Two years ago, we had freon added. It's a Trane Heat Pump. It leaked all out two seasons later. So last year, we call the company out that installed the unit when the house was built and told them to look for a leak. After much looking, the guy found one on the inside unit, and said he fixed it, and charged it up ($250 or so later).

This year (9 months later), no freon at all. We call them and say hey, we paid you last year to find a leak, and obviously you didn't find them all. Said they'd come out, and give us a break on the bill.

I remind the guy (a different one) of what the guy found last year, and told him that he said there may be one in the wall if that one didn't fix the problem. What does this guy do? Fills the unit up with freon (4-1/2 lbs) and checks for leaks in the same places. Doesn't find any, says if it's in the wall, he can't do anything, will talk to his company and see what they want to do, charges me $125 (gave me a discount on the freon), and is on his way. Said he'd talk to their engineer.

Today, they call and say it will cost about $600 plus to come back out, remove the freon they just put in, chck the evaporator and some other thing for leaks, and if not found, have to call someone else out to cut into the wall (more cost).

I'm mad as hell. Why weren't we offered those options the other day when he was out? We specifically mentioned the wall. He said he couldn't do anything else that day. Well, I didn't authorize him to ad 4-1/2 lbs of freon, and especially wouldn't have authorized it if I knew he was going to have to remove it to look for the leak somewhere else in the air handler and somewhere else. They want to charge me to remove the freon, and charge me to put freon back in if they come back out. Do I look that stupid? Why the hell would I have you put freon in only to charge me to take it back out, then charge me again to put some more back in?

I think they don't want to admit somebody never installed the system right--they probably didn't solder a joint right when they put it in the wall. They keep trying to blame a contractor putting a nail into it. I don't think so.

So, what should we do? Like I said, I'm pissed, if they knew they needed to do the other stuff to find where the leak is, they should not have added the freon. I thought he was only adding a little at first to be able to detect a leak.

Also, after he left that day and my husband called to talk to him, he mentioned some "new" stop leak stuff he could try. First off, why didnt' he mention that while he was there in the first place? He said it's around $75, and doesn't know if it works.

What's your opinioin on the stop leak stuff? Worth a shot before we go spending $600 or more?

The system is only 7 years old. But we think there has probably been a leak all along, and the previous owner just ignored it and failed to metion it.


Also, if they take the freon out to work on it, why can't they put that back in without charging us?

 

I'm sorry you are having problems. But a/c is typically a high maintenance item. Problems will occur and should be expected especially in a seven year old system. In general, leaks are way up there on the list of top problems.

9 months ago you paid to have a leak fixed. OK, it is not uncommon to develop more leaks in the future once one is repaired. Some techs won't repair leaking coils because they don't want to be blamed for a new leak that occurs later, is in this case. Most techs will never guarantee a repair to a coil. However, you will get a guarantee with a new coil.

When a tech is sent to a job, many will try to get the system back in operation, even temporarily. Adding freon to a leaking system is better than leaving a customer without a/c, especially during a heat wave.

Replacement of major components such as the compressor, evap coil, etc. have to be scheduled and cannot usually be performed on the spot. Such repairs require ordering parts, additional techs, etc. Most techs have several jobs scheduled for the day and often have limited time.

As far as removing the freon in the system: It's required by law and would still be required if the system was NOT recharged. Unless 100 percent of the freon leaked out (unlikely even with a big leak), recovery is still required. Removing and replacing freon takes technician time and equipment, therefore a charge will apply.

Is it possible the system was never installed right? Sure, builders sometimes use the cheapest people they can find. Cutting corners with unskilled installers in not unheard of. But don't blame your current tech for someone else's sins.

Generally there are no brazed connection inside the wall of the lineset. There could be, but it's not usually allowed in many areas. Leaks of this nature are often caused by nails being driven into the copper tube. A special test, (usually isolating the lineset from the rest of the system) will need to be done if this is the case. Such a problem is not the fault of the technician.

If you don't like your current tech, it may be best to get another opinion.

Good luck to you and I hope this helped.

 

The thing is, though, that we told them from the start the leak was probably in the wall, and I showed him everywhere their previous tech looked for leaks and what he found. And we were clear we wanted the leak found and fixed. So why add the freon now? He knew the forecast for the next two weeks was in the 50's and 60's and we wold not be needing the a/c.

Why would anyone pay for all that freon, only to have it taken back out in a few weeks and have to pay for more? Especially when we were clear about wanting the leak found, and telling him we were tired of throwing oney away on adding freon every year, only to have it leak out? This guy works for the same company, and like I said, was told what was done 9 months earlier.


And he found no leaks--he looked in the exact same places as the previous guy, and did nothing more. And when we talked to them on the phone to set up the service, we were also clear that the previous guy said the leak was probably in the wall if his previous fix didn't work. I don't know how much more clear we had to be.

I feel like we were taken for a ride here, because nobody in their right mind would shell out money for 4-1/2 lbs of freon, only to have it removed a few weeks later.



Aside from that, what do you know about the stop leak stuff they now have? Does it work? Is it worth a shot before spending $600 looking for stuff in he wall or other places?

 

Id get another company to look at it. I would not put the stop leak in your unit for sure. Find the leak and fix it. They could put some dytel in the unit and see if or where that shows up . Then we have ultrasonic leak detector's and fluorescent leak detectors. Lots of ways to go. Another way to look at it that works sometimes. If it leaks out when the AC is not running.look for the leak in the big line (the suc side) and if it seems to leak more when it runs. look at the little line (the high side)

ED

 

Leak stopper is not a "real" fix. I am confident most techs would agree.

Because of your dissatisfaction, I suggest you contact another company for leak detection. There are several methods available and each tech has their favorite. Keep in mind that leak detection is time consuming and not cheap. Once the leak is found, you can get a better idea of what your options are.

Large leaks are usually easy to find, but not always, especially if it's the lineset burried under sheetrock and insulation. Determining if the linset is leaking is easier than finding where it is leaking. In such cases, it may be easier to run new tubing if a leak is diagnosed.

Good luck.

 

This company told me that Trane does not allow them to use the dye, because they say it ruins the system. What's your opinion on that?

They've used the electronic detector twice.


As for a new line, how do you feel about putting a new one up that shows on the outside of the house and is covered by a cover? Or is it better to put a new one through the wall? They are really pushing for the outside one, but we are really not wanting that.

We feel that if we go on the outside, then through the upstairs, it tells potential homebuyers in the future we've had trouble with the A/C, and may scare them away.

 

I don't know what Trane told your tech. I am not a Trane distributor, therefore I cannot offer additional help on this topic. Perhaps others can offer their input.

UV dye is allowed by most major compressor manufacturers such as Bristol, Copeland, and Tecumseh. I have never had a problem with it. Since Trane makes their own compressors, they can impose their own rules. If the compressor is still under warranty, you must follow their conditions. However, dye will probably do you no good if the leak is in the lineset portion located in the wall (unless you tear out the sheetrock). Lineset leaks are usually found with the old fashioned method of isolation followed with high pressure nitrogen. A drop in pressure over a period of time is conformation of a leak. And, as Ed mentioned, there are other methods as well.

Most new lineset installs are on the outside of the structure and are covered with a sheet metal channel similar to a gutter downspout. This is less costly and less damaging as opposed to running it through the existing wall. If you must have it inside the wall, plan on additional costs and sheetrock work.