Why is my air conditioner contractor unwilling to add freon to my air conditioner?

Question

I purchased a new air condition in August of 2008 and it worked perfectly.

When I put it on in May of 2009, there was not a drop of freon in it as I was told by the contractor. He put freon in it and it worked perfectly and cooled nicely until the end of June 2010. All of a sudden the air coming out of the vents wasn't as cool as it was before and the air conditioner was running constantly as the air coming out of the vents was close to 70 degrees. The contractor sent his repair man who told me nothing was wrong but my filter needed to be changed. We changed the filter and a few days later the air conditioner was blowing out a warmer temperature from the vents.

I called the contractor again and he sent his son to check out the unit and the son said the compressor had to be replaced; remember this air conditioner is not yet 2 years old. A new compressor was put in and even with the new compressor, the air coming out of the vents is about 68 degrees and this air conditioner doesn't get the rooms as cool as it did in 2008 and 2009.

I truly mind the heat and the thermostat is on the second floor and my office is on the third floor and I like to keep the temperature about 65 so the 3rd floor would be cooler. I just had another visit from the contractor's man and he said nothing is wrong and 65 degrees is what the air is supposed to be coming from the air conditioner but it was only 72 degrees when I put the air conditioner on and yet the air coming out is only 65 degrees. I went outside and the pipe coming from the 2 year old air conditioner doesn't even feel cool but feels the same as when the air conditioner is off. The pipe doesn't sweat at all. I happen to have dual air conditioners in my home and the one that takes care of the first floor has an air temperature of 53 degrees coming out of the vent on the first floor; yet the repairman knowing the situation with the pipe outside feeling warm and not sweating on the now 2 year old air conditioner with the new compressor doesn't cool the second and third floor of my condo. Is there a reason why the repairman would not put more freon in my air conditioner? The air was warm before the compressor went so why are they taking a chance with the warm air as I am afraid the compressor is going to go again.

Has the price of freon taken on the price of gold? Can anyone help me understand what is happening and tell me why the contractor is not putting freon in the air conditioner that he just put a new compressor in. The way the air conditioner is working now is just not sufficient for me and it never worked like this in 2008 and 2009. I tested my other air conditioner and a few of my neighbors air conditioners and no one has a pipe outside that isn't cool and sweating. Thank you for any advise you can give me.

Answer 1

Try a different A/C Pro



An average A/C system can and should be able to maintain 68 deg inside room temp , now in some areas you do need a larger system for the outside temps (Phoenix AZ) but the local Pros know this and compensate accordingly

I have seen some systems sized enough that they maintain close to 45 deg inside temps usually you find these in commercial situations as meat or vegetable markets. and these can be cooled down to below freezing as in IBP or Tyson

Answer 2

Tell the contractor to hit the bricks,.... he's been taking you for a ride. Setting up a new system and apparently not leak checking it is bad enough; allowing the system to go empty is insult to injury. Then, selling you a new compressor for a system that shouldn't need one is unethical to say the least.



Now, the contractor is technically correct in that it's against EPA section 608 to add refrigerant to a known leaking system BUT he's the reason for the leak, so he apparently is morally & ethically bankrupt...I don't care if he sent his son or not,.... the son is no smarter than he is.



You should know that it is your responsibility to keep the return air filter(s) clean & changed, and keep up the maintenance on the evaporator/condenser coils. (dirty coils = low capacity & performance) ... As to your comparisons: a typical evaporator is supposed to operate at 40 to 45F and the air out of the supply vents around 52F. The low side line outside should be sweating....



Get an HVAC service company out there that has earned a high quality reputation. Have them do a proper leak check, fix the leak and charge your system. It may cost a little more but its worth it. This is what happens when someone steps over a quarter to save a dime...



(ed) NO! junior, an a/c system is supposed to, and is designed to have a 20 degree difference in the RETURN air and the SUPPLY AIR..... It matters not what the outside temperature is. (I also live in Texas where it is around 100 right now.... my house is 68F because thats where my thermostat is set and it cycles as designed) I wish whomever started the whole 20 degree thing would shut their mouth. Theoretically, and with enough insulation, and if modern home thermostats would go that low, a typical a/c system would bring the inside temperature of any structure down to 45 degrees, as thats what they are designed to do: just what you tell it to do....

Answer 3

Air conditioning repair business's are being swamped with service calls because I am having the same problem as you are. They just tell me to be happy with 76 degrees because the hot, humid air is too much for the a/c to handle! Bull! I honesty believe that people with central air having cooling problems are a result of the units being undersized and the duct work is not properly insulated. R-22 freon is being fazed out because of ozone emission regulations. In its place 410A-Puron is being used. Another substitute is being marketed also, but I can't remember the name of it. One must be certified to mess with this refrigerant. Your a/c service men probably checked the freon level and it was ok. I would have added the new stuff after draining the old stuff just to please you as a customer. Maybe they didn't have the new stuff? The return line to the a/c unit is the one that sweats. Possibly it is insulated? Find another service business to deal with. In the mean time use fans to help circulate the cooler air and close the vents in the rooms not being used, pull the shades on the west and south sides of the home and pray for cooler weather!

Answer 4

i would get a second opinion. their could be a leak or a kink that isnt leaking but it is not letting the refridgerent pass properly. also to keep in mind an ac unit is only meant to remove 20 degrees of heat from your home i live in texas and it is around 102 right now you cant expect it to get down to 70 degrees inside its just not going to happen unless your house is well insulated. they make thing that help keep peoples house cool they have a radiant barrier paint that reduces the amount of heat that enters a house.

Answer 5

if it is two years old it should be under warranty find out if other company will be willing to do warranty work. keep in mind warranty is parts only.you probably have aleak.also by now system contaminated. moisture and acid. this will affect performance.specially if unit has thermostat expansion device. TXV!!!!!!

Answer 6

First of all, it is not against Section 608 to add refrigerant to a known leaking system with less than 50 pounds of refrigerant. Second of all, you need to find another HVAC contractor. Everything he has done and told you is a sure sign of someone who doesn't know what the hell he's doing. Find another contractor!



Link to EPA - http://www.epa.gov/ozone/title6/608/leak.html

Answer 7

Freon is a contributor to greenhouse effect global warning, and so it's unlawful for a contractor to "top off" an AC more than once. Once, they allow '-- maybe somebody drained it through the schrader valve or something, but after that, you must find and fix the leak.



I suggest your AC contractor might not be the best in town, based on your version of events, anyway.

Answer 8

Sand Shark is 100% correct. Get someone who knows what he is doing.