Shay

Sorry for your trouble.

Let me say this. Any tech who recharges an AC or HP system with 3# of freon without first locating the leak and/or adding dye to the freon to help locate a leak should be taken to the woodshed. He is not an HVAC pro.

Many leaks can be repaired, and not all are expensive repairs.

And yes there are standard practices used by real pros to locate leaks.

My best advice is seek another opinion before replacing with a new system.

IMO

I am 4 blocks off the beach and am told that can lower life expectancy of units??
Got some prices today and need advice.
Payne 13 seer package unit 5189
Carrier 13 seer package unit 5787
Carrier 14 seer package unit 6653
All include 1 year labor 10 year parts. I can purchase extended warranty for 10 year parts labor for 400 extra. I have someone else coming later today to give quotes.

Shay

If I lived on or near a harsh coastal environment and planned to be there for at least 5+ years, then I would be looking at Trane/AmStd because they hold up better and last longer in harsh environment.

I would not recommend Payne.

IMO

first off I seriously doubt the tech put in three pounds, probably one and told you three to up price, common practice. You see the boss is not interested in whats right but what the bottom line is. Scare tactic #1 you goitr a leak you should replace system cause I won't find it. #2 it will cost 500 bucks to find and fix it. Now there is no way a tech. is going to look for a leak every time he goes on a call he would be gone from 7 am to 12 am every night.Furthermore, Everything is easy to fix on paper in real; life it can be difficult.

I disagree with previous post. If tech had a full schedule, he should have recharged including dye and later return and check system for charge and make attempt to find leak.

These gas n go service calls are just unprofessional.

IMO

Thanks so much for advice. I got a second opinion today and they say to repair. A friend recommended someone to me and he came out and did a leak check for free after hearing what I had been told. He found the leak and around one of the copper tubes or something like that. My repair bill will be between 400-500 total. The other company wanted 172 dollars just to do the leak test.

tiger dunes you live in a fantasy world

Gas n go service calls are a close relative to oil change jockeys...

Maybe that's doing the oil change specialists a disservice...

IMO

It's been my observation that there are two kinds of a/c companies:

One that will evaluate your system and repair it.

The other is the kind that no matter what is wrong with your system you will always need to have it replaced with a new one which they conveniently have on hand.

generalizations, Every situation is different. Every customer is different. some leaks are impossible to find and pinpoint. And lets say you do find it what if there is another one. Saying it's unprofessional to look for a leak is just talk. You could be opening a whole can of worms and doing a whole lot of work for free if you fix the leak and there is more than one. Over 10 years old and you have a six month leak milk it till you are ready for new system. Under 10 lets give it a shot but no guaranties.

"some leaks are impossible to find and pinpoint."

It is easy to find them, pinpoint and getting to them to make a repair is sometimes the problem.

I have had my meter start screaming as soon as I stepped in the door, and once just from being on the roof downwind of a leaking commercial system.
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exactly my point a pungent fart will set them off.