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Dec 30th, 2023
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 Any A/C guys on here
#15031964
03/30/24 10:10 PM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 5,784
Minner Bucket
OP
TFF Celebrity
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OP
TFF Celebrity
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 5,784 |
Looking at replacing our A/C system as it’s 20 years old and on its last leg before it gets hot. Have had 3 different companies out so far for quotes. Guy today cuts squares out of the plenum and notices black mold throughout. Obviously mold is no bueno but why wouldn’t the other companies have done that? The mold was news to us as nobody else mentioned it. Guy says plenum can’t be cleaned and we have the equivalent of 5 up there with mold that will need replaced. Talk about sticker shock on what they are saying just to replace the plenum, $8k . We have a U/V light up there but it doesn’t work.  So far average cost of new system is around $15k, 4 ton 16 seers. Any advice from the gurus on here? Anyone know a REPUTABLE A/C company in San Antonio? As is, I’m looking at $20+K and not thinking that sounds right.
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Re: Any A/C guys on here
[Re: Minner Bucket]
#15031969
03/30/24 10:15 PM
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 20,595
Baylor_Guy�
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 20,595 |
I’m an hvac guy. If you want I’ll PM you my number and feel free to text me bc I wanna see pictures too.
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Re: Any A/C guys on here
[Re: Minner Bucket]
#15031971
03/30/24 10:15 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 16,926
grout-scout
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 16,926 |
Good lord things have gotten expensive.
Did the UV light burn out or something? (I know nothing about them, so I’m just interested in learning)
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Re: Any A/C guys on here
[Re: Minner Bucket]
#15031973
03/30/24 10:20 PM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 5,784
Minner Bucket
OP
TFF Celebrity
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OP
TFF Celebrity
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 5,784 |
I have no idea, guy said hopefully just a bulb replacement but that won’t get rid of existing mold, just prevent future growth. IDK
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Re: Any A/C guys on here
[Re: Minner Bucket]
#15031974
03/30/24 10:21 PM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 5,784
Minner Bucket
OP
TFF Celebrity
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OP
TFF Celebrity
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 5,784 |
I’m about sick of home repairs, it’s cutting into my new boat desire!
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Re: Any A/C guys on here
[Re: grout-scout]
#15031978
03/30/24 10:22 PM
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 20,595
Baylor_Guy�
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 20,595 |
Good lord things have gotten expensive.
Did the UV light burn out or something? (I know nothing about them, so I’m just interested in learning) Yeah it really has been. Last year they phased out R410 which had replaced R22 not long ago. Not only that but with Covid and supply chain issues that made prices sky rocket egregiously high and when they realized people would pay those prices, there was no incentive to go down. Inflation made it incredibly worse too.
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Re: Any A/C guys on here
[Re: Minner Bucket]
#15031980
03/30/24 10:25 PM
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,789
HookaToad
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,789 |
I’m about sick of home repairs, it’s cutting into my new boat desire! THink its bad now....wait until you buy a new boat....it always knows how much money you have in your pocket..
Good Fishing and God Bless
“I’d rather be a failure at something I enjoy than to be a success at something I hate”
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Re: Any A/C guys on here
[Re: Minner Bucket]
#15032036
03/30/24 11:26 PM
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 20,595
Baylor_Guy�
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 20,595 |
And for anyone else, yall feel free to PM me whenever yall have an AC question or think someone is trying to gouge you, I’d be more than happy to be your free trusted consultant so just let a homie know.
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Re: Any A/C guys on here
[Re: Minner Bucket]
#15032050
03/30/24 11:39 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 121,750
TexDawg
Top Dawg
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Top Dawg
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 121,750 |
I’m about sick of home repairs
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Re: Any A/C guys on here
[Re: Minner Bucket]
#15032057
03/30/24 11:48 PM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 14,715
river-rat
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 14,715 |
"I have not failed, I just found 10,000 ways it won't work". Thomas Edison
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Re: Any A/C guys on here
[Re: Minner Bucket]
#15032103
03/31/24 12:57 AM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 729
Lakhota
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 729 |
There are only two plenums on a system a return and supply then the ductwork is attached to the plenum. More than likely it’s not mold and if it is it’s not BLACK mold it’s just mold that is black there is a big difference.
