Who's had chiller repair?

atrain · 03/22/2015, 08:52 PM

I actually don't need it now, but anyone out there needed their chiler repaired?
And how did you get it done?
I thought I had a problem, which luckily I didn't, however got me thinking.
Shipping this thing isn't realistic, and rather not chance being without it, since it's also my heater, be it backed up.

zachts · 03/23/2015, 05:49 PM

Usually they aren't worth the cost and aren't designed to be serviced. So, unless you know some HVAC guys locally that have all the gear and are willing to do all the work off the clock (from their day job) it will usually be cheaper, or at least a wash to just buy a new one, sadly that's life. Chillers are basically in the same category of throw away appliances as small window AC units these days...........

r-balljunkie · 03/24/2015, 03:56 AM

Aaah, throw away society. I'm old school. Fix it if you can.

A chiller is comprised of two basic components. The compressor and the coil/heat exchanger.

if your compressor go's out, you can have it replaced.

look up the brand i.e tecumseh If your coil or HX go's out, you can see if the leak is apparent, you can have it brazed at a radiator shop, or a tech can do it for you.

Caveat, you do run the risk of the repairs not working and you end up with a still not working chiller.

jason78 · 03/24/2015, 05:15 AM

I have repairs many of them. If you have a vacuum pump and know how many pounds of coolant you can repair them.

tkeracer619 · 03/25/2015, 12:44 PM

If you know how to do it and it uses modern refrigerant you can usually do enough prep work or have someone do it cheaply enough.

If it's old as dirt, the compressor locks up, and it uses Freon you may as well trash it. The repair will cost almost as much as a new unit.

This was my experience at least. And by trash I mean recycle.

atrain · 03/25/2015, 11:24 PM

appreciate the responses. I had never really thought about it until I thought I had a problem, which I really didn't.
But still upsetting after paying 1200 for a piece of equipment I can't have repaired easily.

xmas_one · 03/25/2015, 11:55 PM

Years ago (1990s) I had one recharged by a shop that did HVAC repairs. The guy was really cool (no pun) and charged (no pun) me $20. Worked awesome for many years.

tkeracer619 · 03/26/2015, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xmas_one

Years ago (1990s) I had one recharged by a shop that did HVAC repairs. The guy was really cool (no pun) and charged (no pun) me $20. Worked awesome for many years.

Now that freon is ~$166 a lb that won't happen.

03/22/2015, 08:52 PM	#1
atrain Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 164	Who's had chiller repair? I actually don't need it now, but anyone out there needed their chiler repaired? And how did you get it done? I thought I had a problem, which luckily I didn't, however got me thinking. Shipping this thing isn't realistic, and rather not chance being without it, since it's also my heater, be it backed up.

03/24/2015, 03:56 AM	#3
r-balljunkie Registered Reefer Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Doha, Qatar Posts: 2,059	Aaah, throw away society. I'm old school. Fix it if you can. A chiller is comprised of two basic components. The compressor and the coil/heat exchanger. if your compressor go's out, you can have it replaced. look up the brand i.e tecumseh If your coil or HX go's out, you can see if the leak is apparent, you can have it brazed at a radiator shop, or a tech can do it for you. Caveat, you do run the risk of the repairs not working and you end up with a still not working chiller. __________________ ▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀ 58G Oceanic Illuminata rimless with GH overflow , Mazarra LED x 3, Tunze 6095 x 2, Eheim 1260, BM-180 skimmer, TLF reactors, Apex LT .

03/25/2015, 12:44 PM	#5
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	If you know how to do it and it uses modern refrigerant you can usually do enough prep work or have someone do it cheaply enough. If it's old as dirt, the compressor locks up, and it uses Freon you may as well trash it. The repair will cost almost as much as a new unit. This was my experience at least. And by trash I mean recycle. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

03/23/2015, 05:49 PM	#2
zachts Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: St. Louis, MO. Posts: 3,259	Usually they aren't worth the cost and aren't designed to be serviced. So, unless you know some HVAC guys locally that have all the gear and are willing to do all the work off the clock (from their day job) it will usually be cheaper, or at least a wash to just buy a new one, sadly that's life. Chillers are basically in the same category of throw away appliances as small window AC units these days...........

03/24/2015, 05:15 AM	#4
jason78 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: I just moved to Riverside CA. Posts: 375	I have repairs many of them. If you have a vacuum pump and know how many pounds of coolant you can repair them.

03/25/2015, 11:24 PM	#6
atrain Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 164	appreciate the responses. I had never really thought about it until I thought I had a problem, which I really didn't. But still upsetting after paying 1200 for a piece of equipment I can't have repaired easily.

03/25/2015, 11:55 PM	#7
xmas_one Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: long beach, ca Posts: 181	Years ago (1990s) I had one recharged by a shop that did HVAC repairs. The guy was really cool (no pun) and charged (no pun) me $20. Worked awesome for many years.