HVAC install, 2116 Siesta Drive

Bid conversation
• Sales person Jef . of Sala Air Conditioning, 4530 Mint Way Dallas 75236. June 2017.
• I had asked for a 16 SEER system had specifcally noted I wanted more efciency and
they way I use the air conditioner was more interested in humidity reduction in the
summer than fast cooling,.
• Asked if there were any problems or issues I should know about in considering,
Goodman over another brand.
◦ Response was that they were all using, the same parts.
• I tried to g,et a litle more information about potential for noise.
◦ The answer was about the same all made at same factories; now it seems as if what I
took to mean no problems was evasive and may have indicated there is noise issues
but they were not telling, me.

Installation, June 7, 2017

• The installation techs were Ivan S. and Tony G.
• Immediately noticed before they left:
◦ They had used lots of g,ray sealant and it didn’t look rig,ht;
◦ The flter box was too small (they said it was so I could use a “standard size flter”);
◦ There were still air leaks.
◦ The blower seemed very noisy more than a new unit should be.
• Noticed shortly after they left the damag,e to about 15 feet of the foor where they had
drag,g,ed either the old unit out or new one in.
• Only noticed in February 2018 that althoug,h I had asked for a 3.5 ton the paperwork says
it’s a 4 ton. However looking, up the model it does seem to be a 3.5 ton but the A-coil seems
to be made for a 4-5 ton unit so may not operate rig,ht. (See research below.)
• ater noticed that the furnace very noisy. Also looked up prices for 90+ efciency furnace
units and they don’t seem to be much more expensive. I mentioned I was looking, for
efciency so why was that not ofered as an optionu

Inspection, about February 5, 2018

• They had called in November or December to see about a service check but I didn’t
have time to do it.
• They called ag,ain in January and I called back at the end of January. I said that I didn’t
think it was installed rig,ht and noted the flter box air leaks and scratched fooring,.
• See Fig,ures 1 throug,h 9.

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 • We arrang,ed an appointment for them to check about February 5. The two who came
one possibly named Mark and someone else said there were problems.
◦ Needed to be removed and reinstalled with rig,ht size flter box.
◦ Needed to be leveled because it was leaning,.
◦ I noted the air leaks.
◦ I noted the damag,e to the foor but said not to fx I just wanted the unit installed
correctly. (The foor is old and fxing, one area would look out of place/worse.)
• Appointment to do the repairs set for February 8 2018.

Figure 1: Initial installation showing, the poor seal at

top. Air was leaking, around all sides where the coil Figure 2: Initial installation showing, wrong, size
meets the plenum and the sealant was coming, of flter box. Photo taken February 5 2018 before
all around. Photo taken February 5 2018. reinstallation.

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 Figure 4: Initial installation detail showing, where
the seal had come apart after just eig,ht months.
Photo taken February 4 2018.

Figure 3: Initial installation detail showing, one of

the worst air leaks. There was not much at all
sealing, the plenum to the coil and air was blowing,
out prety strong,. Photo taken February 4 2018.

Figure 5: Initial installation detail showing, how

much of the seal was coming, loose. Photo taken
February 4 2018.

Figure 6: Initial installation showing, the insulation Figure 7: Initial installation detail showing, the tape
left open around the plenum. Photo taken February coming, loose above the flter box. Photo taken
4 2018. February 4 2018.

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Figure 8: Initial installation detail showing, another
section of where the coil is sealed to the plenum.
Photo taken February 4 2018.
Figure 9: Initial installation detail showing, how the
flter box was taped up where it met the furnace.
The botom of the furnace is toward the top and the
flter box is on the rig,ht. Tape was coming, apart
here. Photo taken February 4 2018.

