board gone wild

Started by RonV1 • 4 replies • 1481 views

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RonV1 (Florida)
Posts: 1

Posted:

i was going threw the financial statements and came across a bunch of what i think are ridiculas charges...chemical cleaning for heat exchangers in our air condition units..regular 1000sq/ft condos with a chiller on the roof and a controled unit inside everyones place.. a approx 10x18 inch filter and a thermostat.. a crazy amount per unit ,,$1271.55 im no expert but if anyone knows anything about this kind of stuff,,please comment.. our condo is on the verge of broke and a few of us are trying any way we can to oust the thieves doing this to people who they have been intusted to run the condo..please help

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

How many units? How long since the last maintenance on the heat exchanger. Was their a vote on doing the work? Did you attend the meetings on it or get any notices on the issue? Not responding to notifications or attending meetings count as a "Yes" vote...

I've had some expensive work to be completed in my HOA. Things you would think were simple but cost outrageous amounts because it is at COMMERCIAL levels and NOT individual. We had a pool leak for years. Had to pay 2K for specialist to finally come down to locate the leak. They just LOCATED the leak NOT repaired it. Cost us another 1500 for the actual repairs. Just so you can get an understanding that cost aren't that simple even on a small pool leak in a pool no deeper than 5 feet. That cost had to be dispersed equally among ALL 107 homeowners to pay it.

A chemical cleaning is pretty intense stuff usually done after years of neglect or lack of routine maintenance. It was probably pay to replace the heat exchanger or clean it. Replacing it would be most likely several thousands of dollars. Cleaning it may be about 1/2 that cost. Still has to be distributed amongst the owners to pay out.

A HOA is ONLY funded by it's members for it's members. The members are the ones who are going to have to eat up the costs of any project. I'd suggest getting more involved than wading at the sidelines...

Former HOA President

DonnaS (Tennessee)
Posts: 5,671

Posted:

Ron,

Maintenance of these units in Florida is a MUST. Replacement of them would shock you so what work you described is something that MUST be done at least annually depending where you live. If you are near a coastline, then the sea air and sand destroys all outside mechanisms. Chemical cleaning is the only way to remove the scale buildup, even on stainless steel.

I just replaced the total unit in my 1600 sq. ft. unit down there and it was over 4 grand because the old freeon had to have a permit and be replaced even tho the air compressor was fine .Add some serious bucks for that.

Service calls by air/heat people is usually in the $85.00 range and add the $75.00 per hour fees. If they were checking Freeon (I think that they call it something else.) levels, the new EPA requirements are serious costs.

Are you saying that the total cost was $1271.55 or that each unit was that much..

SteveM9 (Massachusetts)
Posts: 3,699

Posted:

Why not call a few companies in your area to see what the cost of a chemical cleaning for heat exchangers would cost? See if the price is fair.

If your against maintenance of these air conditioners, do you support letting them die or turning them off permanently?

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059

Posted:

Chemical cleaning of heat exchangers is typical. It can be done by an individual who purchases products at any self help store (lowes, home depot, etc.) or by a service company directly.

I agree that 1,271.55 per unit sounds high. With the expectation that this is a service contract, you might want to shop around for a new service contract.

Tim

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