Charlie: “Grant in Greatwood writes to us, “My AC evaporator coil had a leak and a repairman added three pounds of R22 freon for $285 plus a $90 service call. Does that sound about right to you, Tom?”
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Tom: “Actually got a deal. These guys are charging $200 a pound right now because it’s getting so expensive but did he add three? I don’t know.
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Charlie: “Three pounds?
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Tom: “Well, you can … A whole system will take about six.
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Charlie: “Right.
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Tom: “If you need three pounds it’s not working at all.
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Charlie: “That’s my point.
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Tom: “Okay, so I don’t know. You have to actually measure the poundage, then you put it in, then you measure it again. And so did he really do that? I have no idea, but being $285 plus a service call for three pounds, you got a good deal if he actually got three pounds of R22.
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Charlie: “Well, but the thing is …
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Tom: “Now, does it keep it working or does it leak out?
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Charlie: “And therein lies the question. If you’re an AC tech and you gotta put three pounds into a system aren’t you going to be a little, “Hey, I think we might have an issue here?”
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Tom: “Yes. If you have a leak and that would suggest you do, there’s no doubt about it, you’re not supposed to just keep adding freon. You’re supposed to find the leak and fix it first.
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Charlie: “So that is the obvious answer.
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Tom: “Yeah. I don’t know what the guy did. There’s no way he just charged him $285 to do something. What it was? I don’t know. I don’t know if it was working beforehand or after. And if it’s working today as we speak.
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Charlie: “How long will it keep working?
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Tom: “Maybe it all leaked out again? You know? I have no idea.
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Charlie: “Can you patch it so it doesn’t leak?
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Tom: “If there’s a break at the dryer or in the lines or something, yeah. If you have an evaporator coil that’s got a leak, you gotta replace that.
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Charlie: “All right.
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Tom: “That can’t be repaired. But there’s a lot of places you can have a leak and fix, yes.
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Charlie: “So when the next guy comes out, if this was you, and the next guy comes out and he says, “I’m going to add three pounds of freon.” Would you say, “Well, wait a minute are you sure there’s not a leak? Is there a way to test for the leak?”
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Tom: “Well, I would.
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Charlie: “That’s what I’m saying.
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Tom: “Yes.
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Charlie: “And here we are sharing your knowledge with others, Tom.
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Tom: “Yes, no. But see I call Absolute Comfort Air so they don’t lie to me.
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Charlie: “There it is.
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Tom: “Rick over there would say, “Tom, your system’s fine. I had to bounce a little bit. We’re good.”
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Charlie: “You know sometimes you can fish off the pier, sometimes you gotta troll a while, but eventually you get the fish you want. Thank you, Tom for finally biting.
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Tom: “Yes, of course.
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