AboutCraig HVAC Expert Expertise I have been in the HVAC field for the past 12+ years. I can help with most HVAC questions. I work on commerical buildings for the most part, and have yet to find anything I could not troubleshoot and repair, when repairable. I work on small 1 ton units to a 2500 ton chiller. Troubleshoot air flow, elect, and control problems. I attend regular classes to keep up with the latest and greatest.
Experience I have work in the HVAC trade for the past sixteen years. I work on commerical sites, hospitals, gov't buildings. I can troubleshoot just about anything in the HVAC business.
Education/Credentials 5 years union trade school, VFD training classes, Liebert factory training, some York and Trane factory training.
Question I have a Lennox furnace and A/C unit, maybe 12-15 years old.
This year the compressor didn't start when cool engaged on White-Rogers digital comfort II thermostat. I noticed "battery" flashing on the thermostat, I replaced and power cycled the furnace breaker, A/C breaker and thermostat. This seemed to work. I let the repairman come and inspect anyway. He filled 2 1/2 #'s of refrigerant. By the end of the eve this fan would run no cold air. The repairman didn't check thermostat just the refrigerant. The battery light was still on so I removed the thermostat and replaced the batteries with new batteries, the battery light finally went off. The A/C has been working fine for the last 48 hours. I have an appointment with the A/C guy tomorrow should I cancel? Could it have been the battery in the thermostat causing the problem? Why would shutting the breakers off for 2 minutes "fix" the problem? Thanks in advance for your help. P.S $250 for 2 1/2 LBS of refrigerant seems a little stiff.
Answer If the complete service call was 250, that is the going rate. It is nearly impossible for a service company to make it for much less. If you want a clue as to what refrigerant costs, you can google search it. If the thermostat you have uses only batteries, then weak batteries will cause weird problems. Some thermostats use batteries, 24v power from the unit, either batteries or 24v, or both.
