If you own a split-system central air conditioner or heat pump, there’s a pretty good chance that one of the two main components will fail before the other one. Often, that means the outside unit (the compressor/condenser), since it’s exposed to the elements. When this happens, you need to be prepared to make a decision: Whether to replace the unit that fails and match the replacement with the surviving component, or invest in a whole new system. The second choice is usually the wisest choice when buying an HVAC system.
When you buy an integrated HVAC system, you’re getting inside and outside components that are designed to work together to provide optimum efficiency and performance. While a new outside unit, for example, might work with your old indoor air handler/evaporator coil, it probably won’t work very well, and certainly won’t work as well as a whole new system. Plus, there’s a good chance that you can’t find a new component that’s compatible with your old unit, especially if it was designed to operate with R-22 refrigerant, which has been phased out for environmental reasons.
If you mix and match a new outdoor unit with your old indoor unit (or vice versa), don’t expect to achieve the cooling efficiency that’s advertised for the new component. Advanced features that are available with new equipment might not be compatible with your old unit either. While you can expect a wholly new HVAC system to operate with less noise, you probably won’t get much of a change if you replace just one part of the system.
You should also consider the fact that if one side of your split-system A/C or heat pump has given up the ghost, the other side is probably not long for this world either. Save yourself the hassle and just pop for a totally new system. That way you can enjoy a well-engineered integrated system that’s built for high efficiency and solid performance.
To discuss buying an HVAC system for your Coastal Bend home with a company you can trust, please contact us at CCAC, Inc.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about buying the whole system and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 361-678-2495.
Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Christian Delbert/Shutterstock”
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