.. because I think I'm being set up to take a ride.
Had the house 3 years, been in it continuously for the last one.
Inherited three separate units:
2 ton Trane, 9 years old, newer than R22 refrigerant, "lifetime" CoolRay warranty that was put in for a empty unfinished basement at the time (1200 sq ft)
2 ton Ruud 12 year old R22 unit for main floor, 1400 sq ft
3 or 3.5 ton Ruud 12 year old R22 unit for upstairs, 1800 sq ft
We keep the house relatively warm during summer (76) and colder during winter (66-68).
started a 3 yr maint agreement with CoolRay when I bought the house, immediately had to put 3 lbs into the main floor unit, 1 lb into the upstairs. Time passes.. minor crap on the 2 Ruuds, Trane unit gets a new compressor and fan motor over that time- all under warranty (really wasn't being used, suspect it's short cycling). I think the previous owner got oversold.
Last week, pan on main floor unit is collecting water, condensation pump is fine, not coming from there. Maint agreement has *just* expired in March. Tech opens unit, nothing obvious. Runs unit a while, about the bottom quarter starts to develop frost. Pressure gauge is at 50, says it needs to be 65+. 3 more lbs later (at $100 a lb) unit appears to be cooling better and not dropping water in the pan.
So, unit is probably leaking and needs to be replaced, as R22 is just going to get to be more and more of a problem to get... Fine. Sales guy comes out... Puron (Carrier) 2 ton 15 SEER units start at 7+k installed, go to 10k (and they're pushing some new POS wifi thermostat that has weather prediction, email, more crap I don't need- I have perfectly good, easily programmable, Honeywell RTH8500s). Ouch.
I have a Reliable rep coming today for a quote.. but considering CoolRay is paying for a stadium and Reliable is paying for most of the billboards in Cobb and Cherokee, I think those figures won't be any lower.
This is in the Woodstock area. I thought I'd be looking at about 5k+. Anyone have an honest HVAC rep?