Air Conditioning

[Big Al]

I just bought and installed one a week ago, I live in a small 2 bedroom (about 45 sq. mts.) I bought a BGH Silent Air, its 3000 frigorias and it does a great job, it cost me 3900 pesos. My friend recommended an installer whom I called to do the job for me, he said it would cost anywhere from 800-1200 pesos for installation but when he came and saw where and what he had to do he said 900.

 

[Rich One]

A comment on the operating parameters for a SIGMA 2,500 frigorias

Cooling function Range Degrees C​

Room Temp. 21-32​

Outside Temp. 21-43​

 

[Rich One]

If your portero does the job and it doesn't work well ... you have to face the portero every day....!! a drama.

Probably you would have to remain silent forever

 

[Rich One]

If your portero does the job and it doesn't work well ... you have to face the portero every day....!! a drama . Probably you would have to remain silent forever

 

[Davidglen77]

I really tried to bite my tongue on this but it´s difficult. Split air conditioners are not something that you should even consider leaving to unqualified personnel like porteros and "arregla tuttis", you are talking about a 60Kg outdoor unit mounted to a building's facade charged full of lethal refrigerant gas. Why not just pay the extra few hundred pesos and have it done properly? All of the supplies cost the same - copper tubing, brackets, gas, etc, the only thing you are saving a bit on is the cost of labor. And authorized installers tend to have liability insurance in case they get injured in your home and can give you a factura for the installation cost. Others usually do not and in case something happens be prepared for an expensive and unpleasant legal problem.

 

[Gringoboy]

Also, be careful when asking for prices.
After we had ours delivered, I phoned around and got about three different quotes, all in the $750 + cables range for fitting.
We agreed on one only because he was available the soonest.
The $xxx price plus cables is deceiving. The unit itself comes with numerous cables, except for the copper tubing.
The bill in the end was nearly double.
Canny eh?

 

[Matiasba]

I really tried to bite my tongue on this but it´s difficult. Split air conditioners are not something that you should even consider leaving to unqualified personnel like porteros and "arregla tuttis", you are talking about a 60Kg outdoor unit mounted to a building's facade charged full of lethal refrigerant gas. Why not just pay the extra few hundred pesos and have it done properly? All of the supplies cost the same - copper tubing, brackets, gas, etc, the only thing you are saving a bit on is the cost of labor. And authorized installers tend to have liability insurance in case they get injured in your home and can give you a factura for the installation cost. Others usually do not and in case something happens be prepared for an expensive and unpleasant legal problem.

I dont want to sound repetitive. But the job done by "arregla tuttis" and porteros is the exact same one done by the 'especialist' the store sends to you. In my case, both cases, were perfectly done and work perfectly well. I did not try to save or anything, I just didnt know of someone and my portero offered to do the job. Moreover, the people the store sends to install it are arregla tuttis, common guys, only with experience. As I said THAT is the better option because it is some kind of warranty, but if you have someone who you can trust, some arregla tutti you know pretty well, you can do it 'properly' with him, and cheaper. Thats what I did, and am telling so.

If your portero does the job and it doesn't work well ... you have to face the portero every day....!! a drama.

Probably you would have to remain silent forever

Actually is more like a drama to him than to you since he d be the one who did wrong the work. You would have every day to ask him or confront him or regret or demand or do whatever you want to him. He wont take that risk.

Regards

 

[nikad]

Here is the tricky part: If you buy a new AC and it is not installed by the official service they provide, your garantia is not good. This is the reason why porteros, etc usually do not deal with new ACs anymore. You save a couple hundred but are risking your garantia. When a split AC unit is not correctly installed- not talking about the obvious, such as it not being attached right, etc - a single drop of water going into the wrong places will cause the AC to never be efficient again and will need gas every year, etc.

 

[Rich One]

I dont want to sound repetitive. But the job done by "arregla tuttis" and porteros is the exact same one done by the 'especialist' the store sends to you. In my case, both cases, were perfectly done and work perfectly well. I did not try to save or anything, I just didnt know of someone and my portero offered to do the job. Moreover, the people the store sends to install it are arregla tuttis, common guys, only with experience. As I said THAT is the better option because it is some kind of warranty, but if you have someone who you can trust, some arregla tutti you know pretty well, you can do it 'properly' with him, and cheaper. Thats what I did, and am telling so.



Actually is more like a drama to him than to you since he d be the one who did wrong the work. You would have every day to ask him or confront him or regret or demand or do whatever you want to him. He wont take that risk.

Regards

You live here? He would claim its your fault and make your life impossible in the building, will discredit you with the neighbors and slash your tires or wreck you car paint,etc. You would have to move or face a vendetta against your family.... Like the Mangeri Case.

 

[Crema Americana]

I think the whole concept of "arregla tuttis" is why there's so much shoddy work. Yea, they may get the job done, but they are notorious for being oblivious to details causing more problems in the long run. I wouldn't randomly ask some portero without seeing prior work AND having some understanding of what he did. There's too many chapuzeros - the majority I'd say.

If you rely on these "handymen" to do all your work and are satisfied, you're either incredibly lucky or have "vista gorda."

This is seriously one of my biggest pet peeves in Argentina. The crappy work and the 'zafa' attitude. I'm getting pissed off just thinking about the work done around our house. Then again, even the "pros" aren't any guarantee. (I realize the problem may be exponentially worse in run down provincia, but still.)