A lot of the time when the system is changed out the plenums are changed as the dimensions are not the same between the old and new system (unit) other times a transition will be made.
As was stated already 410A is starting to be phased out and the EPA wants production of it to be cut by 60% this year which is going to drive the cost of that refrigerant up. There appears to be three different refrigerant used to replace it instead of one like the last time. All of these to my knowledge are going to have a propane base to them. Also as was already stated COVID and the COVID excuse has caused issues in the industry and then all of the changes that the EPA wants to do is driving cost up. All of this cost is being passed on to the consumer.
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Re: Any A/C guys on here
[Re: Minner Bucket]
#15032141
03/31/24 01:47 AM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 13,275
GarySHO
Ice Ice Baby
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Ice Ice Baby
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 13,275 |
The gov has stuck their nose in the HVAC business. I just had mine redone. I had my evaporator coil and compressor and dryer etc done. Was all 15 years old and the evap was leaking. They said if I went with replacing the whole unit that new gov regs requires that you have to flow alot more air than before so you would need to replace everything with a unit nearly twice as big. FJB. So, I just had them replace all the wear item parts.
![[Linked Image]](http://i1359.photobucket.com/albums/q784/GarySHO/myspace-graphic-funny022_zpsfe2f4386.jpg) A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends upon the character of the user- Theodore Roosevelt Broken Bow Lake Fishing Guide 2020 Caymas CX 20 PRO and 250 SHO Hochatownfishingguide.com
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Re: Any A/C guys on here
[Re: Lakhota]
#15032158
03/31/24 01:51 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,060
POPPA
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,060 |
There are only two plenums on a system a return and supply then the ductwork is attached to the plenum. More than likely it’s not mold and if it is it’s not BLACK mold it’s just mold that is black there is a big difference.
A lot of the time when the system is changed out the plenums are changed as the dimensions are not the same between the old and new system (unit) other times a transition will be made.
As was stated already 410A is starting to be phased out and the EPA wants production of it to be cut by 60% this year which is going to drive the cost of that refrigerant up. There appears to be three different refrigerant used to replace it instead of one like the last time. All of these to my knowledge are going to have a propane base to them. Also as was already stated COVID and the COVID excuse has caused issues in the industry and then all of the changes that the EPA wants to do is driving cost up. All of this cost is being passed on to the consumer. i agree. most all mold is black. this guy is yanking yur chain on the 8k replacement of plenums. 15k is alittle high but mite be normal in your area and situation
Last edited by POPPA; 03/31/24 01:56 AM.
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Re: Any A/C guys on here
[Re: GarySHO]
#15032164
03/31/24 01:53 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,060
POPPA
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,060 |
The gov has stuck their nose in the HVAC business. I just had mine redone. I had my evaporator coil and compressor and dryer etc done. Was all 15 years old and the evap was leaking. They said if I went with replacing the whole unit that new gov regs requires that you have to flow alot more air than before so you would need to replace everything with a unit nearly twice as big. FJB. So, I just had them replace all the wear item parts. you can have any unit you want installed in your home. gov regs only come into play on rebates and energy star.
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Re: Any A/C guys on here
[Re: Minner Bucket]
#15032198
03/31/24 02:42 AM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 729
Lakhota
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 729 |
What the government is doing is requiring that the unit be more efficient higher SEER, to have variable speed motors, and two stages and a big push towards heat pumps. Efficiency is great however there is a cost to all of this and what we have been seeing the ECM motors don’t last as long and the VFD’s in the package units are a joke.
In the past a PSC blower motor would cost the AC company say $150 the consumer would pay maybe $300 the new ECM blower motor will cost the AC company easily $300 or more.
We are VERY lucky that we live in TX were gas furnaces are still legal unlike CA.
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