Original message
| serenaMD
 |  "2 compressors in 3 years....now bad AGAIN!!!!"
, posted Fri 30 May 22:18  
I'm glad I found this forum.
We bought a brand new townhouse in Feb 2005, that my mom and sis live in (rent from us). Within a few months, once summer rolled around, the unit was giving us problems (it froze).
One year later, in summer 2006, AC unit stopped working. We were told the compressor was bad, and it was replaced, free-of-charge by the contractors that the builders used.
Fast forward to 2008.....and once again, the A/C unit is NOT working. Someone came to do an estimate and said the compressor is in fact bad, but because compressors don't blow out like this, that there is some other reason why the compressors are going bad. This repair guy said it looks like the things that were supposed to be replaced when the last compressor was installed, were not repaired (maybe the dryer and the liquid line??)
This HVAC guy thinks the whole unit is "contaminated" whatever that means....that even if we replaced the compressor (which hopefully would be covered by warranty), he thinks it will go bad again in another year or so.
So what do we do????????
1. Contact the company that did both the original installation and compressor repair, and complain that they didn't install it properly? What recourse do we have?
2. Contact the builder of the townhomes and complain that the unit has been defective from the beginning?
3. Suck it up and get a whole new unit installed, at OUR EXPENSE??
My fear is that IF the HVAC company that installed it and replaced the last compressor screwed up, how do we PROVE that they screwed up, and how do we get THEM to foot this bill???
Do we need legal action????
Any help you can provide is much appreciated!!!!
I just don't think we should have to be responsible for a NEW UNIT when the townhouse and AC unit is ONLY 3 years old, and has been through 2 compressors already.....
HELP!!!!!
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Replies:
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| Jojo98
| "Re(1):2 compressors in 3 years....now bad AGA" , posted Fri 30 May 23:29
Froze up how? As in a block of ice around the compressor or mechanically froze up (no ice) If the second compressor had an electrical failure, then the system could be contaminated, but that doesn't condemn the entire system, just more work to be done to to remove the acid. Whatever the cause, don't hire someone to just change out the compressor, like Houston wrote you must find the root cause and that is going to take time and money.
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| Houston204
| "Re(1):2 compressors in 3 years....now bad AGA" , posted Fri 30 May 22:51
Contact a different factory autorized dealer and have them identify any problems with your installation. (Undersized return air, refrigerant pipe size, tonnage...)
"Tip of the Day" Remember to remove power first.
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| | yuri
| "Re(2):2 compressors in 3 years....now bad AGA" , posted Sat 31 May 10:17
I would insist they put a suction line filter drier and liquid line filter drier on when they go to change the compressor and make sure they find out why it is blowing. Almost impossible to point fingers and sue over this as everyone will deny responsibility/blame the other guy and the legal fees will cost more than a new unit.
Yuri
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| | serenaMD
| "Re(3):2 compressors in 3 years....now bad AGA" , posted Mon 2 Jun 22:36
Thanks, guys. I appreciate your responses. I did have another company come in to do an estimate and they said that the unit was NOT contaminated, and that without installing a new compressor, they can't figure out what the root cause is. They will test the unit once they put the new compressor in. The service manager mention several things that could be the cause, but he said w/o getting the compressor in there, they can't tell what the problem will be. He said they do guarantee their workmanship for a year, so if the compressor goes bad AGAIN, then they will come out and repair for free. This company has a good rep in our town, also.
So what do you guys think? Does this sound right?
I think you're right in not being able to place blame on the previous company that did the installation and servicing; it's hard to prove.
But we're still out of nearly $1000. BOO! :(
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| | theduke03
| "Re(4):2 compressors in 3 years....now bad AGA" , posted Mon 2 Jun 23:21
I agree with your new service tech. Compressor needs to be running to evaluate the system. If a cause is found then it may point to the original installer or a subsequent hacker. Or maybe just bad luck.
"My dad was the most feared furnace fighter in Northern Indiana."
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