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HVAC just serviced...thoughts on needed repairs

9K views 57 replies 9 participants last post by  Home Air Direct 
#1 ·
"both 5mfd phase shifters reading 1/2 range on blower motor in furnaces, both main motor starters very pitted and need replacing in out door ac units. and 35+3 MFD phase shifter very low on compressor side. Due to condition all components need replacing" They estimated $1600 combined for both units. Does that sound right?

This is what it says on the invoice
1 5 MFD phaseshifter(upstairs blower)
1 5 MFD phseshifter (downstairs)
1 pole motor start A/c
1 pole motor start a/c
2 35+3 MFD phase shifter outside a/c

Model NACO30AKI
Serial L000761611
 
#3 · (Edited)
"Phase shifters"? Good Lawd, what next, my competitors better not see that one or they will add it to their bullsh*t heatem and cheatem repertoire. Get another honest company they are scamming you! Don't let them know what the 1st guys said as they may agree if they are no better. Try get a reference on who to call from a neighbor or friend/co-worker.
 
#5 ·
Depending where he lives. If its within 1,000 miles of me.I might be able to come out to his place for $1000.00 and do those part changes outs.And have some money left in my pocket.I'd have to use my car, it gets better gas milage then the van.
 
#7 ·
While using that term is a great way to confuse a customer, so they don't know what to buy themselves.It is an accurate term of what the capacitor does.Like those guys, that instead of saying thermocouple.List it as flame safety sensor. or Ignition proving sensor.
 
#8 ·
Highly suspicious that all 3 capacitors would be weak. I only find about 5 % of them get weak. At under $20 each they are laughing all the way to the bank. Probably within a month they will recommend new equipment as the old units are killing the phase shifters again.:2guns:
 
#9 ·
You know.

99.99% of all capacitors(run capacitors), are weak. Depending on the day you check it. If you check it under load.

A very big money making item, for many companies.
 
#11 · (Edited)
Due to condition all components need replacing"
They estimated $1600 combined for both units. Does that sound right?
How old is this unit? I didn't get any hits Googling the Model #. What are your symptoms?

Re: pitted contacts on motor starters: less than 30 mV drop at rated current is good, more than 100 mV drop is bad.

Ask for their diagnosis in a "formal sworn statement of facts" from a company principal.

For $1600 I'd get some bids.
If the $1600 turns out to be the high outlier, say 4x higher than the next lowest bid or cluster of bids, I think it is More Likely Than Not that it's time to write to your State's Attorney about these guys.
 
#12 ·
I offered to do it for him at a 37 plus % discount, if he's within 100 miles of me.

I think the tech may be new to using flat rate(if thats what they are using).

And not using the tiers like he should.
He's probably using the highest teir for each repair, instead of using the lower teirs for each of the additional repairs.

Or, he is on performance based pay.
 
#13 ·
Lots of companies use a level 1-6 flat rate pricing system. For ex: 1 capacitor = level 1 which may be $200 x3. Contactor = level 2 or $300. Add a bunch of them up and voila $1600. I am sure car dealers/mechanics and other service providers do the same. Buyer beware. Damn lawy*r ripped me off. Wasn't too keen on hiring another lawyer to sue him. I'm sure something bad will happen to him sooner or later.
 
#14 · (Edited)
I'm sure something bad will happen to him sooner or later.
And a good day is when you're there to see it. Keep checking the obits! :thumbsup:

A few years ago, within a few months of each other I saw two sleazeballs of my personal acquaintance in the obits, one of them because he got an SUV [that had become airborne] right in the face.
Neither of these guys [the other one was attorney] ever saw one day of jail time, not one.
 
#15 ·
Our house is about 10 years old...
Its a Comfortmaker NEPD30B15B

Is it worth ordering the capacitor and installing myself or should I just break down and get another company to come out...I found another one but they charge 90 just to come out...I should have became a hvac person....
 
#16 ·
Our house is about 10 years old...
Its a Comfortmaker NEPD30B15B

Is it worth ordering the capacitor and installing myself or should I just break down and get another company to come out...I found another one but they charge 90 just to come out...I should have became a hvac person....
Your probably wouldn't like the hours sometimes.

