HVAC/Heat Pump Repair

[jwstewar]

OK, I mentioned in the Snow is coming thread that we had some hail damage. Busted skylight, bathroom ceiling to go with that, still waiting to hear from my cousin if I have roof damage or not - I didn't see any but wanted a professional opinion. Well after feeding the dogs/rabbits tonight (if finally quit raining for a few minutes, whew /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif) I walked around to the front of the house to see how bad a couple of our trees had been damaged. As I walking I looked over at our heat pump. I thought it looked weird. It kind of looked like the beige paint at run down over the coils. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Strange I thought, hadn't seen that before. Upon closer examination I saw why they were a different color. The hail had smashed all of the coils flat on the front and the one side. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Now here is my question. On a radiator sometimes the coils can be "combed," is that true with heat pumps/AC? How bad can they be damaged? If they can't be straightened, can they replace just the coils? For reference it is a Coleman/Evcon that we had put in with the house. Haven't had any problems with it and has been reasonable to operate and done a pretty good job at keeping the house warm/cool. BTW, it is a Double-wide manufactured home

 

[Junkman]

If you have insurance that covers hail damage, then I would just call someone and have them replace it. You can comb the coil fins, but it will never be the same as it was when new. If the coils fins are collapsed, then it won't work properly. Also, depending on the age of the unit, the compressor will come with the new unit. If it is replaced, in the end, you will be happier in the future.

 

[frank_f15]

if the coils are flattened that much even with a fin comb , you will never get them straight enough to pass the correct amt. of air to have it work properly. if it is storm damaged i would put a claim in to your ins. and have a new coil installed. not a very difficult thing to do IF you have the knowledge and the right tools and equipt.

 

[thcri]

Based on my experience being in the HVAC field you should put in a claim with your insurance company and along with all the other things damaged from the storm. Also you may find your insurance agent will probably come out and look at the coil and tell you that they will only pay to have the coil combed out. 7 out of ten times this is what I find. Before the insurance agent gets there you may want to find a HVAC contractor that will look at the coil first and make a recomendation to have the coil replaced, not combed out. Have this in writing from your HVAC guy and have it ready for your adjuster along with a quote to repair. Don't let him talk you into combing it out if at all possible. Some adjusters can get pretty tough.

If it was just an air conditioner I wouldn't worry as much about unless really damaged bad. But a heat pump uses that coil even in the winter time and water shed is very critical during defrost. If the fins even if combed out pretty good don't allow the water to run off it will just freeze up immediately again and your efficiency will stink.

Best of luck.

murph

 

[jwstewar]

Thanks everyone. That is kinda what I was thinking, just wanted some re-insurance from the TBN braintrust. We will be filing a claim. I talked to my cousin last night. Looks like 3 or 4 spots that he had seen. He wants to come back Saturday and look again now that we've had an additional heavy rain on it. Said he had looked at one on Monday. Didn't see any damage. We got a fairly heavy rain on Tuesday and he looked at the same roof and now the damage became real apparent and it'll end up being a whole new roof for those folks. He said he had gotten about 20 calls on Saturday, 18 on Tuesday, and 12 yesterday. Not sure what he got on Monday. Looks like it is going to turn into a pretty good windfall for him - no pun intended. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[jwstewar]

Just got off the phone with the wife. The AC guy had showed up. He tried (for his own curiosity) to comb the fins. Damaged too bad. He gave a price of $1100 for new coils. He told the wife "not much more you can have a whole new unit." Just out of curiosity I then called back to the store. To replace with a similar new unit would be (3 1/2 ton - 10 seer) would be around $1900, /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif to go to a 12 seer would probably be $2100. A 14 seer would be around $4000 or so. He said the 12 seeer would save as best $10 - 15 per month. At that rate it is a long time to pay for the new unit of an additional $1000. We didn't talk about cost savings of the 14 seer. For what was "not much more" I think we'll be just replacing the coils on the existing unit - unless insurance wants to buy the whole thing - yeah, right like that'll happen. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I have a garage that needs cement. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Junkman]

If it is presented to the insurance company as needing a completely new unit, they will foot the bill and possibly hit you with a small adjustment for "betterment". If there is a deductible involved, then I would push for a complete unit. The difference between just the coils and a new unit should be the cost of the compressor. If the unit is old, then I would replace it completely even if you have to pay the difference. Compressors have a useful life expectancy, and if yours is approaching that, or has exceeded that, then it is time to replace it. Possibly thcri can weigh in on this and give some professional advise... I will ask him.... Junk..

 

[thcri]

Jim,

Please PM me with the model of your old unit along with the air handler or coil inside. Also if you can give some details of your new quotes that would be good.

If you elect to take the new 12 SEER unit you would have to dish out $1,000 out of your pocket as your insurance company would still have to pay the original $1,100.00 If you save $15.00 per month that is $180.00 per year. Divide that out and you end up with a 5.56 year pay back. Now with that you end up with a new compressor and full warranty that you would not have in replacing the old coil. To me that is not a bad deal as most heat pump compressors only last ten years on an average. They get pretty beat up running during the winter months. So I think you should investigate a bit further and I will help you just PM me. I would also like your electrical rate and also is there any rebates if you buy a new unit. You may get a electrical rebate from your utility company if you buy a new unit. Some rebates around here run up to 5 or 6 hundred dollars. So call them also.

Again if I can be of assistance I will. I am leaving here in a bit and will be out of town until Saturday but I can work on it then.

murph

 

[jwstewar]

Hey, guys thanks. I appreciate the help. I wasn't expecting that kind of outpouring of "love" /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I guess that is what we do here at TBN, help each other.

Murph, getting ready to send you a PM now.

Junk, I don't care what your new - well - I guess now ex-F-I-L PineRidge says about you. You are a good guy. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[PineRidge]

<font color="blue"> Junk, I don't care what your new - well - I guess now ex-F-I-L PineRidge says about you. You are a good guy. </font>

I actually think he's a pretty good guy too but I don't want Junk to know that. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif