AboutHoward Livingston Expertise Can answer questions on electrical control circuits, power supply,airflow & distribution, electrical components,refrigerant problems,gas, electric & propane furnaces.No boiler or refrigerator or oil fired furnaces experience.Just HVAC questions please.
Experience 35 years experience in residential & light commercial repair & installation.
Question An HVAC technician just left after inspecting my upstairs unit, Carrier 38YCC, which is a little over 5 years old. I have had seasonal maintenance performed. He diagnosed corroded coils which need to be replaced at a cost of 3200 dollars. He showed me the coils. What color should the coils be? He also explained that the larger unit should be connected to the downstairs and the smaller unit should be connected to the upstairs. He suggested that the connections should be switched which would end up with a total cost of $5,000 dollars. Last year, the technician recommended a teflon coating due to amount of rust on coils. Please help. I'm confused. Thank you.
Answer I presume you are referring to the evaporator coils ?? They are normally made from aluminum fins & copper tubing. Aluminum always corrodes but it is just on the surface. They are just a dull aluminum color. Never have seen "rust" that affects the operation. The end plates of the coil are made from China steel & rusts within a week . Never affects the operation of the evap. coils. Think that is a 3 ton unit upstairs & I have replaced that size for about $450 to $500 for an easy access unit. More if the furnace is in an attic. So, if you change your filters regularly, wash the condenser coils with water every Summer don't think you need a service chechup any more than every 3rd Summer. If this rust is only on the endplates, chase these guys off. What tonnage & square feet per floor do you have for them to consider swapping units ??
