I have a Trane air conditioner that was installed in 2007. I did not buy the extended warranty. I have had it checked every spring ... and until last year there was no problem.

In April a technician came out and checked it -- spent a long time with it and also tried very hard to sell me on letting the company clean my dryer vents. I declined.

In June the a/c started running long periods and dripping water... the drain pipes were not clogged... the man who came out and diagnosed the problem said a valve was bad and that the refrigerant was over filled. He had to order the valve - and it took several days. He said the part rarely failed. Someone on this board told me later that "over-filling" could cause it to fail. Anyway, it has been working o.k. since then - until last week. (It costs me $1069 to fix). Last week it was hot and humid (Florida) and I turned it on... it started dripping water again, same as before. I turned it off -- the next day it was cold again and I used it to heat the house.

Yesterday I called the company and asked them to send someone out to check it (after making sure the part they put in was still under warranty). I asked the name of the techie coming out and when I found out it was the one who started this string of events I asked her not to send him. Went to the grocery store and he was working on an a/c one street over -- I recognized him. Anyway, my question is -- how long should a Trane last and when does it become unwise to fix it -- appreciate help with this. Thanks.

On Feb 28, 11:27*am, Dottie wrote:
I have a Trane air conditioner that was installed in 2007. *I did not buy the extended warranty. *I have had it checked every spring ... and until last year there was no problem.

In April a technician came out and checked it -- spent a long time with it and also tried very hard to sell me on letting the company clean my dryer vents. *I declined.

In June the a/c started running long periods and dripping water... the drain pipes were not clogged...

Where exactly was the water dripping from? The
evaporator? If yes and the drain pipe was not clogged,
then it sounds like a leak in the pan.....


the man who came out and diagnosed the problem said a valve was bad
and that the refrigerant was over filled.

I don't see how that results in water dripping.....




*He had to order the valve - and it took several days. *He said the
part rarely failed. *Someone on this board told me later that "over-
filling" could cause it to fail. *Anyway, it has been working o.k.
since then - until last week. *(It costs me $1069 to fix).

Assuming that "valve" is a TXV, that sounds like a very
high price.




*Last week it was hot and humid (Florida) and I turned it on... it
started dripping water again, same as before. *I turned it off -- the
next day it was cold again and I used it to heat the house.

Yesterday I called the company and asked them to send someone out to check it (after making sure the part they put in was still under warranty). *I asked the name of the techie coming out and when I found out it was the one who started this string of events I asked her not to send him. *Went to the grocery store and he was working on an a/c one street over -- I recognized him. *Anyway, my question is -- how long should a Trane last and when does it become unwise to fix it -- appreciate help with this. *Thanks.

It's hard to say how long anything lasts. It used to be that
AC eqpt lasted 25 years. I'd say now the consensus is
probably more like 15, but it's going to vary. Part of the
issue is whether it's installed right or not. There are plenty
of hack installers and it's easy to compromise a system.
Not using nitrogen when brazing, is one way to save a few
bucks, do a hack job and later the system stops working
because the debris formed utlimately clogs the TXV.

I'd ask around and see if you can find another HVAC
company that people recommend. Check them out on
the BBB too. Get them to give you an opinion.

On Thursday, February 28, 2013 11:27:29 AM UTC-5, Dottie wrote:
I have a Trane air conditioner that was installed in 2007. I did not buy the extended warranty. I have had it checked every spring ... and until last year there was no problem.



In April a technician came out and checked it -- spent a long time with it and also tried very hard to sell me on letting the company clean my dryer vents. I declined.



In June the a/c started running long periods and dripping water... the drain pipes were not clogged... the man who came out and diagnosed the problem said a valve was bad and that the refrigerant was over filled. He had to order the valve - and it took several days. He said the part rarely failed. Someone on this board told me later that "over-filling" could cause it to fail. Anyway, it has been working o.k. since then - until last week. (It costs me $1069 to fix). Last week it was hot and humid (Florida) and I turned it on... it started dripping water again, same as before. I turned it off -- the next day it was cold again and I used it to heat the house.



Yesterday I called the company and asked them to send someone out to check it (after making sure the part they put in was still under warranty). I asked the name of the techie coming out and when I found out it was the one who started this string of events I asked her not to send him. Went to the grocery store and he was working on an a/c one street over -- I recognized him. Anyway, my question is -- how long should a Trane last and when does it become unwise to fix it -- appreciate help with this. Thanks.

