My Trane C/A system -age 17 or so - has gone South again.
Had it looked at last year, Tech's sniffer did not find a leak, so
deciding it was a small/slow leak, had it recharged with R-22.
Oops, that "fix" only worked for a year.

Since R-22 is running even higher than last year, I;m
thinking whether it pays to find & repair the leak
--if it's somewhere fixable -- and then recharge with
a "drop-in" r22 replacement like Freon MO99 which is
supposedly compatible with existing oil, etc., etc.

Anyone with experience with MO99 or other drop in refrigerants

Alternatively -- new system.

 

I had one of my heat pumps go south a few years back. Compressor blew. I decided to have a replacement compressor install. That lasted one year before a leak exposed itself and at that time I had to replace the whole system inside and outside. Tossed away $1200 dollars thinking I was buying some time. Still had to replace the whole system. I say, don't throw good money at a struggling system - it will cost you more in the long run. New systems come with lifetime labor warranty and great piece of mind.

Funny story - Our second heat pump is aged at 17 years and most likely is close to the end of its life cycle. In my mind, it is only a matter of time. Noticed that the unit had not come on in a day or so and assumed it breathed its final breath. Told my wife I was concerned that the compressor had not fired up and we were looking at yet another big expense. I went to the thermostat to see if I could coax it a little. The toggle on the thermostat was in the heat zone. I returned it to the cool zone and the compressor immediately kicked on. Seems my wife had tossed her towel over the door after a trip to the pool and jogged the toggle from cool to heat. Bank account preserved for another season.