their maintenance plans. He checked out both units and said that the 13 yr old's evap. coils were "a rust bucket" and said that there was freon on the outside of the coils. I went up into the attic and looked at this unit and did see rust all over the coils with rust flaking off and laying in the bottom of the unit. Also, there was greasy stuff (he said it was the freon) on the coils.

I wasn't able to climb up and see the other unit (it's had to get to), but he said it looked better than the first unit, but still had some rust and freon was leaking (this is the unit that freon was added to a couple weeks ago).

So, the A/C guy said "Found visible refrig. leaks in both evap. coils. Coil drains full of rust. Recommend at least changing evap. coils and get on maintenance agreement" He said at a minimum to change out coils in each unit, but to do it right we should consider getting new units and redoing the duct work because of a cathedral coming out of the 13 yr old unit. We only plan on staying in the house 2-3 more years, so I don't think that would be worth it, but don't know.

Any advice would be appreciated! I'm very handy at repairing drywall, installing lighting, etc, but this has me stumped. I feel like I'm dealing with a used car salesman!

Does the system need to be replaced or would new coils do the trick, OR is it okay to just blow out the line every spring and install a wet switch? He said the leaking freon from the coils is blowing into our house and we are breathing it in!? Is this just a scare tactic, or true? I don't want to get ripped off, but I also don't want to have a constant headache and potentially have the unit fall through the ceiling while we're out of town from water damage, plus harm our lungs.

Please help! I'm completely exhausted from car repairs, computer dying and replacing it, home repairs, and children injured/sick...all in the first week my husband is gone. Thanks!

Get someone else in there to look at it. Sounds to me that your original problem was that the primary drain clogged up. Ask friends and neighbors who they trust and use and give them a shot. This guy is a salesman period. Yes if the coil is leaking it will put refrigerant into your home but it's not going to hurt anyone.

I agree that a second opinion is in order.

Ditto that if there is a leak it will not harm you.
You will not see "freon" on the coil but the greasy substance could be oil that travels with the refrigerant and can leave a trace where there is a leak.
Typically the oil residue will be seen on the end bends on the coil and less commonly on the fins.

It would make perfect sense to replace the coils if there is excessive rusting of the pans but you would have to get estimates from several trades people along with their suggestions on what to do .

Thank you "mattison" and "Greg H"! I will get a second opinion this coming week. And, thanks for alleviating some of the stress involved. :)