Could be little to no work for a week or more.
And then suddenly 80 hours plus a week.
And getting called out at 1 or 2 AM to fix someones heat.

Are your units currently working?
 
#20 ·
I seriously doubt that his capacitors are weak or the motors will overheat etc. I have rarely changed a weak one, shorted, bulged yes. Not likely his units need any repairs. I would get another company to do an inspection for peace of mind and not tell them about the first guys. Always good to get a second opinion when the repairs are high. Spend $90 may be necessary.
 
#21 · (Edited)
last summer it seemed like it wasn't cooling the house as well...but it was also in the high 90's to 100 in Charlotte last year.... I had them come out for a special $179 service special x 2 for the two units. So I already spent 360...The units are working fine...seems like the blower is strong and the house is cold.

I pulled the covers and checked the capacitors and they are not bulged or anything...in fact it doesnt even look like the panels were taken off outside on the fans. I am missing two caps(freon), one from each fan unit, from the low pressure lines though.were can I get some caps..He was supposed to clean them but it doesnt look like it to me....but I am no expert
 
#23 ·
maybe 30 minutes...didnt really pay attention...I wish I would have. I dont know what to do...should I have someone else come out, should I change out the capacitors myself, should I just wait and see and have someone come out in the fall....

I just feel like I am being scammed on replacing parts....but what if they do need replacing....
 
#24 ·
If he was only there 30 minutes. He didn't reaaly do much, or check half of what he said he checked.
He's probably on performance pay.

And most likely, you don't need any of the things he listed.
You should call and tell the company you want to know how they can check a system in just 15 minutes.( 2 systems X 15=30 minutes)
And think you should get your money back. Since they didn't really check anything. Just wrote you a list of parts they want to sell you.

There are some companies that do this type of SCAM.
 
#25 ·
Are they supposed to look at the coils in the furnace? If so this guy did not. See the picture it has the silver tape around the edges and was never cut or removed from over half of it. There is no way to have looked at the coils.

I am thinking of changing out the capacitors...5 uf 370V 50/60hz
Check the picture. It gets a little confusing looking on the web for these parts...any suggestions...
 
#27 ·
Was your A/C running when you took that pic.
Looks like frost on the vapor line.
If so, you want a real tech to check it out.
There are ways to check the system without looking at the coil. But, I doubt that he checked it that way either.

If you want to replace those caps fine.
Doubt that anything is wrong with them.

Some companies tell their PM techs that this week all run caps will be weak.
The next week they tell them some other part will be bad or weak on all PMs.

You've been had bad a scam, and scare tatic.

Grainger will have the caps you want.

I'd call the company out on this PM. You paid good money, and got crapped on.
 
#29 ·
I'd call and complain.
You could have refrigerant leaking from those access fittings that he lost the caps for.

I'd also use another comapny from now on. if that company doesn't come out and make things right for little to no cost to you.
 
#30 ·
If in fact this is a scam, and all arrows point to that, this is exactly what puts the "Black Eye" on the HVAC industry.

Pro's get bent out of shape when HO consider buying their own equipment, but the real reason they are considering that avenue is not the fault of the online retailer, but really the fault of the companies that use these types of "Marketing" tactics.

i bet if you polled 10 random HO, and asked them to give their first reaction to the statement "You will need to call an HVAC contractor for service", at least 50% will tell you they get a pain in their head and stomach and know they are going to get hosed. This reaction is not necessarily the fault of contractors we consider "Hacks". Many of these companies that employ these "Marketing" tactics are high profile companies that have NATE certified technicians and huge fleets of brightly painted trucks and are the biggest ad in the yellow pages.

A distention toward more DIY is a direct effect of the behavior that has been observed within the industry from the outside. Auto repair has the same stigma.

Just my $.02
 
#31 ·
Pro's get bent out of shape when HO consider buying their own equipment, companies that employ these "Marketing" tactics are high profile companies that have NATE certified technicians and huge fleets of brightly painted trucks and are the biggest ad in the yellow pages.


Someone has to pay for all the huge fleets & adds..


As far as HO buying his/her own equip.. Let them install it ... Only time I get bent out of shape is when they want me to install something they bought
 
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