Would you get the AC fixed?

105 heat index today in Houston. Actual was 95.
Get if fixed! Think about the car sitting in the sun and how long it would be just to be able to touch the steering wheel.

 

I understand that you live in Ventura County...but are you saying you never travel south? You are only 45 minutes from my house in Valencia and even less to the San Fernando Valley where temps top out over 100.

I would imagine that living in Southern California, you would take a huge hit in your re-sell value if the car had no AC.

I agree with others, take if a few more places and get a few more opinions (be sure to NOT tell them what you were quoted...as many will likely just try to knock a little off and not really diagnose the problem.)

Once you find out exactly what is wrong - post it here so the techs can give you a better opinion of costs.

 

Are you talking about your house?

You can get by without it. Plenty of people do. Ceiling fans are a great investment.

Now....if you sell the house you'll need to fix the air conditioning before you sell. It will sell easier and for more money if you make the investment. That said...why wait and fix it for someone else. If you fix it now you can enjoy it too.

I don't have whole house air conditioning. I have pretty good airflow if I open the kitchen windows (west) and living room windows (east). I do have a window AC unit in my bedroom. I don't have good airflow in there. I have a transom window high on the wall. It's OK to open with the ceiling fan going, but there are times of high heat AND humidity where I just have to get a good night's sleep and can't without the AC. Not that often but enough to be thankful I have it. It is fairly new and an energy saving model.

You'll have to decide whether to fix the AC now and enjoy it, wait until you sell. Or if you want to invest in a window unit instead.

Isn't using freon pretty old? How old is this? Maybe you should get rid of it or replace it with a new, energy efficient model.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Jul 12 2006, 11:15 PM) [snapback]285483[/snapback]</div>

LOL Godiva! I think you are right! No wonder this was in FHOP! Makes more sense that this was about the house!

In that case, I agree...it is up to you. If you are going to live there a while, and don't care...then don't do it.

If you plan on moving in the near future...a potential buyer may ask for more then the $875 it would take to get it fixed.

 

My wife and I have been without A/C in our house since Memorial Day. It's been in the 90's in VA lately. We do have a window unit in our bedroom so we can sleep. We've gotten use to the rest of the house being warm. We do plan on upgrading the unit to a more energy efficient model soon.

Now that you've read my story, let me give my opinion. I'd get it fixed. Even if you don't use it often, you'll feel better knowing that you can use it if you wanted to. Just be sure to get a few estimates before getting it fixed. You also might want to ask what the "cash price" is, as this is sometimes cheaper.

Stay cool...

 

My mom lives in Ventura. I don't believe she has air conditioning. But she's on a hilltop with good exposure to the breeze, and she usually has windows open.

Don't bother fixing the A/C if $870 is money you don't have just lying around. But if you don't get a good breeze, then install a whole-house exhaust fan. (Even with A/C a whole-house exhaust fan is a good idea.)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mssmith95 @ Jul 12 2006, 11:33 PM) [snapback]285489[/snapback]</div>

Whew! For a while there I was wondering why this wasn't under warranty.

We don't have A/C at our house, but if it were me, I'd have it fixed.

 

Since your house never gets above 82 without A/C, I'll assume you live in a microclimate in Ventura County which cools off nicely on most nights. If this is true, I agree with daniel regarding a Whole House Fan.

I have a Whole House Fan and would not be thinking twice about fixing/replacing it if it broke.
The thing easily paid for itself in the first year or two. I rarely feel the need to run the A/C . . . and my house is not that very well insulated. Chilling down the house in the morning with the WHF works wonders!
http://www.smud.org/residential/saving/faq...n_factsheet.pdf

I have installed six of them between family, friends, and my house. Every one uses them religiously. They work that well, and save boatloads of money.

I rigged mine with an Intermatic SCC7C timer and master on/off and high/low switches.
[attachmentid=4132]
It is timed to come on at 3am and turn off at 6am (the coldest part of the night). Any other usage, I do manually.

Many utility companies have rebates for installing a WHF. My electric company, SMUD, gives a $100 rebate.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(burritos @ Jul 13 2006, 01:22 AM) [snapback]285472[/snapback]</div>

Anyway, where I live, the A/C is on almost all year, but some nights. It's the way it goes here in the tropics.

 

Just saw the weather. It's going to be in the 100s (inland) in San Diego and the humidity is going to be high. It's going to last at least a week, lowering to the high 90s by next Friday.

I don't know how it is in Ventura compared to San Diego.

But I'll probably be running the AC at night for the next few days.