Replace air handler and air condenser at same time?

[nancyjl]

I had a contractor out to check my furnace (it wasn't running) he said that heat exchange is cracked and since furnace/air conditioning is 20 years old. It needs to be replaced. My air conditioning unit, although as old as the furnace has been working just fine. I did not want to spend the extra money now to replace both, approx. how much more to replace a few years later?
Also I have been reading a lot about heat pumps being more efficient than even the high efficient furnaces. Have also heard you need a back up system for below 20 degrees. If this is so then what back up system is being used and do I have to buy back up system along with the heat pump system? I live in PA so at times it does get below 20.

[dash]

price questions not allowed on this site,sorry.

You don't have to replace it all,but there are savings for doing it all at once.


Gas furnace with a heat pump ,Hybrid Heat/duelfuel ,would be a good choice.

Heat pump provides heat in milder weather ,gas in colder.With carrier's Hybrid,it knows which costs less based on fuel costs and runs whihever costs less,except if to cold for the heat pump to heat the home.

Backup heat is often electric,comes in the air handler(indoor portion of the heat pump system),it will require 240 volts,so some electric work as well as changing both indoor and outdoor units.

If money is the probelm,buy a great furnace now,and add a heat pump to it later on,but yours isn't even a teenager now ,so it may be on borrowed time.

[BaldLoonie]

The indoor coil needs to match the new outdoor unit if you want efficiency, full performance & maximum reliability. As long as the blower of the furnace, air handler, whatever... moves enough air, it can be kept for budget reasons.

I agree, worth asking about dual fuel. Most of your winter would be in heat pump weather.

[heatpumpguru]

Do them both and be done with it REBATES and labor savings and pieice of mind that it will not go down when you need it.

[nancyjl]

Thanks for the info about dual system. I had another person look at my furnace. He said the heat exchanger wasn't cracked but agreed with the previous contractor that the ignitor box or circuit wasn't working. Said I would be better just replacing furnace plus air conditioning (although air condenser has worked fine.) My question now is--could I get by for the next year with just replacing the ignitor control since the heat exchange isn't cracked?
Second question--when I asked him about heat pump system, he said I probably wouldn't be pleased as it runs constantly and noise level is like the fan is always on. Also said in the winter, at times, it will feel like cool air is coming out of the registers. Is this so and should this be a factor?

[dash]

Yeah,he's right about those heat pumps ,if













they are installed poorly ,on improperly desgned duct work.lol!!