Goodman 2.5 Ton 14 Seer Repair or replace?

[Elcmax]

Yesterday, my technician diagnosed my Goodman 2.5 Ton 14 Seer outdoor AC unit is leaking refrigerant. Missed the 5 year warranty by 10 days! Indoor furnace was also installed at the same date five years ago. Questions:
1. Repair or replace AC unit?
2. If replace AC, should I also replace both AC and furnace?
3. AND Services reviews?
4. Getting quotes next week from Home Depot, Lowes, Farrell, and Kalos. Advice on which contractor to go with (also AND who services Sumter County)?
5. Replace with Goodman or a different brand?

Thanks for your input!

[Toymeister]

I take it that the technician who diagnosed the problem also was ready to replace it. Most firms offer incentives for techs to sell new equipment.

Interesting that a sealed system suddenly developed a leak. Why did you have it serviced? There are few serviceable parts, effectively, (relay and capacitor), no lubrication points. Just exterior coils to clean which you can do with a garden hose.


So I would get another opinion if it is bad. If so I would repair. No, I would not replace any extra parts. You will get over five (likely 7-8) from the rest of the system. The SEER rating is reasonable.

Goodman also makes Amana, nothing wrong with them.

At the risk of sounding smarty pants, I wouldn't have a unit 'serviced' unless it is actually broken. I would identify and purchase a spare capacitor (Amazon) and have it ready when the unit goes down. YouTube has videos. Anyone, macho man or petite female can do this, no strength or high diagnosis skills are required. Or just save the 89.00 for several 'service calls' for replacement of the capacitor when it fails (300.00).

[valuemkt]

Goodman is a low end HVAC often used in apartment complexes and entry level housing. If your unit has been diagnosed by a competent repairman as needing something other than a nominal repair, I wouldnt waste my money on it and would replace with a name brand like Carrier or TRANE. Just my opinion

[Topspinmo]

Only 5 years old? I maybe smell snow job. Arn’t there ways of finding leak?

[Topspinmo]

Goodman is a low end HVAC often used in apartment complexes and entry level housing. If your unit has been diagnosed by a competent repairman as needing something other than a nominal repair, I wouldnt waste my money on it and would replace with a name brand like Carrier or TRANE. Just my opinion


On contrary Goodman same as trane.

Googled; The Goodman system is the same as Trane where one can buy it piece by piece. It is always recommended with high SEER equipment that matching equipment is installed. This means the air handler should be matched to the condenser to get the rated efficiency levels listed on the equipment.

[retiredguy123]

Regarding your No. 2, you would usually replace both the condenser (outside unit) and the furnace. Are you certain that the leak is in the outside unit? The refrigerant is in a closed system that runs through the condenser coil and through the evaporator coil (furnace) and the two coils are connected by copper piping underground. Technicians often don't know where the leak is, so they just add refrigerant and hope it lasts awhile. If the leak location is known, it should be repairable. But, replacing just the outside unit means that you will probably have no system warranty because everything is connected and operates together.

[Elcmax]

Thank you!

[karostay]

On contrary Goodman same as trane.

Googled; The Goodman system is the same as Trane where one can buy it piece by piece. It is always recommended with high SEER equipment that matching equipment is installed. This means the air handler should be matched to the condenser to get the rated efficiency levels listed on the equipment.

There all designed to fail it's engineering fact
When you were a kid growing up remember the ugly fridge
our parents and grand parents had in garage or basement
you couldn't kill em They rusted to death

[retiredguy123]

Note that if you buy a system from Home Depot or Lowes, you don't know who will install it. But, it won't be one of the better companies, because they have plenty of business and are not going to share their profit with anyone. I would consider adding Munn's to your list. They may be more expensive but they are available for repairs every day, and after hours. If I had to replace my system, I would buy a Carrier system from Munn's, as long as their price was reasonable when compared to the less expensive companies.

[cb1972]

you may want to have the refrigerant topped off and take a wait and see approach especially if you hadn't noticed any change in how your system was working. If you notice your system beginning to work harder then you may consider replacement at that time . You may have to wait a few days to get the new equipment but if your here full time it may be a minor inconvenience. If you decide on replacement i would recommend Kalos. Recently had a new Carrier system installed ( mine was ten years old) , very professional . Techs were no nonsense , left the place spotless in and out. price was several hundred less than some of the better known companies. good luck

[Elcmax]

Thank you!

[Elcmax]

Yesterday, my technician diagnosed my Goodman 2.5 Ton 14 Seer outdoor AC unit is leaking refrigerant. Missed the 5 year warranty by 10 days! Indoor furnace was also installed at the same date five years ago. Questions:
1. Repair or replace AC unit?
2. If replace AC, should I also replace both AC and furnace?
3. AND Services reviews?
4. Getting quotes next week from Home Depot, Lowes, Farrell, and Kalos. Advice on which contractor to go with (also AND who services Sumter County)?
5. Replace with Goodman or a different brand?

Thanks for your input!

So far I have had two contractors visit. Both recommended replacing outdoor compressor (yes it is leaking with oil stain drip) and one recommended heat pump to replace gas furnace. Does anyone have experience with heat pump or duel system (heat pump + gas furnace)?

