If it's not one thing, it's another

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

We have been very lucky with our house. In 11 years we have only had to replace the water heater, the oven and a clothes dryer. Honestly I can't complain about my old gal ( she was built the year I was born ).

At 6AM this morning my DH was hollering my name. There was a LOT of noise coming from above the kitchen ceiling. Turned off the c/a and the noise went away. Not much I can do at that hour so I went back to sleep. I'm not sure what time the problem started...sometime between midnight and 6AM.

The c/a is totally separate from the heating system. From what I have garnered from the web it is a split system. The problem is evidently the blower &/0r the evaporater coil in the attic.

The system was installed sometime between 1984 & 1993. Should we see how much to fix it or bite the bullet and install a new system? I hear the new systems are much more efficient now but another $6K +/- is kind of hard to swallow on top of the $$$ we are spending right now.

I'll be lucky if I can get anyone here tomorrow. It's 94 degrees here today and medusa hair humidity alert is in effect.

Anyone have this issue and can make recommendations?

[mshatty Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close mshatty]

You will probably have to bite the bullet and buy a new system. If the old one can be fixed, it is temporary and you will still have a 20+ year old system. If you spend $1,000 to $2,000 it would probably be better to make a down payment on the new system because you will have to buy one sooner or later.

I replaced my A/C and other attic systems, evaporator etc., with a new efficient system and I have noticed a dramatic drop in electric bills, as much as $100+ per month during the high hot seasons.

Hopefully, you can find someone you trust to tell you what is really wrong and make an honest recommendation to you.

[katiemack Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close katiemack]

Lawren, Sounds like life is building speed!

If you can get some quotes on the repair, and then have it repaired with the intention of putting the replacement system on the top of your next year's list of "we gotta do this"...it may be easier to swallow the cost of the new system at that time, while you get through this season with the repaired one.

I agree though, if you can afford to replace the old one now...you will enjoy greater efficiency and have the luxury of choosing the system that truly will give you what you want....especially quiet, as there are so many new systems with quieter features.

Good luck! Hugs.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

lawren,

I'm sorry that you now have to deal with a broken air conditioning system......

katiemack has made a good suggestion. If you can invest a minimum amount that would get you through this season, maybe that's the way to go. I wouldn't invest any kind of real money though. Not worth it for a system that old.

I have my fingers crossed that you will get good news from the air conditioning people.


As far as your Medusa hair goes, I recommend a good mousse, or a pony tail, maybe both.....

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

This just happened to my best friend 2 days ago with his C/A. He got a price quote for replacing his compressor at about $700 to $1000. They are not sure yet on the price as the repair man is a friend and he will be trying to save him money.

[Carol C Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Carol C]

Sing along with me...

"It's getting hot in here, so take off all your clothes" la dee da, la dee da.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Sing along with me...

"It's getting hot in here, so take off all your clothes" la dee da, la dee da.

Great idea! Lawren sing along

[Fern Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fern]

Lawren, I feel for you. Hope you aren't without air for too long. It always seems to go out on the hottest days, doesn't it?

We've been in our new house 2-1/2 years now. This year we began a heating and air conditioning maintenence contract. They come out twice a year (spring and fall) and check the system, lubricating that which needs it, etc. The lubrication and small adjustments are included in the annual fee. But that's not why we have the contract. The contract entitles us to priority (read next day or better) service if our units malfunction. That's a big thing. We've been there before, and without a contract, you can wait for days till somebody comes out!

Even still, I waited two years to get it cause the builder covered the first two years.

Fern

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

Our house is built facing north, where we spend the most of our time, with a heater system that was way too small for this place so we were always freezing in the winter and we decided to put in a new system that included A/C too. The A/C unit was leaking Freon from day one and we had them coming and checking it out so many times but they couldn't find the leak.

We finally replaced the condenser/compressor? and could not believe how much electricity we are saving. It is not hot here but the humidity is higher than it used to be and then the A/C feels good and now we are not afraid of using it. We use it when it gets humid and warm. A/C has improved so much in the last 20 years!

If I were you, I would bite the bullet and get a new one rather than spending more money on repairs. You will have to buy a new system anyway and these service calls are very expensive today. Buy a quiet one too.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

I hope you get a reasonable estimate for repair and will be cool again soon! I know we won't be prepared to foot the bill for any big surprises like that now that we've comitted to starting work on our house soon... Further down on our priority list is getting a new heat/a/c system with at least two zones.. we were just dumb city folk when we put this one in 12 years ago.... having the whole house as one zone is such a waste, even for our small house (we've got six zones for the sprinklers, I don't know why we didn't think to do it with the heat and a/c). So I guess if you can upgrade with a new system and can afford, then go for it, but otherwise I agree it'd be a good idea to do some 'band aid' work if it's cost effective to get you through this year...

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

I wish you hadn't mentioned the water heater. I think mine is 35 years old and I'm a bit nervous about it. Ocean State job lot has a sale on portable(not mindow mount) 10,000 btu a/cs through the 4th for $ 369. How did we live without them back in the 50's and early 60's ?

[M. Henley Class President Find all posts View Profile Close M. Henley]

Reminds me...

Reminds me of what they used to say out Wiswell, Kentuckt way...

"If'n hit ain't spiders, hit be pissants".

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Thanks for all the good thoughts and support.

I'm hoping it is something relatively inexpensive because a band-aid is about all we can afford right now.we aren't going to throw a lot into a repair on the system though. As you've all said it wouldn't be worth it. The repair guy we use can't get here until Wednesday. The good news is that the weather is about 10 degrees cooler than yesterday.

I went and bought a pair of window fans for some relief in the meantime. At $16 each not a bad investment to be able to sleep.

[katiemack Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close katiemack]

Keeping my fingers crossed

that you can get an affordable repair...until then, I will send you good thoughts, cool thoughts, from AZ!

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

Took another look at that ad and it's only $ 349.