AC Help
Printed From: Tippmann Paintball
Category: News And Views
Forum Name: Thoughts and Opinions
Forum Description: Got something you need to say?
URL: http://www.tippmannsports.com/forum/wwf77a/forum_posts.asp?TID=188602
Printed Date: 03 March 2026 at 5:52am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.04 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: AC Help
Posted By: deadeye007
Subject: AC Help
Date Posted: 22 June 2011 at 9:23pm
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My house's air conditioner has been giving me fits every since I purchased the house in 09. The compressor is made by Magic Chef, and every technician that looks at it says it should be in the hall of fame for lasting as long as it has (too old to read serial numbers but the general consensus is 1970's or early 80s). My electric bill was $300 in the peak months of summer last year, and the May11 bill has reached 165 during a relatively cooler summer month. I have put waaay to much R-22 in the unit this year alone, and it will probably leak to a low point by the end of summer. (That gets expensive in itself).
My initial plan was to run it till it dies, but these high electric bills and freon cost are costing me money that I could be saving. I got quoted for a 3.5 ton 14 SEER unit and a 4 ton dual stage 16 SEER unit. There is a 2k price difference between the 2. I know the 16 SEER unit will have lower running cost than the 14, but is the savings and comfort worth the 2k? I live in Texas so a high quality Ac is a must. Anyways I was wondering if anyone out there has been through a similar predicament or has knowledge in the HVAC field to give some advice. ------------- Face it guys, common sense is a form of wealth and we're surrounded by poverty.-Strato |
Replies:
Posted By: impulse418
Date Posted: 22 June 2011 at 11:14pm
| Trane |
Posted By: Koolit32
Date Posted: 22 June 2011 at 11:35pm
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Go with the 16, the savings will be pretty noticeable in the long run, and if you're the type that turns your AC up during the day, and down when you get home, it'll cool the house down quite a bit faster. I'm not too familiar with brands, but my dad runs an AC business in FL, and he uses Trane mostly, not the cheapest out there but probably the best for the price range. I'm in a similar situation as you right now, only I'm a renter and the landlord is reluctant to change the AC unit that is costing me 400$ a month in power bills over the summer, definitely should be in the hall of fame along with yours. Of course, he doesn't have to replace it as long as it runs, so I'm trying to figure out a way for it to "break naturally". Maybe a fire.
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Posted By: tallen702
Date Posted: 22 June 2011 at 11:41pm
| Koolit, poke a hole in the condenser line somewhere hard to weld, let it run without refrigerant and burn out the compressor. Fixed! |
Posted By: FreeEnterprise
Date Posted: 23 June 2011 at 8:09am
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Tranes were awesome until about 5 years ago when they went "cheap" with their materials/motors...
They are just like the other brands now (if you are talking residential, their commercial is still better than most). (according to my a/c guy)
Home A/c systems are now designed to be replaced often.
I have a dual super high effeciency trane system (6 years old) that works well, my typical summer bill is around $400. But, I am cooling over 4,000 square feet with tons of windows, a pool, hot tub, salt water aquarium, and three girls in the house... and we keep it at around 76 in the day and 73 at night.
If you are having to put in freon, do it yourself. That way you spend about $16 per container vs about $56 per container from a dealer...
If it works keep using it, your prices seem pretty normal for A/c, you would probably benefit more from adding insulation if you want to get your costs down.
Many power companies will do an energy audit for free (or discounted). My brother in law just had one done on his 1800's farm house and they found an area under his deck where there was a huge gap in the foundation and all his a/c was just pouring outside. Just by fixing that, he reduced his bill $40 a month.
He has geothermal (2 years old) and has not seen the promised savings... His average bill is around $300, and his house is around 3,500 square feet.
Most of the "high efficiency" systems don't really save you that much money, the biggest reason people think their systems are working poorly now is because energy costs have skyrocketed under Obamanomics, so we are paying more per kilowatt than ever before. My bill has over $40 in taxes/fees before I pay for my first kilowatt of power...
koolit, I wouldn't destroy your a/c to get a new one as that would be a felony in most states... ------------- They tremble at my name... 
