Al's Ac & Heating

Services: A/C system repair, Repair HVAC
Apr 30th, 2023

Services: Install thermostat, HVAC duct & vent installation
Mar 4th, 2023

Last week, our A/C had problems while the temperature was in the high 90s. I checked Carrier's website, and from the authorized dealer list, I called Al's A/C & Heating, described the problem: the two Carrier units was installed in February 2019, including AC and furnace, brand new. Now while fan motor ran, both units didn't blow cold air. At 5PM, Wednesday, July 20, a service guy from Al's A/C came in. Here is what he did: 1. Asked me to turn on both units and set temperature to 72F. I turned off both units the day before because I was afraid of damaging compressor and evaporator due to low refrigerant level. 2. When I came to outside units, he already pulled out the breaker, opened side covers, and measured capacitors. He told me both capacitors were bad and needed to be replaced. I said yes if they had to be replaced. 3. After both capacitors replaced, he turned on both units, fans ran, and apparently compressors kicked in too. 4. He hooked up pressure meter ( I guess they are), and measured pressure. He told me pressure were right on both units. I confirmed with him that refrigerant level were normal. 5. I went back to indoors, and felt cold air. I thought both units were fixed. 6. He started paper work. Here is what he charged: 1) service charge: 75 x 2 = $150 2) capacitors: labor 120 x 2 = $240 Total, I was charged $390. Then he left. After one hour, the indoor temperature was still around 80F, and the downstairs unit's fan motor started and stopped. Also I placed a thermometer at a vent, and reading was like 72F. I called him, he said fan motor was bad and needed to be replace, and later quoted me $585. At that time, both my wife and I were not happy since he didn't fix anything. The both units were just like before. The small unit's fan motor ran with no problem, but still no cold air. After argument, he dropped the price to $450 for a new motor for the bigger unit. However, we lost trust on him. After two unpleasant nights, the service professional a friend recommended came. Here is what he found: 1. Both units had LOW refrigerant! And they were at the same level! If there was a leakage, what is chance that both units dropped to same low level? Only plausible explanation is that the refrigerant level was low at installation. They were installed by Green Leaf Air. I didn't know what to say, but left feedback on Google review. 2. Fan motor on downstairs unit indeed was bad, and was replaced. 3. He came up to the attic, and found that drainage pipe for upstairs units was clogged, which resulted in the unit shut itself off since the sensor was triggered. With these issues fixed, both units have been working well in the past few days, and I feels much more efficient than when they were installed. I have disappointment toward Al's A/C & Heating: 1. Why low refrigerant were not detected? 2. Why capacitor on the small unit was replaced? I told him that fan ran all the time on the small unit. And now we knew that capacitor on the big unit was not bad either. 3. When I told that temperature at vent was 70s, why that didn't alert him? With normal A/C, that reading should be at lower 60s. 4. Why jumped to conclusion so quick without check up? What he did couldn't explain why no cold air from small unit (upstairs unit). Finally, I want to ask Al's A/C & Heating: where are your professionalism? Service: A/C system repair
May 31st, 2022

Feb 28th, 2022

Services: Installation, Heating system installation, Install AC
Feb 24th, 2022