Moving Used AC

[sbirkey]

I'm looking for some advice on moving a used AC.

In short, my friend is giving me a used Goodman CKL36-1L (it is three years old) and I need to have it moved from one part of Denver to my home, about 20 miles away. Then installed, of course. My home, incidentally, is a bi-level 2,000 sq ft in total.

The electrical is all ready (though the existing wires may not be long enough to make it to the side of the house).

Are there any red flag in doing this? Is there reason to think the cost would make this a 'bad idea'.

Any advice here would be most appreciated.

[skippedover]

There are no more risks than there would be having someone who cuts corners installing a new unit. A seasoned hack will guess at the system size, slap the unit somewhere handy, solder up the refrigerant lines (never heard of brazing), purge it out with refrigerant and let the charge go. Job done. Whether it works or doesn't is just a gamble, how long it will work is a gamble and whether you can ever find the installer again is a gamble. Other than that, there's no reason to not do it. Obviously you don't have any idea of the condition of the unit or the compressor or the compressor oil. And installation by a qualified company is 7/8 of the cost of a job. But if you want to take the risk, go for it.

[DLZ Dan]

What is it being hooked up to? The indoor unit. You have to make sure it's compatible and properly sized before you agree to take it.

[vstech]

I'm looking for some advice on moving a used AC.

In short, my friend is giving me a used Goodman CKL36-1L (it is three years old) and I need to have it moved from one part of Denver to my home, about 20 miles away. Then installed, of course. My home, incidentally, is a bi-level 2,000 sq ft in total.

The electrical is all ready (though the existing wires may not be long enough to make it to the side of the house).

Are there any red flag in doing this? Is there reason to think the cost would make this a 'bad idea'.

Any advice here would be most appreciated.

... it's not 3 years old...

MINIMUM age it could be is 5, and it could be 14...

[sbirkey]

Thanks for the replies. My friend has documentation on the maintenance and has a house that has similar qualities (i.e., two levels, has about the same sun exposure, same size etc).

I plan on having a professional doing the job. (He lives two blocks away from me.)

I don't have the specs of the central heating unit that it would be hooked up to, at least handy...that being said, two years ago I was quoted $ for a Trane, of similar specs.

Any other pitfalls, assuming they are professional and they ensure the units are compatible and properly sized?

Is this something that is done often, or is it generally eschewed altogether?

[sbirkey]

... it's not 3 years old...

MINIMUM age it could be is 5, and it could be 14...

I'll double check on that. I trust my friend and it could be she was mistaken (or perhaps it was installed new three years ago, but the unit itself is older?).

Thanks for the heads up though.

[motoguy128]

Look at it this way. That unit is 1/3 ro 1/2 through it's useful life of 10-15 years. After the added cost of carefully removing it and charging it with nitrogen, for a small amount more, you could have a brand new unit with a factory warranty.

I just got a quote for a R22 condenser only for my home from a licensed installer "over the table... not the guy down the street cash job" and it was very reasonable. I know that 1/2 of the price was labor, so the unit itself is pretty cheap. Not worth the hassle even if it's free.

I think the only time installers don't mind putting in used units, is when they do an upgrade on a home and have a unit in good condition that they have a service record on, and the client is a fixed or low income client that would have to choose between a new units buying a window AC or eating that month.

Although, it also explains the continued popularity of "disposable" window AC units. We use thm at my work wuite a bit. Ultimately 10 windows units cost less than 1 mini split installed, so even if we replace them every 2 years, we're still ahead. Sad, but true.

[SkyHeating]

If you get this done properly it should cost about the same as a new unit, R22 is not cheap right now and is only getting more costly, also you have no warranty on this unit. I always tell a customer before we move an AC(and we never move from house to house, just remove for siding or a deck or patio addition and place back in same location with same coil) that there is a HIGH probability the unit will fail after it is moved, if it fails it is not under warranty. Even with all precautions taken, I find a unit that has moved is more likely to break down in my experience.

I would get another quote for a new unit because you will probably be better off. :.02:

[sbirkey]

Thanks to all for your advise, we are reconsidering.

[BaldLoonie]

Starting 1/1/06 10 SEER units weren't made. So do the math :D

[hvacvegas]

Starting 1/1/06 10 SEER units weren't made. So do the math :D

Holy cow! It's been that long!?!?!

[vstech]

Starting 1/1/06 10 SEER units weren't made. So do the math :D

yup. so even if the system was in the warehouse for a year, there's no way the system is 3 years old...

[comfortdoc]

Originally Posted by BaldLoonie http://hvac-talk.com/vbb/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://hvac-talk.com/vbb/showthread.php?p=13265801#post13265801)

Starting 1/1/06 10 SEER units weren't made. So do the math :D

Holy cow! It's been that long!?!?!:playing: LOL ... I looked at that twice too. Time flies when you're having fun.

[energy_rater_La]

yeah 2006 but still saw 10SEER installs for 3-4 years
after. may have quit making them in 06 but had
lots in stock to pawn off on homeowners...

like the 80% gas furnaces that are not being installed
up north, we will get them all down here.
gotta off load somewhere!

[catmanacman]

Most manufactures are offering some vary attractive financing on new systems might be worth checking on