Avoid Expensive A/C Replacement
Is your air conditioner struggling to keep your home cool this summer? Surprise breakdowns, and sky-high replacement quotes can leave you sweating–literally and financially.
Here’s how I avoided an expensive A/C replacement, frozen coils, and learned essential air conditioner maintenance tips that could save you thousands and keep you cool all summer long.
My Air Conditioner Stopped Working
On a hot summer day, my air conditioner stopped cooling my house.
Of course, this happened on a Friday and I called a HVAC company hoping for a quick fix. Their first appointment available was for the following Monday.
While waiting for the HVAC appointment, I did some troubleshooting and realized the A/C coils were frozen. I shut off the A/C and let the coils thaw, and just like that the house was cool again.
Assessment by the A/C Expert
When the A/C tech came on Monday, everything was working fine. My A/C was cooling the house, and my five year furnace was in great shape.
But then came the shocking part, the estimate for routine maintenance on both systems was $3900 and the A/C replacement estimate was $11,500 to $12,500.
I nearly fell over.
To the Rescue
Expecting a much different quote, I called the person I should have talked to in the first place; my trusted handyman, carpenter, and repairman extraordinaire.
I’m so glad I did.
He explained that frozen coils are a common issue and that I absolutely didn’t need a new A/C. Instead, he gave me some simple advice.
A/C Maintenance Tips
- Once a month, shut off the A/C overnight to prevent coil freeze-up
- Once a year, gently clean the compressor with a garden hose and nozzle (on a soft spray) while the unit is running. Or use an air compressor
- Keep spare capacitors on hand–they often fail and are a common A/C problem
Moral of the Story
Call your trusted handyman first.
If I do eventually need to replace the unit his estimate was $5000, much more reasonable than that quoted by the HAVC company.
Since replacement isn’t necessary, I will follow the recommendations of my handyman. Why replace something that works?
