Posted: 5/26/2010 1:45:00 PM EDT
| I've got a 13 yr old Amana Central Air unit that has a leak in it. I'm debating as to whether I should see if it can be fixed, or if I should just buy a new unit. The HVAC guy that gave me his quotes said it would cost about $485 to search and fix the leak, and if they couldn't fix it all but about $50 would go towards a new unit. One of the units they recommended was a Bryant 13 SEER (model number 113ANA024000). Any of you HVAC guys have any comments or suggestions, and what are your thoughts on Bryant systems? |
| Have your service guy look for a new product made by NuCalgon called A/C Easy Seal. It's on the main page of their website http://www.nucalgon.com It's a fairly new product that works great for refrigerant leaks. It's like a Stop Leak used in car radiators for years but now in a reliable version for A/C and refrigeration systems. There are a couple other brands of these leak stop products on the market, that can cause you troubles down the road. The Easy Seal product circulates throughout the system with the refrigerant and when it comes in contact with oxygen is solidified and seals the leak. Other brands on the market circulate through the system with the oil. The problem with that is if you/your tech ever has to open up your refrigeration system to service it for any reason, the leak sealing prouct, still left behind in the oil, will start to solidify in the system whenever oxygen gets into the system while it's getting worked on. Then when your system is fixed/recharged these chunks of solidified sealant clog up metering devices, driers, cap tubes in the evap. etc... The Easy Seal is removed from the system with the refrigerant by the use of recovery machines now common in the industry and not left behind if they have to get back into our system for any reason. After the repair is made the refrigerant can be re-charged into your system with the Easy Seal still in the refrigerant to stop any future leaks that might occur in the future. Easy Seal is the only leak stopping product approved by the major compressor manufacturers so theirs no warranty issues down the road. I work for a major HVAC/R wholesaler and have sold MANY of these to local contractors with so far not the 1st negative complaint from a customer. I'd put it in my personal unit with no hesitation... luckily though to date I don't have any leaks. It usually runs about $50 for a residential type charge plus labor, that takes about 5 minutes and then re-charge your system. They will probably need to come back in a week or 2 to double check that your leak has sealed entirely and your charge isn't too low, but usually it's not a problem. It's a lot cheaper than buying a new system or paying serviceman labor rates for hours trying to chase down a nuiscance leak. Something to think about. If you can't find any locally let me know and I'll get you in contact with one of our branches local to you. |
| I'll ask about that. I'm kind of in the air as to whether I want to repair it or replace it. It'll cost a min, $485 if it's repairable, and if it's not then they will put all but $59 towards the new unit. My only concern is, I shell out $485 and 3 months down the road it goes tits up and I need to spend $2k on a new unit. . |