On Thursday, February 28, 2013 11:27:29 AM UTC-5, Dottie wrote:
I have a Trane air conditioner that was installed in 2007. I did not buy the extended warranty. I have had it checked every spring ... and until last year there was no problem.



In April a technician came out and checked it -- spent a long time with it and also tried very hard to sell me on letting the company clean my dryer vents. I declined.



In June the a/c started running long periods and dripping water... the drain pipes were not clogged... the man who came out and diagnosed the problem said a valve was bad and that the refrigerant was over filled. He had to order the valve - and it took several days. He said the part rarely failed. Someone on this board told me later that "over-filling" could cause it to fail. Anyway, it has been working o.k. since then - until last week. (It costs me $1069 to fix). Last week it was hot and humid (Florida) and I turned it on... it started dripping water again, same as before. I turned it off -- the next day it was cold again and I used it to heat the house.



Yesterday I called the company and asked them to send someone out to check it (after making sure the part they put in was still under warranty). I asked the name of the techie coming out and when I found out it was the one who started this string of events I asked her not to send him. Went to the grocery store and he was working on an a/c one street over -- I recognized him. Anyway, my question is -- how long should a Trane last and when does it become unwise to fix it -- appreciate help with this. Thanks.

I posted earlier and the message was deleted ... don't know why.

On 2/28/2013 10:27 AM, Dottie wrote:
I have a Trane air conditioner that was installed in 2007. I did not
buy the extended warranty. I have had it checked every spring ...
and until last year there was no problem.

In April a technician came out and checked it -- spent a long time
with it and also tried very hard to sell me on letting the company
clean my dryer vents. I declined.

In June the a/c started running long periods and dripping water...
the drain pipes were not clogged... the man who came out and
diagnosed the problem said a valve was bad and that the refrigerant
was over filled. He had to order the valve - and it took several
days. He said the part rarely failed. Someone on this board told me
later that "over-filling" could cause it to fail. Anyway, it has
been working o.k. since then - until last week. (It costs me $1069
to fix). Last week it was hot and humid (Florida) and I turned it
on... it started dripping water again, same as before. I turned it
off -- the next day it was cold again and I used it to heat the
house.

Yesterday I called the company and asked them to send someone out to
check it (after making sure the part they put in was still under
warranty). I asked the name of the techie coming out and when I
found out it was the one who started this string of events I asked
her not to send him. Went to the grocery store and he was working on
an a/c one street over -- I recognized him. Anyway, my question is
-- how long should a Trane last and when does it become unwise to fix
it -- appreciate help with this. Thanks.


Trane produces very good equipment and if installed and maintained
properly should last for many years without trouble. I would definitely
be suspicious of a $1,069.00 repair bill which leads n=me to believe
the service company is taking advantage of you. I actually went to a
deposition where a friend of mine was suing a service company that
sabotaged one of his elderly mother's AC units. I repaired it for his
mother at cost which was well under the $3,000.00 price the crooks gave
her. Me and my friends in the service business don't like crooks who
take advantage of older folks. O_o

TDD

On Thu, 28 Feb 2013 08:27:29 -0800 (PST), Dottie
wrote:

I have a Trane air conditioner that was installed in 2007. I did not buy the extended warranty. I have had it checked every spring ... and until last year there was no problem.

In April a technician came out and checked it -- spent a long time with it and also tried very hard to sell me on letting the company clean my dryer vents. I declined.

In June the a/c started running long periods and dripping water... the drain pipes were not clogged... the man who came out and diagnosed the problem said a valve was bad and that the refrigerant was over filled. He had to order the valve - and it took several days. He said the part rarely failed. Someone on this board told me later that "over-filling" could cause it to fail. Anyway, it has been working o.k. since then - until last week. (It costs me $1069 to fix). Last week it was hot and humid (Florida) and I turned it on... it started dripping water again, same as before. I turned it off -- the next day it was cold again and I used it to heat the house.

Yesterday I called the company and asked them to send someone out to check it (after making sure the part they put in was still under warranty). I asked the name of the techie coming out and when I found out it was the one who started this string of events I asked her not to send him. Went to the grocery store and he was working on an a/c one street over -- I recognized him. Anyway, my question is -- how long should a Trane last and when does it become unwise to fix it -- appreciate help with this. Thanks.

