Sweltering heat here today. I do have central air, so why not turn it on?  It has been about 8 or 10 years since I used my central air with any peace of mind. It stopped working back then and I hired a company to see what was wrong.  That was Frank Niesen Company, Cincinnati Ohio.  In retrospect I think they flat out took advantage of the fact that I was an old lady, and they could just snow me.  But anyway they said I could not have the old air conditioner fixed, that a new one (for around $2000) was required. Like a lamb, I did it without getting a second opinion.

Frank Neisen Company did put in a new compressor, Ducane, and for whatever reason, after they replaced it the weather was cool and I did not use it much, if all, for the rest of that summer.  The next summer, on a hot day I turned it on, and it did not cool the house.  I was angry, no question, and I called them and their response was  “no longer under warranty”…. I had never used this new unit.  How terrible is that.  So I hired Another Heating and Airconditioning, they came out and said that whomever had installed it at Niesen had not tightened down whatever valves hold the freon.  So for $200 I had to have new freon put in and I called Niesen back, and they were unresponsive.

So I used the airconditioning a few times, maybe more than a few, I think it was a pretty hot summer, then came fall and I didn’t use it again until the next year.  So the first hot day I turn it on and it doesn’t cool.  I called both companies. Niesen refused any responsibility, Another Heating and Air conditioning came back out and tested the Ducane condenser.  A microleak they said, it has a microleak.  This means that every time i use the airconditioner, it leaks freon from the added pressure I guess.  I called Ducane, and they did not offer any help.

In the past few years I have only used airconditioning (it is 86 in the upstairs at the moment) becuase every time i turn it on, it blows freon out, neither nice for the environment or nice for my wallet.  One should not have to deal with a company like Niesen….  they were guilty of poor installation, and also installation of defective equipment.  What recourse does one have?  Well. I hope this RANT makes it possible for others to see what NOT to use as a company for plumbing or air, or whatever Neisen also does.  Too bad.