HVAC replace or add freon?

7 years ago

We are in the process of selling our house and just had a an A/C and furnace tune up. The tech said that we had a leak outside and that our freon is low and also suggests that the system is old (replaced in 2008). Should we add freon or replace the whole system. Note: We have not seen a dramatic increase in our electric bill.

Featured Answer

kevinande

7 years ago

By you using the term "Freon" I will not assume this system is R-22. This is simply because most people outside the HVAC profession use the term generically to describe refrigerant gas.

This is a kind of tough question to answer. The system is not that old, but could be considered middle aged. If it is running R-22 it could make for some expensive future repairs just because of the cost of refrigerant "Freon". If you have the means and perhaps can increase the purchase price of your home to offset the cost of replacement then it may be worth it. If it is running R-410, I would have the faulty component replaced. Typically leaks are either found on the evaporator coil or condensing unit coil, the condenser coil being the most pricey of the two. You could repair the leak on the R-22 as well, however as stated before the cost of refrigerant is somewhere in the neighborhood of $100.00 per pound. The system must be evacuated and completely recharged to replace the leaking component. If you are not sure which gas you are using go outside to the condensing unit. There is a data plate with the type of gas the system uses.

Low refrigerant can cause have different symptoms such as bubbling or gurgling noise on shutdown and freezing up your evaporator coil are just off the top of my head. It can cause higher energy bills by making the system run longer than normal to cool. So maybe the increase in energy was not "dramatic", however there was an increase.

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Comments (7)

gandlmommy
Original Author
7 years ago
It's an R-22
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mike_home
7 years ago
I would be suspect of a tech who is recommending to replace an 11 year old system because the refrigerant is low. What was the outside temperature when the tech was at your house? If it was below 50 degrees, then the AC should not have been turned on and the refrigerant levels were probably not checked.

If you trust this company, then get a quote as to how much it will cost to repair the outside leak and add the refrigerant. Also ask how much refrigerant needs to be added. If you don't get straight answers get a second opinion. You should not be adding refrigerant without repairing the source of the leak.

You can install a brand new system, but in my opinion you will get very little of it back on the sale of the house. I would recommend a repair from a reputable HVAC contractor if it is needed.
Elmer J Fudd
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Get a second opinion.

Yes, there are HVAC companies who will use any possible situation as an excuse to say you need to replace your equipment. Adding coolant is the HVAC equivalent of "take two aspirin and call me in the morning, I don't know what the problem is". If there's a leak, it should be found and possibly fixed. This is a symptom of an incomplete or wrong diagnosis.
sktn77a
7 years ago
If you're selling the house, repair (replace) the leaking component, don't replace the entire system. Repairing will be less than 1/2 the price of replacing.
dadoes
7 years ago
A confirmed leak must be repaired, else the added refrigerant will leak out again. I couldn't in good conscious sell a house with a confirmed HVAC problem that isn't repaired.
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Austin Air Companie
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
If you're in the process of selling the home, it is not likely you will get any increase in the selling price of the home, except maybe for very high end systems with a multitude of bells and whistles --- even then you will only get what someone is willing to pay and this amount is likely to come no where close to what it cost you to purchase the new system.

If the AC has problems reaching adequate temp drop across indoor coil this will probably get flagged via a home inspection. However, it's also very likely it may not get flagged. It depends greatly on the severity of the leak, if there truly is a leak. AC tune ups are often times methods used to get in your front door to sell you something, that typically you don't need.

This is why you should have a reputable AC repair guy on speed dial. You will always need one regardless of whether the AC system is new or old.

Because of the age of your system, it's possible it may have a leak. But it's also possible that this leak *may* not require but a recharge and a thorough examination in tightening various refrigerant connections. There are a lot of grey areas when it comes to refrigerant leaks. If you didn't pay for a Freon leak check, I would seriously question the validity of any such claim.

Especially if you haven't noticed any cooling problems.

Why wouldn't you accept a free Freon leak check? Because then the company doing it only has the incentive of finding a leak to sell you something. [That you likely don't need.] But free sounds so good.

Temp drop should be 15-20 degrees. I prefer to see closer to 20 degrees.

If a home buyer is more concerned about the mechanicals of the home a new system may help you sell the home faster in that situation.

Air conditioning and Heating are typically viewed as a needed accessory by anyone looking to purchase a home. So while you don't typically get a higher value for the home for having a new system, the home price can be effected when part or parts of that system have problems and are requiring a repair.

If the home is located in a more extreme cooling climate the amount of time it takes to sell the home could be impacted, but only if the cooling performance is noticed while viewing the property.

Cooling performance can be effected by design of the system, just as much or more than Freon leak related issues.

I service the Katy, Cypress & Richmond, Texas areas.