I think the shortest I've ever had one last was 12 years. It was a
cheap unit I put on a rental. I've got a Goetel Unit on a rental that
is 42 years old and still chugging away. At one time I had a rental
with a Carrier unit that was so old it was a cast iron compressor with
heads like you see on "real" air compressors.

Dottie wrote:
I have a Trane air conditioner that was installed in 2007. I did not
buy the extended warranty. I have had it checked every spring ...
and until last year there was no problem.

In April a technician came out and checked it -- spent a long time
with it and also tried very hard to sell me on letting the company
clean my dryer vents. I declined.

In June the a/c started running long periods and dripping water...
the drain pipes were not clogged... the man who came out and
diagnosed the problem said a valve was bad and that the refrigerant
was over filled. He had to order the valve - and it took several
days. He said the part rarely failed. Someone on this board told me
later that "over-filling" could cause it to fail. Anyway, it has
been working o.k. since then - until last week. (It costs me $1069
to fix). Last week it was hot and humid (Florida) and I turned it
on... it started dripping water again, same as before. I turned it
off -- the next day it was cold again and I used it to heat the
house.

Yesterday I called the company and asked them to send someone out to
check it (after making sure the part they put in was still under
warranty). I asked the name of the techie coming out and when I
found out it was the one who started this string of events I asked
her not to send him. Went to the grocery store and he was working on
an a/c one street over -- I recognized him. Anyway, my question is
-- how long should a Trane last and when does it become unwise to fix
it -- appreciate help with this. Thanks.

Inasmuch as you're in Florida, did the technician try to sell you some swamp
land?

An air conditioner cannot drip water. Water is not involved in the a/c
piping system. Period.

What CAN happen refers to the condensate where warm, humid, air is cooled
and the cooled air releases moisture.

The way an air conditioning SYSTEM often works - at least around here - is
to capture this water and drain it into the house sanitary sewer system. But
that drain can get clogged. Manufacturer's know this and almost always
install a pan beneath the condensing unit to catch the water that can't make
it down the house drain. This pan, in turn, has a separate drain, usually to
the outside of the house.

In a catastrophic situation, here's the drill:
1. The primary drain (to the house sanitary system) clogs up.
2. Condensation then moves to the fail-safe backup pan.
3. Eventually, this pan/drain combo clogs up and the moisture overflows the
pan.
4. If the condensing unit/pan is in the attic... goll-eey what a mess!

Well, what causes the clogs and how do you fix/prevent it?

The "clog" is almost always a big blob of algae. It's quite soft and can be
removed by air pressure (just blow down the pipe) or a snake. Prevention is
almost as easy. Here's how.

At the top of the condensing unit, just before the ductwork begins branching
out, drill a 1/2" hole. At the start of each a/c season, pour a cup of
household bleach into the hole (a funnel helps). Plug the hole with a cork
or duct tape. The bleach kills the algae/fungi/mold/mushrooms or whatever is
growing in the pipe.

This latter is one of the easiest DIY jobs.

Good luck.

On Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:44:41 -0600, "HeyBub"
wrote:

Inasmuch as you're in Florida, did the technician try to sell you some swamp
land?

An air conditioner cannot drip water. Water is not involved in the a/c
piping system. Period.

What CAN happen refers to the condensate where warm, humid, air is cooled
and the cooled air releases moisture.

The way an air conditioning SYSTEM often works - at least around here - is
to capture this water and drain it into the house sanitary sewer system. But
that drain can get clogged. Manufacturer's know this and almost always
install a pan beneath the condensing unit to catch the water that can't make
it down the house drain. This pan, in turn, has a separate drain, usually to
the outside of the house.

In a catastrophic situation, here's the drill:
1. The primary drain (to the house sanitary system) clogs up.
2. Condensation then moves to the fail-safe backup pan.
3. Eventually, this pan/drain combo clogs up and the moisture overflows the
pan.
4. If the condensing unit/pan is in the attic... goll-eey what a mess!

Well, what causes the clogs and how do you fix/prevent it?

The "clog" is almost always a big blob of algae. It's quite soft and can be
removed by air pressure (just blow down the pipe) or a snake. Prevention is
almost as easy. Here's how.

