Replacing outside unit or whole system?

[Webster Steve]

We have (had) a 25 year old Trane heatpump/ac and inside (basement) air handler (furnace?) with heat strips. I turned the A/C on last week and it kept tripping the breaker. The tech came out today and said that the compressor was blown and leaking oil, wires were burned, etc. The tech said that there wasn't any reason we couldn't just replace the outside unit and that he'd have another guy come out and give us a price.

We're getting a couple of bids and the second guy said that we'd have to replace everything as the heat pump/ac would be 13 SEER and the furnace (air handler) is only 10 SEER.


Which one is correct? (My wife's department is on the bubble right now so we'd rather not spend more than we have to.)


Would it be possible to replace the outside unit now and the inside unit in another year or will the mismatch screw things up?



Does the new unit have to be a Trane or could they install a Lennox (that's what the first company carries)?


Things that may or may not make a difference:

House is all electric (Located in St. Louis, MO)

We just a had a new blower motor installed in February

We're going to have them install a new thermostat and humidifier as well.

Thanks,

Steve

[gary_g]

With a heat pump, the outdoor unit (condenser) must have a matched evaporator coil (indoor unit) for proper btu output, system efficiency, and longevity.

No ifs, ands, or buts.

Here is a link to a similar post from a few weeks ago:
http://hvac-talk.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=288542



Best to you.

[beenthere]

Replace both.

[Webster Steve]

OK, the estimator for the first company was just there and told my wife the same thing (and said he'd rip the tech a new one for giving her wrong info).

So two questions:

Will a heat pump save considerable money over a regular furnace and air conditioner with a setback thermostat? (remember, we're all electric 8 cents KWH summer, 6 cents in winter)

Trane, Lennox or Amana - who has the best bang for the buck?

[beenthere]

How much does your gas cost.

[Webster Steve]

Don't know. The gas line stops one house down and the gas company wants us to replace all our appliances for them to bring it to the house. We just replaced the water heater this winter, and the stove is only a year old so gas isn't an option right now.

[beenthere]

Ok. So you have oil or electric heat now.

A HP should save you a lot either way then.

[wahoo]

Our experience has been that the HP will heat for 1/2 the cost of straight resistance electric heat on the average. All posters are correct in that you need to replace both inside and outside or create a real disaster! My suggestion is to go with the best out of the box warranty, regardless of brand (from the best contractor!). :)

[Rooster42]

Replace the inside and the outside. Get it done.

[RyanHughes]

I think you understand the need for replacing both units by now, so aside from that, I would get a couple estimates (unless you're comfortable with the current company) and make your decision based on the best, competent contractor, and not so much on brand. Brand wise you'll get an array of opinions. You can post back with any bids you get for more advice (minus the prices, of course).

[dash]

Thankfuly code in Florida requires matched systems for replacement,coming soon to the code in your your state, because it's the right thing to do.

[beenthere]

Thankfuly code in Florida requires matched systems for replacement,coming soon to the code in your your state, because it's the right thing to do.
Well, I wish it would hurry up and get here.

[sktn77a]

Thankfuly code in Florida requires matched systems for replacement,coming soon to the code in your your state, because it's the right thing to do.

Does it require a complete matched system or just the condenser and coil to be matched?