Carrier Hvac System Compressor Repair

by Tina
(Fort Worth)

Would never recommend a Carrier system to anyone. After 2 years had to have the compressor repaired which cost us over $1200, that was last summer, this summer it's still not cooling.

We've used 2 different companies and 4 technicians have come out to look at it with no luck.

B. Markstahler replies a HVAC Service Manager

Tina,

Not a Carrier fan myself, next time purchase an Amana product I believe you will have better luck. However compressor failure in two years is by one of the following causes:

A) compressor was a bad piece from the factory, this option has about a 2% chance of being the cause.

B) Improper installation, this has a 98% chance of being the problem. Proper sizing of equipment for the home, proper sizing of ductwork to move the appropriate amount of air for the equipment installed, Evaporator coil, refrigerant lines and condensing unit are all parts of the same refrigeration system and should all be matched to operate together, the blower drive in either the furnace or air handler that circulates the inside air should be capable of the appropriate amount of air movement for the cooling equipment,utilization of proper refrigeration practices in the installation is paramount.

Fact of the matter is 90 to 95% of all residential air distribution ducts are undersized for the equipment it is attached to.

Fact improper practices by low bid non-qualified contractors lead to approximately 80%+ of component failures in H/AC equipment. Fact in most areas there are no set qualifications to be an HVAC contractor.

Fact as long as people do not read and shop based on price and not quality this situation will continue to happen. Fact while I empathize with your plight, you need to locate the competent contractor within 100 miles of your home (there is normally one within reach) contact them and pay them to perform an analysis of your system, not your equipment but, your system.

If they are competent they will take a ton of measurements, they will then calculate total system air flow capacity of your distribution ducts and equipment, they will calculate the heat load and loss of your home to verify that the equipment installed is in the proper range for your home, they will based upon science and engineering recommend what you should do to correct your issue.

Otherwise you will likely continue replacing parts and unfortunately compressors as well until you replace the whole thing again which will likely still not solve the problem only the symptom.

Manufacturer's limited Warranty throughout the industry and most others is a Part warranty, they supply only the replacement part - labor and materials are the responsibility of the owner - most contractors will cover labor and materials on thier installation for 1-year following installation.

Hope this helps- Good Luck!

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Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Legal action
by: Lorena

I am pursuing a class action suit regarding the compressor situation If anyone is interested please contact me..
dillandra@gmail.com
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Compressor
by: Anonymous

Class action anyone?? Obviously Carrier has mfr defect
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		just ripped off NEW
by: Anonymous

had to replace Carrier compressor 4 yrs old, buzzing first then not cooling. was under warranty was charged $1105 for $500 labor, $450 for 5lbs Freon, $50 processing fee, $65 liquid line filter dryer,$40 misc parts.

Have emailed the owner of co have heard nothing back if $333 per hour is his labor fee. Guy was here one and a half hours installing compressor that carrier sent under warranty. I had agreed to price on Monday as he said would take 3-4 hrs but on Wednesday after compressor arrived it took 1 1/2 hr
I don't think anyone esp a company I just had here april 16 this year to clean and check it should be charging $333 a hour to a customer.
Is there any recourse if he doesn't answer my email? I paid with credit card.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Carrier appears to be very unreliable NEW
by: Anonymous

I see a common theme in these reviews. Carrier appears to have a reliability issue. It appears the new Carrier units have issues with their compressors. My unit is 8 years old and I'm being told I should replace the entire condenser because Carrier has a flaw in their design. My HVAC company is telling that Carrier is aware of this issue. The cost they quoting for this is $3500. This supposedly is a discounted cost since Carrier knows they have a problem. They saying without this good deal from Carrier the condenser would cost $6500. I paid right at $10,000 for the entire system just 8 years ago. I requested a cost just to change the compressor since this piece is still under warranty. I will still have to pay for labor and Freon. My previous units were cheaper units and lasted over 15 years without giving me any issues until they finally ran out of gas. Based on what I'm experiencing and what I'm reading I will never buy another Carrier machine.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		ac compressor NEW
by: Anonymous

AC compressor are usually warranted for 5 years. I THINK HUMIDIFIERS ARE ALSO.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Installation and Durability NEW
by: R. Alexander

