R22 and R410 equipment compatibility

[HVAC challenged]

I'm a homeowner in Richmond, VA and I plan to sell my house some time next year and I'm looking for the best solution to fixing / replacing my upstairs AC unit. I want to find the most economical solutions without creating a bad situation that may impact the ability to sell my home.

I've had cooling problems for the last year and am now told there is a leak in my evaporator coil, which seems to make sense. I have a 9 year old Trane 2 ton 10 SEER unit. The outside heat pump appears to still work fine but I'm faced with replacing the coil, air handler or both the heat pump and air handler.

I've talked to a couple techs and one suggested that I could just replace the air handler, while another suggested I should really replace both the pump and the air handler since future R410 equipment will not be compatible with old R22 equipment. I read a little and understand the phase out that is happening, but I'm not clear on just what is compatible with what.

The first tech told me that if in another year I have to replace the heat pump with an R410 unit then I can make it compatible with the R22 air handler by changing the expansion valve. Any concerns with this approach? Would it be the best option given my situation.

Thanks very much,
Scott

[jstjohnz]

1. Live with it, maybe have to add refrigerant a couple of times.
2. Repair the coil, may or may not be possible/feasible.
3. Replace just the coil.

I'm not sure I would recommend replacing the air handler without replacing the outside unit also. If you replace the whole system you could get the tax credit and it would be a selling point for your home. Anybody's guess though whether you would recoup your investment.

[vstech]

while physically, a replacement coil would work on both 22 and 410, the oil that would be left in the coil after use with 22, would be a bad thing to introduce to a 410 system. it's near impossible to properly clean out a coil to the standards needed for a 410 system. some manufacturers are voiding warranty on their equipment if there are even traces of mineral oil found in a failed compressor... so take that as a warning.

[beenthere]

while physically, a replacement coil would work on both 22 and 410, the oil that would be left in the coil after use with 22, would be a bad thing to introduce to a 410 system. it's near impossible to properly clean out a coil to the standards needed for a 410 system. some manufacturers are voiding warranty on their equipment if there are even traces of mineral oil found in a failed compressor... so take that as a warning.

Haven't heard of any manufacturer, that voids warranty if there is less then 4% MO in the system.
Who are they?



OP, if your really selling the house next year, just replace the indoor coil.

You wouldn't be thinking of changing the unit if you didn't have a leak, right?