Air Conditioning help in Tampa?

[khabbi]

Anyone work on AC units or know of a trustworthy Company/person that will do so?  My AC appears to be in need of some work/diagnosis.  The last company I used were only interested in doing as much unnecessary work for as much money as they could.  Would like to avoid that kind of shenanigans.. especially this time of year. 

[HammysHangout ( Hammy )]

avoid morgan air...

[PunkicCyborg]

Every time my AC goes out it's the capacitor outside. A lot of AC techs will come out and try to tell you it's the compressor because sadly that's how they make money is by doing unnecessary work. They know most people don't know anything about AC units. If you can diagnose what is wrong with your AC unit before you call someone and get a good idea of what is actually wrong you'll be less likely to get ripped off.
Learning to replace that cap will save you lot's of money as well since it's a $40 piece. In the last couple years I've changed my cap about 4 times and replaced my fan once.

[SpineyNorman]

If you have replaced you run/start cap FOUR TIMES in a couple of years you are just putting a bandaid on an underlying issue. Sounds to me like what you REALLY need is a hard start kit. There IS a reason people hand us evil HVAC people piles of cash after all.   

[Tbone1]

I use these guys at my house and warehouse and they have always been pretty good.. they get the job done and in an emergency they have been here within an hour.

I dont know that they are the cheapest option but they offer a service contract with discounted rates etc. If you get on their service plan they come out quarterly to clean everything and make sure everything works as it should to keep on top of issues.

http://www.cgmservices.com/

[PunkicCyborg]

If you have replaced you run/start cap FOUR TIMES in a couple of years you are just putting a bandaid on an underlying issue. Sounds to me like what you REALLY need is a hard start kit. There IS a reason people hand us evil HVAC people piles of cash after all.   

I just installed a hard start kit last time I changed the cap 

[funky49]

These guys, especially if you are in the Brandon area
http://www.polarbearairtampa.com/

[ibis]

Always get at least three estimates!

[k7]

and dianose what you can yourself, as cyborg said.

we got ripped off on an air handler. found out later we only needed a transformer.

f***ing a/c companies: 2 tried to blame the compressor back in 2000, when it was a bad drain switch.

[HammysHangout ( Hammy )]

morgan air came out to my folks house, there house had two systems, a 4 ton on the front half, and 2 ton package on the back half, they came out, said the front a/c needs to be replaced, i told them to get 3 estimates, and discuss replacing everything with 1 system, new ducts, etc.

then they pushed on benefits, cheaper if they sign today, etc, etc, and my mom said to do it... they also FAILED to get a permit, so we fought with them on that for 2 months, and then they never called in the final inspection, well, we checked, and pushed, inspector failed them twice... they finally passed on the 3rd try.

they come out for there "quarterly" check, and then tell use the "2 ton" package unit needs to be replaced. WTF. (they said it was fine on first visit) ...

they also replaced JUST the A/C Handler and Compressor, and re-used the old improperly sized duct work.

[Yosho]

http://www.ars.com/

We had them put a whole new system into our house as well as a return in the master bedroom. My father also used them to put a whole new system in his house. They did a good job on both and have been honest as far as I know.

[khabbi]

Thanks to everyone for the help!   I managed to get up in the handler and fix this myself.  The overflow had caused the handler to shut down and the fan kept running outside and was causing the problems.   

I know the last time I had acree air out, they tried to fix things that weren't wrong, and I knew it.  I think the guy thought he could pull the crap on me, but I didn't go for it.  Needless to say, it REALLY pissed me off. 

[Baiter]

The last time I had my a/c repaired my long time guy charged me $300 to replace a capacitor... It was the most he's ever charged coupled with the shortest work effort... the first and last time he screwed me over.

Maybe these guys feel shafting their customers results in higher income, but this guy lost years worth of future work, I can't see how it was worth it.

[k7]

a/c guys bank on people who don't like working in the attic.


what? your a/c isn't in the attic? wtf? lol...

[ibis]

Unfortunately this industry breeds a lot of scammers.  Something as simple as a $25 capacitor could turn into an entire unit replacement if your not careful.  Then the "used" unit gets sold to someone else with a new $25 part in it!  It is unfortunate but people just do NOT know what is going on with their equipment and need to put trust in the mechanical.  Florida is one of the worst states for it too.  ALWAYS get three estimates for any work needed and I encourage people to pay the extra money for the extended service plan and warranty.  I have used that sucker about four times and it didn't cost me anything to get new blower motors, service, repairs.  Worth every penny!