I have been in the HVAC Industry my entire life(now 61), my father was in it from the very beginning in 1950. The number one factor for any system is the quality of the installation, whether new or replacement. I have seen the most advanced and quality high efficiency systems (the "Cadillacs") operate worse than the lowest "Builder model" low efficiency units with no "frills" or "bells and whistles". As for manufacturing quality, the industry has been changed by the competitive bidding fiasco, where the only thing the customer is looking at is the lowest possible price. This is without regard for the necessity of better controls and safety devices to help the system operate more efficiently and survive poor electrical service, weather conditions, pets, and other environmental obstacles. You should always look for the best overall value, as the joy of the low price or the "best deal" will wear off very quickly when the equipment soon fails again. The technicians should be highly trained and certified to work on your equipment, because there are many factors involved to establish a tight, leak-free and clean system with adequate ductwork and airflow on both indoor and outdoor units. We also have an important obligation to our environment to control refrigerant leaks and recover/replace refrigerant from existing systems. In the rush to build and air condition millions of homes in the past decades for the baby boomers, a lot of short cuts were used to get the equipment installed and running, without regard for long-term care and efficiency. The technology has also changed drastically in recent years, making equipment much more efficient and also much more dependant on a good installation. Make sure the conditions in your home or business are all clearly surveyed and corrected (bad ductwork, poor electrical service, thermostat locations, unit locations and serviceability, building load and the systems' capacity) before new equipment is purchased and installed. I have seen Carrier and other equipment that was installed in the 1950s still running and performing quietly today because of a good installation and proper yearly care. These systems are usually only changed out to gain the higher energy efficiency of the new equipment. Make inquiries with your potential contractor and ask him to answer any questions you have about your system and installation, then to explain anything you do not fully understand. Anyone worth his salt will take the time to make sure you are fully aware and happy with your decisions and equipment.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Quality Of Modern Systems NEW
by: Anonymous

First of all, I am by no means an expert in the HVAC industry. I have been in the industry a little less than two years. I am a Comfort Consultant (i.e. salesperson) and I am not technically certified. I have, however, been on approx. 175-200 equipment replacement appointments and have seen many different HVAC system configurations and have heard many repair history stories from my prospective clients as well as having a few of my own experiences. I agree with most of the Service Tech Managers and Service Techs, along with it being pretty much a consensus in the HVAC industry, that the correct overall system design and a quality installation is paramount in providing the client with the optimal efficiency, performance, and longevity from the system that they deserve and paid for. Being that there is not really a consensus in the HVAC industry on who makes the best equipment, I tend to utilize what I consider to be non bias sources. Consumer Reports being one of my favorites. Statistically, according to last years' survey, American Standard, Rheem, Bryant, Carrier, Trane, and Lennox score very well. This is taken from a large sample size of about 40,000 subscribers. I will say though, I firmly believe that systems made prior to the mid 80's were better, looking at it from a purely durability perspective. Bottom line, make sure you get a few estimates and make double sure you do your due diligence when it comes to checking out the credentials and reputation of any of the potential contractors you are considering for the project.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Carrier wont replace the coolant... NEW
by: Anonymous

...even if their part fails and the unit is fully under warranty. This sucks! That is what the paperwork says on my new unit. So far I aint happy with Carrier at all. The worst part is when you buy a new unit, guess who installs it? Two low level grunts that know very little about a complicated piece of equipment. You pay top dollar and have minimum wage people install it.
The rules for contractors are:
1. Get the money.
2. Get in,install it quick as you can cutting corners.
3. Get out with the money!

Had Infinity gas/electric package unit installed. It is nosier than my 1990 Rudd unit that I installed myself and it worked 21 years with no problems other than a cold solder join on the controller board and a limit control switch which I replaced myself.

The local Carrier distributer wont even sell me a part(accessory) at all, letting alone any discount. I am not a happy camper so far.

I got a cool cash rebate with this unit..took over a month to get it and what do they send me….A damned Citibank debit card. Now I got to find a way to cash it in without giving them my life history financial info. There are NO Citibanks in my town either. Piss me off….!!!
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Compressor failed twice
by: Richard H.

I also have a Carrier Infinity system where the compressor has failed twice. I'm on the third compressor in 6 years and am having problems again.
Mr. Markstahler states that the problem is nearly always undersized ducting or underpowered fans.

If that were the case wouldn't most homeowner's HVAC systems be extremely sensitive to dirty and partially clogged filters? Wouldn't most systems be sensitive to homeowners who regularly keep their interior doors closed, hindering the flow of air? And wouldn't we see far more compressor failures?

Anyway, the next system I buy will definitely NOT be a Carrier.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Compressor failed
by: Kurt

My compressor failed after only 6 years and have to replace. I previously had a Carrier for ~20 years that never had a problem.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		UNHAPPY Carrier owner
by: Anonymous

Had my 2+ year old Carrier compressor replaced due to a major failure at a cost of $875 even thought I DO HAVE warranty. Cost was for coolant, which supposedly is not a part, and labor. Not happy needless to say!
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		What about the warranty??
by: Anonymous

How could it cost you $1200.00 if it was only 2 years old?? No Warranty???

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