Reinstallation, February 8, 2018

• They arrived about 9:15am.
• I stayed around a few minutes to make sure they didn’t need anything, then left for
work.
• They did not call when fnished. I g,ot
home about 10:30pm.
• At least the flter box is the rig,ht size this
time (Fig,ure 10).
• Sealant slig,htly less sloppy this time.
• Noticed immediately on looking, that
there were air leaks around the plenum
and there was no insulation around the
plenum.
• Tape already coming, of (see Fig,ures 11
and 12).
• Still noisier than it should be.
• Got sealant on closet door knob and
front door knob (have not tried to clean Figure 10: Second installation showing, the how
of yet). they sealed the furnace to the flter box. Photo taken
February 18 2018.
• See Fig,ures 10 throug,h 17.

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Figure 11: Second installation showing, how the coil Figure 12: Same seam from Fig,ure 11 looking, up to
is sealed to the furnace. Note that the tape is already show where the tape has already come loose.. Photo
coming, loose after two weeks on the botom (see taken February 18 2018.
Fig,ure 12). Photo taken February 18 2018.

Figure 13: Second installation showing, where the

coil ties into the plenum. Photo taken February 18
Figure 14: Second installation showing, where the
2018.
coil ties into the plenum on the rig,ht. Air is leaking,
from the space between the plenum and the wall
and the seal such as it is will likely come loose
before long,. Photo taken February 18 2018.

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Figure 15: Second installation g,eneral view of the
coil atached to the plenum. Note there is now no
insulation at all around the plenum. Photo taken
February 18 2018.

Additional Issues
• Reg,istration Certifcate states that they Figure 16: Second installation g,eneral view of the
installed AC Model GSX160421 16 furnace/air handler. At least it is on the rig,ht size
SEER 4 Ton but I had requested a 3.5 flter box now. Photo taken February 25 2018.
ton.
◦ abel on the unit says GSX160421FE
◦ Research indicates the GSX160421FE is a 3.5 ton unit (source:
htps://www.g,oodmanmfg,.com/pdfviewer.aspxu
pdfurl=docs/librariesprovider6/default-document-library/ss-g,sx16.pdfu
sfvrsn=4d0958c0_2).
◦ Registration paperwork is in error: need in writing that this will not be a problem
for warranty.
• Reg,istration Certifcate states that they installed Model CAPF4961D6 Cased A-Coil.
◦ abel on unit is says CAPF4961D6DB.
◦ Research indicates the model is for a 4 to 5 ton system.
◦ Why install a 4-5 ton unit with a 3.5 ton AC? What long-term maintenance
problems might this cause? What efciency issues.
• Reg,istration Certifcate states that they installed Model GME80805DX furnace.

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 ◦ abel on unit says GME80805DXAA.
• This combination seems to be AHRI
reference number 5986949.
◦ But why make this decision to
install the larg,er coilu
◦ What maintenance and repair
expensesu

Corrections Needed
The following, indicate the minimum needed
to address the issues with this installation. This
is being, submited to Sala in March 2018.
1. Need solvent or other cleaning, ag,ent to
clean up sloppy sealant from unit and
door knobs.
2. Need tape and mastic/sealant for
repairs delivered to the service address.
3. Need sufcient insulation to cover the
plenum.
4. Need corrected Reg,istration Certifcate
for GSX160421FE or need writen
statement that that Sala will cover any
Figure 17: Second installation g,eneral view of the
denial of warranty or costs associated
plenum with no insulation. Photo taken February
with warranty problems due to
25 2018.
possible problem with Reg,istration
Certifcate.
5. Need in writing, from Sala an explanation justifying, the installation of a larg,er size coil
and how that meets my request for a more efcient system.
6. Need in writing, that there will not be any additional operation maintenance or repair
costs because the larg,er size coil is installed; and if there are additional costs that they
will be covered even after the warranty period.
7. Need thoroug,h inspection testing, and assessment by another company to determine if
installed correctly. Will be fling, with the Beter Business Bureau and Texas Atorney
General Consumer Complaint Division if not provided.
8. Noting, that I will be pursuing, compensation for any future expenses problems or other
issues related to the poor and improper installation of this system unless a third-party
inspection clears all issues.

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