An ill A/C that blows no good.

Spring has sprung, and summer will be here before we know it, and so the air conditioner decided it was time to give up all hope and die. Yes, just when I thought there was nothing left that could squeeze blood out of the turnip that is my wallet, we tested the compressor and found that the only reason the air coming through the vents seemed cool was because it was cool outside. 

I dunno; looks fine to me.

That was last week. On Tuesday a very fine chap came to see us from a large local HVAC/plumbing outfit, ready to check out our system and see what was what. We did not call the people who installed the thing nine years ago. I'm exceptionally glad for that, for a reason I will get to shortly.

Well, it turns out that the unit was all gunked up and full of debris. Okay, that's on me. I never hosed it off or whatever I was supposed to do. In fact, I haven't covered it for the last two winters because by the time we were sure we were past the warm days, there was half a foot of snow on it. Decembers have been a little weird here, and with my wife there is no covering the A/C before jingle bells are in the air. Just trust me on this.

So yes, the fact that the unit had enough grass and such in it for a hayride was my fault. However, it turned out that the copper pipe that held coolant (if I am remembering this correctly) was not brazed by the installers but soldered. Soldering is easier, as it is done at a lower temperature, but results in a weaker joint, more likely to -- what's that technical term? -- oh yeah: leak. And leak it has done, until there's virtually no coolant left. 

The pleasant fellow from the HVAC outfit gave me a comprehensive report at the end, leaving us with three choices to deal with the matter: 

1) Take everything apart, clean it, replace coolant, properly install fittings: four thousand clams

2) Same as #1, but also include motor boosters, line voltage switches, etc.: six thousand clams

3) Install a new unit: unknown (If you have to ask, you don't have enough clams)

Do these prices seem in line to you? Apparently the coolant, R-410A, is made from solid gold and unicorn blood, because it alone comes in on the estimate at almost a thousand clams. I hear it's being phased out for something more environmentally friendly, which to me means the replacement will be less effective and more expensive. Supposedly we have a 5-ton unit (however that's measured), which means a couple of pounds of R-410A are needed. This price seems incredible.

If we have no choice but the ones listed, I think we'll go cheap, because we're not planning to live in this house another nine years. There's no way to get out of paying something here. Summer with no central A/C is not an option in my home. Just trust me on this.