
Serving Saint Johns, FL and surrounding areas
Approved (Corporate)
In business since 2010
Free estimates
Emergency services offered
"The repairman arrived toward the end of the assigned appointment window, sitting in his truck for 8 minutes before starting work. He examined the system and told me that the evaporator coils were iced-up, and he recommended that we let the system thaw overnight and have another repairman return the next day to add R-22 refrigerant. When I asked him if there were any other options he offered to run the heat cycle to thaw the evaporator coils and then he could make an assessment. After returning outside, I found the repairman running my water hose to cool the compressor, because it had severely overheated and activated a thermal relay preventing the compressor from running (he explained). I inquired about conducting a leak test, and the repairman said it would have to be scheduled another time for an additional charge. I declined the leak test and went inside my home while the compressor finished cooling. When I returned outside, the repairman had added R-22 without advising me of his intentions. Asking how much he added, he said it took two pounds at $95.00/LB R-22. I left and he continued to check the system operation. Working outside my home near my condenser I saw the repairman on his phone. As I walked up to him he told me that the condenser was not operating at the correct pressure and amperage and that he had only seen a compressor fail in this mode "once several years ago." Accordingly, he needed some advice on how to proceed. After discussing the impractical option of replacing the compressor for approximately $2000, he then offered to price a system replacement (without mentioning any need for evaluation or planning: SEER, cooling/heating requirements, square footage, insulation, ducting inspection, permitting, etc). Here is his official proposal that he squeezed into the end of his "DESCRIPTION OF WORK" section on my invoice: "$5746.68 CARRIER 4TON HEAT KIT AND PAD USE EXISTING STAT, STAND, Copper, drain and electrical." Before he prepared his invoice, I told him that I had an Angie's List coupon for $40. When he presented the invoice, it had 2 1/2 pound of R-22 added (versus the 2 pounds he had previously stated). I signed the invoice after discussing this issue, and the repairman departed approximately one hour and twenty-three minutes after he parked his truck. Issue 1: I never explicitly authorized the repairman to add R-22 to my system. Issue 2: After adding refrigerant, he determined that the compressor was defective. Could this not be detected before wasting refrigerant and my money? Issue 3: In the invoice DESCRIPTION OF WORK he notes: "As I added to 3rd lb [R-22] compressor over amped and STARTED clanking. Excessive oil" I suspect that severely overheating a marginally running compressor in a 12-year old condenser unit would cause further problems (apparently a compressor failure)."





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