I'm getting conflicting stories regarding replacing my heat pump.

It's 20 years old and it's time to send it off into that great freon
cloud in the sky. It services a 1000SF rental condo.

Anyway, one guy has said he can replace the outside unit with a 10 SEER
unit that won't neccesitate replacing the inside air handler. He wanted
something like $2600.

Another guy has said the the code now requires a 13 SEER unit and this
will mean replacing the inside air handler. He also mentioned the
phasing out of the old freon which won't be available in a few years. He
will get me a price in a few days as he said Carrier is backed up
getting quotes to him.

I have a third guy due to look at it next week.

I know all about the SEER ratings but can someone clue me in on the
issue of inside unit replacement regarding the 10 vs. the 13? and any
other matters I should be concerned about?

Thanks,

Doug

On Sat, 04 Mar 2006 13:47:15 GMT, Doug wrote:

I'm getting conflicting stories regarding replacing my heat pump.

It's 20 years old and it's time to send it off into that great freon
cloud in the sky. It services a 1000SF rental condo.

Anyway, one guy has said he can replace the outside unit with a 10 SEER
unit that won't neccesitate replacing the inside air handler. He wanted
something like $2600.

Another guy has said the the code now requires a 13 SEER unit and this
will mean replacing the inside air handler. He also mentioned the
phasing out of the old freon which won't be available in a few years. He
will get me a price in a few days as he said Carrier is backed up
getting quotes to him.

I have a third guy due to look at it next week.

I know all about the SEER ratings but can someone clue me in on the
issue of inside unit replacement regarding the 10 vs. the 13? and any
other matters I should be concerned about?

Thanks,

Doug


At the beginning of 2006 the minimum standard for manufacturers making
residential HVAC systems became 13 SEER. Prior to that time it was 10
SEER. Installers can still sell 10 SEER units that were completed and
in stock, distributor or manufacturer, prior to 1/1/06.

My advice - go to this site,

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?...pr_tax_credits

find out what will qualify for the tax credit, get quotes on a full
replacement based on taking the credit and letting the lower energy
bills pay for the balance of the unit. Be sure to select a unit that
qualifys in SEER, EER, and HSPF. Sounds like you have a split unit
and there are many that qualify for the credit.

The refrigerant change is not relevant at this time. The old
refrigerant will be around and available for the service life of a
unit that is installed today. You should be able to go either way
without concern.

A qualified HVAC installer should tell you all of the above. If they
are not, I would be concerned and would be looking for one who would
lay out all your options, not just try to sell you the cheapest unit
that might be last years technology.

Frank

"Doug" wrote in message
...

I'm getting conflicting stories regarding replacing my heat pump.

It's 20 years old and it's time to send it off into that great freon
cloud in the sky. It services a 1000SF rental condo.

If it's not leaking and you're not adding freon, why bother replacing it?

Anyway, one guy has said he can replace the outside unit with a 10 SEER
unit that won't neccesitate replacing the inside air handler. He wanted
something like $2600.

If you want to replace it, now's the time. You can still get 10 SEER units,
but your guy is a ripoff artist.
He wants at least twice, what he should be asking. Assuming he does not
have to rebuild half of the place to get to it.
Your system must be no bigger than 2t.

Rich

"Stretch" wrote

!3 SEER can no longer be manufactured as of January 23, 2006.

You mean 12 SEER and below, don't you?

"Doug" wrote in message
...
I'm getting conflicting stories regarding replacing my heat pump.

It's 20 years old and it's time to send it off into that great freon
cloud in the sky. It services a 1000SF rental condo.

Anyway, one guy has said he can replace the outside unit with a 10 SEER
unit that won't neccesitate replacing the inside air handler. He wanted
something like $2600.

Another guy has said the the code now requires a 13 SEER unit and this
will mean replacing the inside air handler. He also mentioned the
phasing out of the old freon which won't be available in a few years. He
will get me a price in a few days as he said Carrier is backed up
getting quotes to him.

I have a third guy due to look at it next week.

I know all about the SEER ratings but can someone clue me in on the
issue of inside unit replacement regarding the 10 vs. the 13? and any
other matters I should be concerned about?


The inside unit and outside unit should be matched to get the best seer
rating. There is also a "cheat factor" as I call it in the way some of the
seer ratings are obtained. Varitable speed fans is one method of getting the
seer rating up. Sort of like the car milage sitckers show. If you don't
care about getting the maximum seer but just want a functioning system then
the outside unit can be replaced if they can find one that will work with
it.

There is also a tax credit that comes with the higher seer rated units.

The outside unit should match the coil inside (sometimes it is inside
the air handler). But either way, if you have to replace the inside
coil to get it to match, you really shouldn't have to replace the whole
air handler, just the coil itself.

wrote in message
ups.com...
The outside unit should match the coil inside (sometimes it is inside
the air handler). But either way, if you have to replace the inside
coil to get it to match, you really shouldn't have to replace the whole
air handler, just the coil itself.

Maybe not, but with the motor and bearings around 20 years old and the newer
units going to varitable speed systems you might as well replace the whole
air handler.

Doug wrote:
I'm getting conflicting stories regarding replacing my heat pump.

It's 20 years old and it's time to send it off into that great freon
cloud in the sky. It services a 1000SF rental condo.

Anyway, one guy has said he can replace the outside unit with a 10 SEER
unit that won't neccesitate replacing the inside air handler. He wanted
something like $2600.

