It's home A/C failure season - Coil replacement on a 5T residential unit

My home decided to participate in A/C failure season, a tech came out and decided the coil was leaking. It's a carrier 5ton unit that uses R22 that's 12 years old(2003). The coil was already replaced in 2009 but rusty as hell.

This guy quoted $3k for the coil+capacitor+associated parts replacement or $8k for a completely new system. Looking at the receipt in 2009 it looks like the coil was $1300 with labor back then. Is that about the going rate? I found one for $700 online. Is there some DIY/grassroots savings to be made here or should I stay away from the tools?

The coils have to be soldered into place, at least on my two. I recently tore them apart and scrapped them. I would call around and get quotes. If you say you found your coils online for $700, confront HVAC guy and tell him to explain his quote.

Get competitive quotes.

The capacitor should be like $50, but I am not sure why it's needed.

The capacitor fried when the unit kept trying to run with low freon from the coil leak.

Thanks! I thought this guy's prices were expensive too. Last time I bought a capacitor it was $80, this guy wanted like $270.

run

is it possible its an updated part? Our rusty, clogged coil was replaced this year, couldn't tell you cost as it fell under manufacturer's warranty, but the new one was all aluminum.

Our coil was $1,100 a couple years ago, but the unit is smaller than 5 ton. We know the AC man, he does our stuff on the side.

I thought you were renting?

Find the leaks and braze it?

I had a 5t Trane XL19i installed in October of 2009 for $5300. This was a complete new system, with 12 year warranty.

I think the price you were quoted is high.

Are you in Florida? Check with FPL for any rebates on a new unit.

I can tell you that the coils are worth about $15 in scrap.

spitfirebill wrote: Our coil was $1,100 a couple years ago, but the unit is smaller than 5 ton. We know the AC man, he does our stuff on the side. I thought you were renting?

Yeah it's kinda complicated. We were renting, then the landlord sold the house and we had 30 days to boogy. We've been trying to buy so we didn't want to sign another lease so (drum roll please) we moved in with my wife's grandparents! It's kind of crazy because they don't speak much english (read: none) but on a positive note it's only 1.5 miles to work now, I'm working on my spanish, coffee is ready every morning and they live in a big ass house. A big ass hot house.

I got another quote over the phone for $2400 for the coil/ ~5k ish for a new system. Got another guy coming this evening that was recommended by a friend and he sounds real promising.

Latest is $4k to replace everything except the furnace with a 14 SEER Trane unit.

Why don't you get a heat pump? Drop the furnace.

Furnace still works and is under warranty. That and it's really not necessary in FL.

spitfirebill wrote: Why don't you get a heat pump? Drop the furnace.

We just switched one of our rental units back from a heat pump to a traditional AC/furnace setup. When the other unit craps out we will be doing the same. The renters were never happy with how they performed and they broke a lot. Since going back to an old school setup everyone is happy.

slefain wrote:

spitfirebill wrote: Why don't you get a heat pump? Drop the furnace.

We just switched one of our rental units back from a heat pump to a traditional AC/furnace setup. When the other unit craps out we will be doing the same. The renters were never happy with how they performed and they broke a lot. Since going back to an old school setup everyone is happy.

Yea but he is in Tampa. We have had good results with our Goodman units. The original Yorks sucked.

5T units are a weird size, bigger than normal for a home and smaller than normal for a business. I wouldn't be surprised if you could get two 2-3T units and the tin work to split the house into two zones for the same $.