Finally had service come out and recharge my home AC. Old style R-22 Freon was $225 a pound today. Last few 100+F days were fun. anyone had their systems replaced lately?? Tech's rough estimate was $5000+ (about what we are saving up for an exterior paint job).
Home HVAC service
1 - 8 of 8 Posts
Joined
·
37,118 Posts
Living is seemingly ever more expensive, but with air conditioners we've been pretty lucky so far. The annual service cost this spring was just $80. The real expense is the electric it takes to run the unit...during the summer months our electric bill more than doubles, but the a/c does get quite a workout here in central Florida. 
Joined
·
864 Posts
Being very mechanically inclined as well as being someone who DIYs just about everything, I’d opt to recharge the system myself. A quick glance around Google revealed that R-22 is available for about $18 a pound. Maybe that $225 figure included all the labor, fees and surcharges associated with having a business that deals with refrigerant.
Joined
·
391 Posts
Not recently. But 11 years ago, we replaced our old HVAC with a geothermal heat pump. It is been trouble free.
I have a two-zone system and I think it was about $15,000 to replace last year (Carrier Infinity series, SEER 21 I think), but that's on the "gimme the frosting and everything!" end of the spectrum. I will say I've seen a noticeable reduction in my electricity bills, post-install.
Freon is highly controlled, so it's very expensive. Part of the reason I had my system replace (other than be-ing 15 years old) was that I could have recharged it with Freon, and a week later it might all leak out... and I live in Atlanta, where unreliable air-conditioning is not an option, and I didn't want a $500/week Freon habit.
As far as DYI goes, any R-22 available on the market is recycled; you also need en EPA certification to (legally) purchase it (likewise other refrigerants, R-134a, etc.)... I would approach offers to sell R-22 online with skepticism (FWIW).
DH
Freon is highly controlled, so it's very expensive. Part of the reason I had my system replace (other than be-ing 15 years old) was that I could have recharged it with Freon, and a week later it might all leak out... and I live in Atlanta, where unreliable air-conditioning is not an option, and I didn't want a $500/week Freon habit.
As far as DYI goes, any R-22 available on the market is recycled; you also need en EPA certification to (legally) purchase it (likewise other refrigerants, R-134a, etc.)... I would approach offers to sell R-22 online with skepticism (FWIW).
DH
We're in the process of installing an air to air heat pump for both heating and cooling. With summers in VT becoming more and more like summers a lot farther south, the heat pump should be more efficient and cheaper than relying on a huge window unit. Plus it is more environmentally friendly that other sources of heat as there are more and more alternative electricity sources today than ever.
I'm keeping our gas steam boiler as a backup for now as I am not sure yet how the heat pump will work at ten below. (My brother is an architect and they use these all the time and no longer put in back up heating as they are not necessary).
We'll see how the winter goes
Joined
·
1 Posts
If your AC system is constantly needing a recharge and using the outdated R-22 Freon, it may be time to consider replacing the system altogether. While the initial cost of a new system can seem daunting, it may end up saving you money in the long run with increased energy efficiency and fewer repair costs. It's always a good idea to get a free estimate on ac repair and installation from a reputable HVAC company in your area. They can provide you with an accurate cost estimate based on the specific needs of your home and offer suggestions on which system would be the best fit for you.
1 - 8 of 8 Posts
