HVAC Compressor Shot

[Eightpoint]

A few days before Xmas we were having trouble with our heat pump (York 5 ton) and called an HVAC company to come take a look. When the heat would try to come on the lights would dim like it was pulling hard. They tested a bunch of stuff and said the capacitor was fine, the R22 charge was fine but that the compressor was locked up and would need to be replaced. They used a start assist on it and said that it pulled 184 amps and that the capacitor checked out at 84 MFD. Not being an HVAC guy myself I asked what the bottom line was and they said the good news was that the compressor was under warranty so there would be no charge for the parts but labor would be $1,010. You can guess at my response so I asked how long it would take and they said half a day they could get me up and running. Something sounded fishy so I paid the $75 for the diagnostic and sent them on their way.

I picked up the phone and called a few other HVAC companies and explained the scenario and one company said that if the compressor was shot and was under warranty the labor would be $625 and another company quoted $650. Given the drastic difference in the phone quote vs the on-site quote I am now questioning the original diagnosis.

Any HVAC pros out there with any thoughts on a) the diagnosis or b) the labor quote? I am in central Virginia if that makes a difference. Am running on emergency heat right now but thankfully it is not too cold outside.

 

[Slice]

if the lights where dimming and lock rotor was 184 amps sounds like its locked up tight, 650 is the range for labor for a warranty change out, make sure the run capacitor and contactor are replaced,

have one of those you called out to give 2nd opinion... wont hurt a thing

i am in the Houtson area or i could help you out.

 

[Eightpoint]

Slice - thanks a bunch for your input. In your experience would the run capacitor and contactor normally be a warranty item or is it one of those things you should go ahead and have them replace "while they are at it?"

 

[kenmac]

If the compressor is pulling LRA . I don't understand why the breaker didn't trip. I wold make sure the breaker is sized right for your unit. Your unit will list the min & max breaker protection. The capacitor & contractor will only be a warranty item if they are defective . The supply houses here will check the items to determine if they are defective. Make sure they install diers on the system. 650 is a good price if driers are included. They will probably use your refrigerant unless, you had a burn out. If you had a compressor burn out you'er system will need to be flushed

 

[Eightpoint]

Good point - I was curious about the breaker also. After reading Eddie's post about his water heater issues/bad breaker I am wondering if I had a defective breaker. Don't know if this would contribute to a premature failure of a compressor though.

 

[kenmac]

How old is you'er system ? You may want get a price on upgrading to a 13 or larger seer unit

 

[Eightpoint]

The unit was new with the house - 5 years old. Was a little surprised to hear that it crapped out this quickly but I guess it happens.

 

[kenmac]

Who knows ?? Could be the way it was 1st installed. Or, it just gave up.

 

[Stimw]

I've got a 3 ton Geothermal Heatpump that I have had for two years. Just before the one year anniversary the wires burned off of the compressor. They had routed the three wires under the compressor wire cover and over top of the compressor connections. My theroy was that vibration shorted them out.
My compressor was replaced under warranty and cost me $450. labor but mine is accessable on two sides and very easy to change. I complained about the wiring issue with pics and got $250. back from the manufacturer.

 

[kenmac]

I have replaced wires that have had terminal ends burn off several times. They even make a kit for this. The compressors weren't hurt because of this

 

[Stimw]

I put new connectors on the wires but by then the compressor was fried. I think it put voltage to the wrong wire with the compressor running.

 

[dqdave1]

Get a second opinion; ask why breaker did not trip; may have been tripping internal protection. Quick test with a continuity tester is to check each wire to ground. Hot leads should not be to ground; if they are; compressor is toast. That labor quote is high.

 

[Sackett2]

The unit was new with the house - 5 years old. Was a little surprised to hear that it crapped out this quickly but I guess it happens.

My parents have been in their house 30 years, had at least 3 compressors fail (maybe 4?) the newest one has a lifetime warranty. I'm thankful my parents could afford the repairs, many people couldn't...

 

[CurlyDave]

Something sounded fishy so I paid the $75 for the diagnostic and sent them on their way.

Next time ask on the phone is they give free estimates. Almost every company will say yes if asked, but will charge you if you didn't ask.

 

[Sigarms]

b) the labor quote?

I've seen quotes as low as $200 up in the boonies up to $1400 for labor only. $650 probably average for a small company. Then again, usually with the lower quotes (edit: took out the acid test) they don't even want to spend a couple bucks for a new drier if it isn't included from the manufacturer under wrty parts. Don't put in a new drier, you can end up getting yet more issues down the road even with a new compressor.

Next time ask on the phone is they give free estimates. Almost every company will say yes if asked, but will charge you if you didn't ask.

If you tell company what you think the problem is, they can always give you a "ball park" figure even if they don't use flat rate pricing. However, you will almost always have to pay a standard "trip fee" for the service tech to come out to verify the issue, and you will still pay that trip fee if the issue isn't what you thought and the company didn't do any service work other then check the system (gas, drive time and paying a tech actually adds up).

My parents have been in their house 30 years, had at least 3 compressors fail (maybe 4?) the newest one has a lifetime warranty.

"Average" life expectancy for a residential HVAC system is 13 years.

I'm going to guess Goodman for the new wrty. Read the fine print. I hope their new system is R410A or they will still pay a hefty price if the compressor goes out 20 years down the road (even if it goes out in 7). Labor is the most important variable when it comes to a HVAC wrty. I'm certain however that the HVAC company explained why with the new lifetime wrty it would be cheaper going with the 410 system.

Who knows ?? Could be the way it was 1st installed.

Funny, that's always my first thought. An HVAC system is a lot like the human body. You have so many processes that rely up each other that sometimes when a "symtom" sp? shows up, the underlying issue may be masked by somthing else. The problem is issues may take years to show up (usually due to the way the sytem was installed).

Or, it just gave up.

I sincerely think you'd be amazed at the number of compressors that are returned to a manufacturer under wrty that really are not bad. Then again, anything mechanical can go bad, and sometimes people at the plant actually don't put wires where they are supposed to go.

I'd call another company that quoted around $600 for the labor, have them check the system out (service call may or may not be applied to the total bill) and see what they say. I would suggest you save everything in writing. Keep in mind, if the system is still under wrty, the wrty expires after the intsallation date, not when the new part was installed (usually standard shelf parts due have a 1 year "off the shelf" wrty if the unit is out of wrty).