At the top of the condensing unit, just before the ductwork begins branching
out, drill a 1/2" hole. At the start of each a/c season, pour a cup of
household bleach into the hole (a funnel helps). Plug the hole with a cork
or duct tape. The bleach kills the algae/fungi/mold/mushrooms or whatever is
growing in the pipe.

This latter is one of the easiest DIY jobs.

Good luck.


Agree. I live in the desert. This past summer there were days high
in humility, the outside condensate line dripped fairly rapidly (fast
drops of water).

My drain pan is in the attic, however, it has a sensor alarm to detect
water before a disaster. crosses fingers

The OP has not stated where the water is located or coming from - the
line or the pan.

On Thursday, February 28, 2013 4:24:05 PM UTC-6, Oren wrote:
On Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:44:41 -0600, "HeyBub"

wrote:



Inasmuch as you're in Florida, did the technician try to sell you some swamp

land?



An air conditioner cannot drip water. Water is not involved in the a/c

piping system. Period.



What CAN happen refers to the condensate where warm, humid, air is cooled

and the cooled air releases moisture.



The way an air conditioning SYSTEM often works - at least around here - is

to capture this water and drain it into the house sanitary sewer system. But

that drain can get clogged. Manufacturer's know this and almost always

install a pan beneath the condensing unit to catch the water that can't make

it down the house drain. This pan, in turn, has a separate drain, usually to

the outside of the house.



In a catastrophic situation, here's the drill:

1. The primary drain (to the house sanitary system) clogs up.

2. Condensation then moves to the fail-safe backup pan.

3. Eventually, this pan/drain combo clogs up and the moisture overflows the

pan.

4. If the condensing unit/pan is in the attic... goll-eey what a mess!



Well, what causes the clogs and how do you fix/prevent it?



The "clog" is almost always a big blob of algae. It's quite soft and can be

removed by air pressure (just blow down the pipe) or a snake. Prevention is

almost as easy. Here's how.



At the top of the condensing unit, just before the ductwork begins branching

out, drill a 1/2" hole. At the start of each a/c season, pour a cup of

household bleach into the hole (a funnel helps). Plug the hole with a cork

or duct tape. The bleach kills the algae/fungi/mold/mushrooms or whatever is

growing in the pipe.



This latter is one of the easiest DIY jobs.



Good luck.





Agree. I live in the desert. This past summer there were days high

in humility, the outside condensate line dripped fairly rapidly (fast

drops of water).



My drain pan is in the attic, however, it has a sensor alarm to detect

water before a disaster. crosses fingers



The OP has not stated where the water is located or coming from - the

line or the pan.

My guess is that the evaporator coil is freezing up into a giant ice ball, causing it to drip water all over the air handler when it thaws. This is usually caused by either the unit being undercharged and/or poor airflow through the coil, or if someone setting the thermostat too low. It could also happen if the air conditioner is allowed to run for extended times when it is too cold outside, or under certain conditions, if the unit is overcharged.

The tech trying to "sell you on" speaks volumes. Time to find a different
service company. Most AC systems run 15 plus years, with maintenance.

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..

"Dottie" wrote in message
...
I have a Trane air conditioner that was installed in 2007. I did not buy
the extended warranty. I have had it checked every spring ... and until
last year there was no problem.

In April a technician came out and checked it -- spent a long time with it
and also tried very hard to sell me on letting the company clean my dryer
vents. I declined.

In June the a/c started running long periods and dripping water... the drain
pipes were not clogged... the man who came out and diagnosed the problem
said a valve was bad and that the refrigerant was over filled. He had to
order the valve - and it took several days. He said the part rarely failed.
Someone on this board told me later that "over-filling" could cause it to
fail. Anyway, it has been working o.k. since then - until last week. (It
costs me $1069 to fix). Last week it was hot and humid (Florida) and I
turned it on... it started dripping water again, same as before. I turned
it off -- the next day it was cold again and I used it to heat the house.

Yesterday I called the company and asked them to send someone out to check
it (after making sure the part they put in was still under warranty). I
asked the name of the techie coming out and when I found out it was the one
who started this string of events I asked her not to send him. Went to the
grocery store and he was working on an a/c one street over -- I recognized
him. Anyway, my question is -- how long should a Trane last and when does
it become unwise to fix it -- appreciate help with this. Thanks.