[Toymeister]

If a heat pump is installed it is a better sale for the installer. Call me suspicious...

[Topspinmo]

IMO It would have to be awful big leak for me to replace unit that working? Was the unit not cooling or was this routine annual maintenance? If it was annual maintenance I would just have it topped off and see how long it cools. Especially if that was nothing wrong with it? Also when he put the gauges on it should show how low it was? Now, if it was so low the unit wasn’t cooling, then yes it has big leak. IMO I would just buy another 14 seer outside unit for around 1400 than spend 6K to 8K for new unit or more? But that’s me.

[Topspinmo]

So far I have had two contractors visit. Both recommended replacing outdoor compressor (yes it is leaking with oil stain drip) and one recommended heat pump to replace gas furnace. Does anyone have experience with heat pump or duel system (heat pump + gas furnace)?

I had heat pump in OKC with electric assist. It work good but didn’t have instant heat like natural gas. Don’t get that cold down here so it will work fine. Now is it worth the extra cost being’s winter not really winter down? I use very little natural gas down here for heating in so called winter month:)

[retiredguy123]

So far I have had two contractors visit. Both recommended replacing outdoor compressor (yes it is leaking with oil stain drip) and one recommended heat pump to replace gas furnace. Does anyone have experience with heat pump or duel system (heat pump + gas furnace)?
It sounds like the problem may be with the compressor leaking oil, and not a refrigerant system leak at all? If so, the compressor motor can be replaced without even replacing the entire outside unit, which is called a condenser unit. The compressor is an expensive item, but it may be worth replacing on a 5 year old system. Although, if you replace the compressor, you may have a warranty issue because, if the compressor fails, the contractor could blame the failure on another part of the existing system.

If you are going to replace the entire system, I would go with a heat pump. They are all electric and they function very well in Florida.

[Topspinmo]

There all designed to fail it's engineering fact
When you were a kid growing up remember the ugly fridge
our parents and grand parents had in garage or basement
you couldn't kill em They rusted to death

Agree, had Janitorial few (several) years ago ( made by Goodman), had 10 year warranty on compressor. Failed 10 years and two months. Usually you can hear difference in compressor when it getting ready to puke 🤢. So if you unit close to end of it warranty and it making unusual noises get it look at before warranty runs out.

[Topspinmo]

It sounds like the problem may be with the compressor leaking oil, and not a refrigerant system leak at all? If so, the compressor motor can be replaced without even replacing the entire outside unit, which is called a condenser unit. The compressor is an expensive item, but it may be worth replacing on a 5 year old system. Although, if you replace the compressor, you may have a warranty issue because, if the compressor fails, the contractor could blame the failure on another part of the existing system.

If you are going to replace the entire system, I would go with a heat pump. They are all electric and they function very well in Florida.


I bet Compressor about 80% replacement of the whole unit, unless he can replace it, (which 99.9% don’t have the knowledge or tools to do it, why they got you over barrel) if it hasn’t catastrophic failed yet wouldn’t effect inside unit.

I bet the heat pump unit close to 10K and there no guarantee it will last any longer?

I guessing there at least 60% profit margin on complete unit replacement. Only licensed installer’s can buy unit wholesale. Buy one from Home Depot got 25% or more markup which beats 50% or more markup from company installers.

[Neils]

Tech should be able to patch a leak and refill refrig. 5 years is too new to junk

[TJ SoBos]

I agree with "Retiredguy123".
I believe Freon is a gas, and won't leave a stain. Something don't sound right. A Freon leak can be found....I think they call it a "sniffer" tool.....and it beeps when it detects a leak. They can tell, by the tech's gauges how badly it's leaking.
I'd get another opinion as to what the issue really is. Good luck.

[rjm1cc]

If you said it was 15 years old I would say replace. I would keep at 5 years but not knowing what I am doing I would call one or two more service co's to look at the unit. Where is the leak? Tubing breaking down or a lose connection that can be easily fixed? Go back and ask where the leaks are. If possible why do they think the leaks started.

[Elcmax]

I greatly appreciate all replies and recommendations! Especially the detailed advice from the most recent reply & repeat individuals.

A friend advised me by phone to 'do it right' by asking the contractors to do a 'Manual J' & Manual D' test. Also, he said to ask them to use their 'Flir' device to determine wall insulation. On Saturday, the contractor from AND Services claimed he did all 3 tests and will send me the results by email attachment (sent the wrong address quotes for some one in Ocala). He recommended a Bryant heat pump (3 ton).

The same contractor went up into my attic and recommended redoing the ductwork.

What was most surprising: he showed me that the silver tape above the furnace was sweating bullets and that the tape behind the furnace wasn't complete adhering. He also pointed out that the exhaust flue was not securely attached with screws and lifted off easily by hand.

He also claimed that the copper refrigerant pipes were smaller diameter than they should be (pointed out by showing me the furnace ports were larger than the connecting lineset).

On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, I will be visited by Farrell, Kalos, and Lowes. I hope to get their perspective regarding the condition of the 5 year old Goodman furnace and outdoor compressor.

I will provide an update on my layman's journey in the land of HVAC!

Thanks again for all your input. I will hopefully learn and make a good decision going forward.