Home heat pump replacement

I'm no expert, just know I'm happy with my "American Standard". And it is classified as Tran's "Older" sister. So as far as a match system, that may be classified as the same. American Standard has a lower price than Tran [or should have] with the same or better quality. My Contractor claims A/S uses a better Coil, than Tran.
 
I'm not gonna read this whole thread, but I think it's carrier you are thinking of with the current shit quality and even though I put Goodman in every thing I would for sure go with a trane variable speed air handler and heat pump condensor.
 
Call around and get prices for a new condensing unit, that's what the unit on the outside is called. Get what ever brand makes you happy but I'd get the one with the best price that matches the size and seer of your inside unit "fan coil unit". It doesn't matter what brand. The compressor pushes liquid refrigerant to the coil, that's it. We usually sell systems as a matched pair but their is no disadvantage to mismatched fan coil-condensing unit systems as long as they're sized properly.
 
I avoid trane as much as possible. They do everything they can to make you buy their parts at their premium price. Avoid variable speed, multi speed compressors. To much money for the return and over complicated and pricey repairs.
 
@peewee are condensing unit sized based on heated/cooled square footage? A buddy said ours may be undersized for the house footage.
Is there any advantage to replacing it even though it is functioning just fine currently?
 
Jody Treadway said:
@peewee are condensing unit sized based on heated/cooled square footage? A buddy said ours may be undersized for the house footage.
Is there any advantage to replacing it even though it is functioning just fine currently?
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That gets a little confusing. Their sized separately, as it takes more to Cool, than Heat. And if you Oversize the cooling, it wont properly dehumidify your house. Example > might need 2 1/2 ton AC, & 2 ton Heat. I can't adequately explain it, but someone like "pewee" will.
 
peewee said:
Call around and get prices for a new condensing unit, that's what the unit on the outside is called. Get what ever brand makes you happy but I'd get the one with the best price that matches the size and seer of your inside unit "fan coil unit". It doesn't matter what brand. The compressor pushes liquid refrigerant to the coil, that's it. We usually sell systems as a matched pair but their is no disadvantage to mismatched fan coil-condensing unit systems as long as they're sized properly.
Click to expand...

Just want to elaborate on my reasoning for suggesting to stay with a matched set.

SEER changes based on unit matchups. You may have a 16 SEER outdoor unit but match with different air handlers and you now may have 14-15 SEER system. I have even seen the same model of indoor/outdoor units produce one SEER rating at 2 ton and a lower SEER rating at 3 ton.

By staying with a matched system you have data from the AHRI database. This is a database of systems that have been tested together to give you a system SEER rating. If you use mismatch system will it work? Yes. Will it cool fine? yes. But in my mind you would not ever really know where your SEER Rating will fall. Seems easier to me to match the system and you know where it falls before its installed.

rodney eppes said:
That gets a little confusing. Their sized separately, as it takes more to Cool, than Heat. And if you Oversize the cooling, it wont properly dehumidify your house. Example > might need 2 1/2 ton AC, & 2 ton Heat. I can't adequately explain it, but someone like "pewee" will.
Click to expand...

Far as sizing one properly, you would need someone to run a load calculation on the house to be 100% accurate. There is rules of thumbs but ive seen many times where they don't apply. Everything from the direction the house faces, to the type of window and amount of overhang over window, to the amount of insulation you have all play a factor in the size of the system.
 
For your outside unit, your never going to be able to upsize it if your new inside air handler can’t fit the larger coil.

Let’s just hope it’s sized correctly. It likely is. If it’s slightly undersized, it may be easier to spend some $ on other efficiency upgrades than to replace a 2 year old air handler.

Look up your air handler and find the different coil sizes it can accept. Do you know if th coil was replaced when the inside air handler was replaced? Or did they reuse the old coil?

If you change out the outside unit, I’d change the coil as well. If the new coil is larger, you may need new lines.

But as far as getting matching units inside versus outside, it doesn’t matter. The inside unit simply blows air across the coil heated or cooled by the outside unit. The units don’t care what brand the other is. All the air handler cares about is that the coil is cool or hot.

Get whatever works and is affordable with whatever options you want and roll on.
 
Looking at your pic...

I would elevate the drip pan off of the floor. If you get a collection of condensate in the pan, it’s going to be cold. And cold water in a metal pan in a hot attic can sweat. Condensation collecting between the drip pan and the floor isn’t good.
 
Jody Treadway said:
@peewee are condensing unit sized based on heated/cooled square footage? A buddy said ours may be undersized for the house footage.
Is there any advantage to replacing it even though it is functioning just fine currently?
Click to expand...

Your fan coil and condenser are sized together. As a pair the BTU output is calculated as well as the seer rating. Someone said it might be undersized but have you had any performance issues. Does it not keep up in the summer? Although square footage is part of the calculation used to size a unit there's several other fa tours to consider. Window type and quantity, doors, wall construction and insulation are just a few. And your unit can be oversized. If your unit is too big it will short cycle and not remove humidity as it should. Humidity control is more important than temperature control. With a 1995 unit you had got all the good years out of it already. Be looking and deciding what you want and who you want to do it. Don't wait till it dies! It'll die when its 95° and no one can get to it for 2 weeks. And then when they come they will throw it in asap and run to the next fire. Do it spring or fall as a scheduled item.
 
Curtis_H said:
Just want to elaborate on my reasoning for suggesting to stay with a matched set.

SEER changes based on unit matchups. You may have a 16 SEER outdoor unit but match with different air handlers and you now may have 14-15 SEER system. I have even seen the same model of indoor/outdoor units produce one SEER rating at 2 ton and a lower SEER rating at 3 ton.

By staying with a matched system you have data from the AHRI database. This is a database of systems that have been tested together to give you a system SEER rating. If you use mismatch system will it work? Yes. Will it cool fine? yes. But in my mind you would not ever really know where your SEER Rating will fall. Seems easier to me to match the system and you know where it falls before its installed.



Far as sizing one properly, you would need someone to run a load calculation on the house to be 100% accurate. There is rules of thumbs but ive seen many times where they don't apply. Everything from the direction the house faces, to the type of window and amount of overhang over window, to the amount of insulation you have all play a factor in the size of the system.
Click to expand...

We mismatch on a regular. But... I usually call kevin at jonstone and tell him what I have and what the customer wants and he gives me the options for the btu and seer based on what I have. One fan coil unidan is usually good for a range of ton outputs and seer rating depending on the condenser used and the fan speed selected.
 
Jody Treadway said:
Did you guys not use it? It works perfectly fine FYI.
We have it cranking right now
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Ya no she won’t touch anything in the house. And I was like I’m pretty sure jody wouldn’t care I’ll call him and she was like NO they will hate us..

FYI it was 58 when we got up lol


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