A/C system is seriously fubar'd - need $$$ advice

[KBScobravert]

HUGE thanks to TurboSkull. He came out and buttoned up my install. I now have A/C and he cut me a great great deal. On top of that, he didn't pull the "you are a peasant" mentality on me like previous A/C guys have done. Both my brother-in-law and I were out there explaining all we did and he was explaining the process and what could/could not be wrong.

Great guy to deal with, again...thank you!

Congrats. Just in time for the summer months.

[IHaveAMustang]

HUGE thanks to TurboSkull. He came out and buttoned up my install. I now have A/C and he cut me a great great deal. On top of that, he didn't pull the "you are a peasant" mentality on me like previous A/C guys have done. Both my brother-in-law and I were out there explaining all we did and he was explaining the process and what could/could not be wrong.

Great guy to deal with, again...thank you!

[KBScobravert]

Do you mind letting me know the ballpark area of what you paid? I have almost 2000 sqft that would need insulation, your house is larger than mine.

I will check the receipt tonight. We had the insulation put in at the same time as more soffit vents, more exhaust fans, and the underside of the attic sprayed in that radiant stuff.

[IHaveAMustang]

Our only section of flooring in our attic is above the garage. Only time will tell if our decission to go to 22-24" was worth it. We had the work done in Jan/Feb. Our electric bill last month was less than $80. That is about $30 less than our bill the same time last year and I wasn't home then to add to the electric bill like I was last month.

Do you mind letting me know the ballpark area of what you paid? I have almost 2000 sqft that would need insulation, your house is larger than mine.

[KBScobravert]

I was seriously considering it, you think I don't have enough in there? It's about 12" deep, I don't want it overflowing though, I have a mostly floored attic, don't want to miss-step and fall 16 feet.

Our only section of flooring in our attic is above the garage. Only time will tell if our decission to go to 22-24" was worth it. We had the work done in Jan/Feb. Our electric bill last month was less than $80. That is about $30 less than our bill the same time last year and I wasn't home then to add to the electric bill like I was last month.

[IHaveAMustang]

Next you need more insulation. We stopped once we got to 22-24".

I was seriously considering it, you think I don't have enough in there? It's about 12" deep, I don't want it overflowing though, I have a mostly floored attic, don't want to miss-step and fall 16 feet.

[KBScobravert]

Next you need more insulation. We stopped once we got to 22-24".

[IHaveAMustang]

Just some photos of our install.

[jyro]

I suppose you figured out that all those letters mean

t (C,O, B, E, W2, R, G, Y1/Y2)

C,O, B, E, W2, R, G, Y1/Y2)

C- is common on your 24volt transformer
O- switches your reversing valve to cool
B- also switches the reversing valve you never use b and o both, it's one or the other depending on what your condenser requires, powered reversing valve for cool or powered reversing valve for heat.
E- I think this would connect to a external thermostat and auto switch your heatpump to emergency heat when the temp is below 30 or so.
W2- auxillary heat, usually a electric heat strip
R- the other side of the 24 volt transformer lead
G- turns the fan on in the inside unit
Y1-Y2- turns the compressor, 1 is first stage 2 is the second , I don't think your's has 2 stage cooling, just use y1.

[IHaveAMustang]

" I will post photos of the install, we're not a bunch of idiot monkies, we did it right. I just can't go any further because it requires a professional. "

Good luck with it all, you might look at changing the dryer while your at it or add one if there is none.

Your spelling of monkeys doesn't instill confidence in the rest of your statement. (lol I had to bust your chops some, this is DFWmustangs after all)
But congrads on taking on this project, I'm sure you're learning a lot.

NO excuse. Ban me for a week. I should have speell chekered. But Congrats on finding my spelling mistake.

lol, I am actually learning a lot! I traced the wires from the outside unit, made note of the different letters on the panel/thermostat (C,O, B, E, W2, R, G, Y1/Y2)

Replaced the contact switch on the outside unit with my Brother-in-law. Hooked up the 220 into the air handler and then combined the wires from air handler, outside unit and thermostat myself.

But like Sam mentioned, I can't test the lines myself. I had an A/C company come out and test it for me, and they were the ones that said the outside unit had a leak somewhere. I'm pretty much done, most of that $3000 quote was for labor. We spent around 8 hours in the attic/outside, I know labor is not cheap, so that is where most of my money was saved.

Basically now it is:
-Sweat lines on
-Check system for leaks
-Charge system


Leare

[jyro]

Good luck

" I will post photos of the install, we're not a bunch of idiot monkies, we did it right. I just can't go any further because it requires a professional. "

Good luck with it all, you might look at changing the dryer while your at it or add one if there is none.

Your spelling of monkeys doesn't instill confidence in the rest of your statement. (lol I had to bust your chops some, this is DFWmustangs after all)
But congrads on taking on this project, I'm sure you're learning a lot.

[Samhain]

There aren't any "problems to inherit", but thanks for inferring we just threw it up there on some cinder blocks

So you've tested the line set and condenser for leaks? That's the kind of problem I'm talking about. I understand trying to do what you can on your own to save some cash, but like Turboskull posted you'll end up spending just as much in the end.

[IHaveAMustang]

If you have a new outside unit, don't worry about those small lines I was referring to. They are attached to the txv on the outside unit provided it's a heat pump and it sounds like that's what you have. you also may have a wireng problem with the 2 different brands units being heat pumps. Is the inside unit a Goodman also?

my last bottle of R-22 bought last week was 325+tax. it went up this week.

At 25$ a lb I am making 750 a bottle gross --- I'm making $400 a bottle
I've never tried to get rich doing this. I am fair to everybody.

http://www.carolinalive.com/news/story.aspx?id=716384

Outside unit is the one that came with the house. It is an Amana (goodman) and the inside unit is a goodman. The outside unit is a heat pump.

I will post photos of the install, we're not a bunch of idiot monkies, we did it right. I just can't go any further because it requires a professional.

Most guys won't touch your system because of the problems that they will inherit. Repairs are one thing, trying to finish up after a "handy man special" is a different ball game.

There aren't any "problems to inherit", but thanks for inferring we just threw it up there on some cinder blocks

[jyro]

I do AC work in and around Midlothian

Are you a service provider? I would very much like my unit filled up for $25/lb. I also need the lines sweated on as well. Where are the small lines generally located? In the metal fins?
There was already a p-trap installed from the original unit, it is now cleared out but I am stopping while I am ahead, I plan on letting the pro's take it from here.

If you have a new outside unit, don't worry about those small lines I was referring to. They are attached to the txv on the outside unit provided it's a heat pump and it sounds like that's what you have. you also may have a wireng problem with the 2 different brands units being heat pumps. Is the inside unit a Goodman also?

my last bottle of R-22 bought last week was 325+tax. it went up this week.

At 25$ a lb I am making 750 a bottle gross --- I'm making $400 a bottle
I've never tried to get rich doing this. I am fair to everybody.

http://www.carolinalive.com/news/story.aspx?id=716384

[Samhain]

Goodman just ran a one day special for $290.00 per 30lb cylinder.

I pay around that.