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Posted By: stratoaxe
Date Posted: 23 June 2011 at 8:37am
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------------- 
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FreeEnterprise wrote:Posted By: agentwhale007
Date Posted: 23 June 2011 at 9:47am
In my brain I think of scientists examining atmospheric maps and wondering why there is a small circle of missing ozone above deadeye's house. And when I think of this, I laugh a little bit.
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Posted By: oldpbnoob
Date Posted: 23 June 2011 at 10:12am
------------- "When I grow up I want to marry a rich man and live in a condor next to the beach" -- My 7yr old daughter. |
Posted By: deadeye007
Date Posted: 23 June 2011 at 11:29am
Yes Whale, I've burned more Ozone than Hummer ------------- Face it guys, common sense is a form of wealth and we're surrounded by poverty.-Strato |
Posted By: SSOK
Date Posted: 24 June 2011 at 10:19pm
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I guess rebuilding the compressor is out of the question? ------------- 
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Posted By: choopie911
Date Posted: 24 June 2011 at 10:33pm
| My landlord bought our AC, that dude is awesome. |
Posted By: *Stealth*
Date Posted: 24 June 2011 at 10:42pm
Am I the only one who wondered why the salt water aquarium was relevant at all? ------------- |
Posted By: choopie911
Date Posted: 24 June 2011 at 10:53pm
| Gotta look at your sharks while you're hot tubbin' bro. Ladies love sharks. |
Posted By: agentwhale007
Date Posted: 25 June 2011 at 12:59am
Or the pool. Or the hot tub. |
Posted By: stratoaxe
Date Posted: 25 June 2011 at 4:49am
This was so much better than my own response, I can't really top it.
I just wished I could fit a Smirnoff Ice and some Axe into that mental image  -------------
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Posted By: impulse418
Date Posted: 25 June 2011 at 5:42am
People in Canada have AC? |
Posted By: FreeEnterprise
Date Posted: 25 June 2011 at 7:31am
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Anything with a pump that runs ads to your electric bill. Aquariums (especially reef) have high power draw lighitng, as well as the pump that runs 24/7.
A typical fish tank costs around $25 a month just in electricity.
A typical pool costs around $30 a month in just electricity (unless you have an electric heater, mine is propane)
A typical hot tub runs anywhere from $20-$50 (but could go up to $75 in the cold) a month just in electricity.
So for a $400 monthly bill, those other things make up a percentage of the cost, and that is why I mentioned them... ------------- They tremble at my name...
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Posted By: DaveEllis
Date Posted: 25 June 2011 at 9:18am
We're just not used to you making appropriate, relevant comments.
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Posted By: Kayback
Date Posted: 25 June 2011 at 10:54am
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I thought it was fairly obvious.
KBK ------------- Pedicabo ego vos et irrumabo. H = 2 |
Posted By: deadeye007
Date Posted: 25 June 2011 at 4:35pm
Unfortunate for me I don't have the toys you have and 1/3 of the house, but my electric bill is only $100 off from yours. That's why I was looking for a change. ------------- Face it guys, common sense is a form of wealth and we're surrounded by poverty.-Strato |
Posted By: deadeye007
Date Posted: 13 August 2011 at 10:11pm
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I bit the bullet and got the 16seer dual stage unit. Kept the A/C at 74 degrees throughout the last month (20-30 straight days of 100+ with a large number of them going 105+). I just got the electric bill and compared it to the most equivalent bill I could find (It was a record setting month for heat, but August of 2010 was closest) and saw that I used 1,000 KW less and saved over $100. I'm glad I replaced the unit when I did because I'm sure the old unit would have just burst into flames during the heat wave. ------------- Face it guys, common sense is a form of wealth and we're surrounded by poverty.-Strato |