My AC stopped working last month, and after calling a technician, I found out the evaporator coil was bad. If you’re dealing with the same problem, you probably need to know about the Carrier CR-CVPM-42 coil and what it costs.
Table of Contents
What This Coil Does
The CR-CVPM-42 sits inside your house in the air handler unit. It looks like a big metal box with lots of thin metal fins. Cold refrigerant runs through tubes inside this coil. When warm air from your house blows over these cold tubes, the air gets cooled down. That’s how your AC makes cold air.
This particular coil works with 3.5-ton Carrier AC systems. Don’t worry – it doesn’t weigh 3.5 tons. That number just tells you how much cooling power your system has. Most houses between 1,800 and 2,500 square feet use this size.
How Much You’ll Pay
I spent weeks calling different places to get prices. Here’s what I found:
If you buy just the part:
- Websites like Amazon or eBay: $800 to $1,200
- Local AC supply stores: $900 to $1,400
- Carrier dealers: $1,000 to $1,500
If you want someone to install it:
- Total cost: $1,500 to $2,800
- Just the labor part: $700 to $1,300
I live in Texas, and prices here were on the higher end. My neighbor in rural Oklahoma paid less for the same part.
Why Prices Change
After shopping around, I learned why costs vary so much:
- Where you shop matters. Big online stores sell cheaper, but you pay shipping and handle returns yourself. Local dealers cost more but help if something goes wrong.
- Your AC setup affects labor costs. My coil was easy to reach, so installation was cheaper. My friend’s coil was crammed in a tight attic space, and that cost him $300 extra.
- Time of year counts. I got quotes in March and July. The July quotes were $200 higher because everyone wanted AC work done.
- You might need extra stuff. The technician said my refrigerant lines were old and should be replaced too. That added another $400.
How to Know Your Coil is Bad
Before I called for help, I noticed these problems:
- The AC ran all day but the house stayed hot. Air from the vents felt barely cool instead of cold.
- Ice kept forming on the copper pipes going to my outdoor unit. This happened even when it was 95 degrees outside.
- I found wet spots on the floor near my air handler. The coil was leaking refrigerant.
- My electric bill doubled over two months with no other changes in my house.
- A musty smell came from the vents when the AC started up.
Getting It Installed
Don’t try to replace this yourself. You need special tools and licenses to handle refrigerant. Here’s what happens during installation:
- The old coil comes out. This takes 2-3 hours because the technician has to disconnect refrigerant lines and electrical connections.
- New coil goes in. Another 2-3 hours to connect everything and make sure it fits right.
- System gets recharged. The technician adds new refrigerant and tests everything.
My installation took 6 hours total. The guy said some jobs take longer if there are complications.
Making Sure It Fits
Not every coil works with every system. I learned this the hard way when I almost ordered the wrong part online.
Check your current coil for a model number. It should match CR-CVPM-42 exactly. If you see different letters or numbers, you need a different coil.
Look at your outdoor unit too. It should say “3.5 ton” or “42,000 BTU” somewhere on the label.
When in doubt, take pictures of both units and show them to whoever you’re buying from.
Ways to Save Money
- Get quotes from three companies. I got estimates of $1,900, $2,400, and $2,700 for the same job. I went with the middle guy because he seemed most trustworthy.
- Buy in spring or fall. Summer prices are crazy high. I waited until September and saved $300.
- Ask about compatible parts. Some non-Carrier coils work just as well and cost less. My technician suggested one that saved me $200.
- Check for rebates. My electric company gave me $150 back for replacing an old coil with a new efficient one.
- Bundle with other work. I needed ductwork cleaning anyway. Doing both jobs together saved me $100 on labor.
Warranty Stuff
Most coils come with warranties, but they’re confusing:
- Parts warranty: Usually 5-10 years if the coil breaks from manufacturing problems
- Labor warranty: Your installer covers this, typically 1-2 years
- Full system warranty: Some companies offer this for extra money
Save all your paperwork. I had to show my receipt and installation records when I had a small warranty issue six months later.
Register your coil online with Carrier within 90 days. I almost forgot and would have lost warranty coverage.
What I Wish I Knew Earlier
- Shop around but don’t just pick the cheapest. The lowest bid I got was from a guy working out of his truck. He had no insurance and bad reviews online.
- Ask what else might need replacing. My filter housing was cracked and needed replacement too. Finding this out during installation cost me extra.
- Plan for a full day without AC. Installation day was miserable. We stayed at my in-laws until the work was done.
- Clean around your air handler first. I had boxes stacked around mine, which slowed down the job and increased costs.
Taking Care of Your New Coil
- Change filters every month. Dirty filters make coils work harder and break faster.
- Keep the area around your air handler clean. Don’t store stuff right next to it.
- Get yearly checkups. A technician can spot small problems before they become big expensive ones.
- Don’t ignore weird noises or smells. I waited too long to call for help the first time and it made the problem worse.
Final Thoughts
Replacing this coil cost me $2,100 total, but my house is comfortable again and my electric bill went back to normal. The new coil should last 10-15 years if I take care of it.
Don’t rush this decision. Get multiple quotes, check references, and make sure whoever you hire is licensed and insured. A good coil replacement will keep you cool for many years.