Another guy has said the the code now requires a 13 SEER unit and this
will mean replacing the inside air handler. He also mentioned the
phasing out of the old freon which won't be available in a few years. He
will get me a price in a few days as he said Carrier is backed up
getting quotes to him.

I have a third guy due to look at it next week.

I know all about the SEER ratings but can someone clue me in on the
issue of inside unit replacement regarding the 10 vs. the 13? and any
other matters I should be concerned about?

Thanks,

Doug

You've gotten bad advice twice, and several more times since from this
group. Let me address your points in order:
The $2600 quote may or may not be within reason. Depending upon the
details it could even be a good deal. There are several factors that
influence pricing, or IOW there is no set price with HVAC equipment as
there is with automobiles, and this is because an HVAC system is not
something that you come in, pick up, and walk out with. There are labor
and transportation costs involved, and other materials. No two installs
are identical, or to wit, some jobs can be a real PITA while others can
be relatively effortless. Accessory equipment and parts must also be
taken into account. Do you need a pad, disconnect, line set, t-stat, or
t-stat wire? Was it a burnout? How's the access? These are just a few of
the factors that figure in to the grand total.

Now that said, if it's running ok, then you would gain nothing by going
back with another 10SEER condenser. If it isn't working, however, and
not worth repairing, then you have the option of going back with a
10SEER condenser, but with no potential savings. You shouldn't choose
that option unless you aren't going to be living there long or you
simply don't have the money to replace the whole system. We can't
provide a foolproof cost analysis because there are variables that are
beyond our knowledge. Worst case is that the indoor coil fails and no
replacement is available. In this case you'll be looking at replacing
the indoor unit as well. This could occur anytime after the condenser is
installed, 1 day, 1 week, 10 years, who knows? It's a gamble on your
part, and there are odds that you could cost yourself considerably more
in the long run by replacing just the condensing unit, or conversely
you could end up with a considerably lower long term expenditure. We
aren't gods, though there are several people who's faulty logic leads
them to believe that "if something could go wrong, then it absolutely
will". As a matter of experience this isn't sage advice, as I've seen
electric air handlers last over 30 years on numerous occasions. One of
those is in my own house. I don't intend to upgrade until I have to. If
I had replaced my system with a 14-15 SEER system 5 years ago, then I
wouldn't have saved a dime in the long run, and would contrarily have
ended up with system that would in all likelihood not been as reliable
as the existing system. More controls means there's more to go wrong.

Any contractor is going to recommend that you replace the entire system
and upgrade to at least 13 SEER, not because this is what you "need",
but because it's "what the odds say" is going to better for you in the
long run. It doesn't hurt that it's also better for the contractor. It's
a case of something that is in both of your best interests. Again, this
depends upon your current circumstances and future plans with the
residence. The code does not require 13SEER to be installed, it only
requires that nothing less than 13SEER rolls off the assembly lines.

BTW, Carrier is in flux at the moment. The stocking and pricing issues
have however been promised to be resolved soon.

Richard Perry

Thanks for all the advice and help everyone.

Not wanting to muddy the waters in my first post I didn't mention that
this unit serves a 1000 SF office condo. I didn't include that fact
because the HVAC/heat pump/air handler setup is a 100% residential
application. The condenser sits right outside the unit on a concrete pad
and the air handler is right inside the unit with the typical wiring and
freon tubing connecting the two and the typical condensate pipe going
outside through the wall. The fact that the 1000 SF has desks in it
instead of bedroom furniture I figured was irrelevant. I did however
overlook the tax credit/deduction factors as it relates to residences
but in any event the expense will be some sort of deduction or credit.

The history behind all this is somewhat interesting.

The heat stopped about three weeks ago and the guy came out (recommended
by the boss) and gave the $2600 quote. I was on the verge of going with
it just in the interest of keeping my tenant happy (they've been great
over the years) when I got a call from the receptionist. Her boyfriend
had looked at it (he obviously knows something about these systems) and
found the fan had burnt out (I thought the emergency heat was working
but this was not the case). Upon my authorization he replaced the fan
(for a total of about $200 including the cost of the new fan) and the
heat worked fine. I called the $2600 guy back and I think he was a
little chagrined at that development.

Anyway, for those still reading, about 20 days later the heat stopped
again. The boyfriend looked at it and said the outside unit looks shot.
The boyfriend installed fan IS working fine however so the emergency
heat IS keeping the tenant warm, unlike the first time.

I'm figuring that since the unit is 20 years old it might be time for a
replacement instead of a fix. Since it's an office rental and the tenant
pays the electric bill, I'm not really that concerned with super
efficiency, just something reasonable. As part of this I'm going to call
the boyfriend up but he's out of town until next week.

That's the story. Any additional insight would be welcomed and thanks
all for your help.

Doug

Doug wrote:
I'm getting conflicting stories regarding replacing my heat pump.

It's 20 years old and it's time to send it off into that great freon
cloud in the sky. It services a 1000SF rental condo.

Anyway, one guy has said he can replace the outside unit with a 10 SEER
unit that won't neccesitate replacing the inside air handler. He wanted
something like $2600.

Another guy has said the the code now requires a 13 SEER unit and this
will mean replacing the inside air handler. He also mentioned the
phasing out of the old freon which won't be available in a few years. He
will get me a price in a few days as he said Carrier is backed up
getting quotes to him.

I have a third guy due to look at it next week.

I know all about the SEER ratings but can someone clue me in on the
issue of inside unit replacement regarding the 10 vs. the 13? and any
other matters I should be concerned about?

Thanks,

Doug