EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
Just over 2 years ago we had a new Amana 3 ton, 16 Seer HVAC system installed. Since then, the coils have become plugged up from very fine dog hair and dust. The coils are in an upside down V shape and I'm able to get under them and clean off some of the hair with a wire brush so air flows through them again, but they are still very dirty. The solution is to remove the coils and clean them , then install them again and put refrigerant back into the system. Estimate is 4 hours labor at $90 an hour, plus refrigerant. If it's less time, he said they would charge us less. This is supposed to happen March.
We have 5 Akitas and 3 extra large doggy doors for them to come and go when they want. They have a one acre yard to run around it, and they like to play rough with each other, which means a lot of dust comes into the house constantly. They also shed a lot of hair. We have two Roomba's that run every day, plus my wife is a clean freak that is constantly cleaning. With Covid, she mostly works from home and is able to keep the house as clean as possible.
Because of the dogs, I change the air filter twice a month. It's always dirty, and it's always bowed up at the sides. The AC guy said that when the filter bows up, it's allowing the dust and dog hair to get to the coils.
To make sure it doesn't happen again, the HVAC guy showed me how to convert my one inch filter to a 2 inch filter. I found a six pack of 13 MER filters for $60 on Amazon, so that's not too bad. They are 20x20x2 and they should remain solid in place without bending up. I did this Saturday and will check on it next weekend to see how well they do. I expect to change them twice a month like before.
If all that makes sense, then this is my question. He suggested that we ad an ionizer to the system. He said that it plugs in by the fan and it charges the air so it clumps up the dust and hair in the house, and then the filter will catch more of it, which will keep the coils clean. His estimate for labor and materials is $567.75
I think that they have a significant mark up on materials and I'm wondering if this is something that I need? Does it work like he says it will? and most importantly, is this something that I can do myself if I can find an ionizer for a better price? From what he said, it's a quick, easy job to wire it up and attach it to the inside wall of the unit. It's a mounted to a magnet, but he will screw it to the wall to make it more secure.
When they told me that I should add a surge protector, they wanted $300 to do it, and they told me the make and model that they will use. I found it on Amazon for $50 and installed it myself. If they want $567 to do this, I'm wondering if I can find it for a lot less and save a couple hundred bucks? or do I even need an ionizer?
And my other question is can I just buy an ionizer for inside the house that plugs into an outlet and does not have anything to do with going inside of the HVAC unit? Would that accomplish the same thing? Would I save money doing it this way?
My last question is what to buy? Do you have one, does it work? where did you get it?
Thank you,
Eddie
We have 5 Akitas and 3 extra large doggy doors for them to come and go when they want. They have a one acre yard to run around it, and they like to play rough with each other, which means a lot of dust comes into the house constantly. They also shed a lot of hair. We have two Roomba's that run every day, plus my wife is a clean freak that is constantly cleaning. With Covid, she mostly works from home and is able to keep the house as clean as possible.
Because of the dogs, I change the air filter twice a month. It's always dirty, and it's always bowed up at the sides. The AC guy said that when the filter bows up, it's allowing the dust and dog hair to get to the coils.
To make sure it doesn't happen again, the HVAC guy showed me how to convert my one inch filter to a 2 inch filter. I found a six pack of 13 MER filters for $60 on Amazon, so that's not too bad. They are 20x20x2 and they should remain solid in place without bending up. I did this Saturday and will check on it next weekend to see how well they do. I expect to change them twice a month like before.
If all that makes sense, then this is my question. He suggested that we ad an ionizer to the system. He said that it plugs in by the fan and it charges the air so it clumps up the dust and hair in the house, and then the filter will catch more of it, which will keep the coils clean. His estimate for labor and materials is $567.75
I think that they have a significant mark up on materials and I'm wondering if this is something that I need? Does it work like he says it will? and most importantly, is this something that I can do myself if I can find an ionizer for a better price? From what he said, it's a quick, easy job to wire it up and attach it to the inside wall of the unit. It's a mounted to a magnet, but he will screw it to the wall to make it more secure.
When they told me that I should add a surge protector, they wanted $300 to do it, and they told me the make and model that they will use. I found it on Amazon for $50 and installed it myself. If they want $567 to do this, I'm wondering if I can find it for a lot less and save a couple hundred bucks? or do I even need an ionizer?
And my other question is can I just buy an ionizer for inside the house that plugs into an outlet and does not have anything to do with going inside of the HVAC unit? Would that accomplish the same thing? Would I save money doing it this way?
My last question is what to buy? Do you have one, does it work? where did you get it?
Thank you,
Eddie