Rheem RHSA-HM3617JA convert from R22 to R410A

[iamjfox]

I am new to the forum and I am needing some advice. We are building our home and long story short we started 3 years ago and are just now finishing it. When we started it the x-contractor had the air handler installed its a Rheem RHSA-HM3617JA 3 ton unit with R22. We only have the air handler and I am needing to get an outside unit to match with it. The guy we have talked to about getting our new unit and installing it says that we need to replace the air handler since the R22 has been phased out and he cant find a unit that will match up with it. Is there anyway to change the unit I have to R410 so I dont have to get rid of it and just throw away the money that I have already spent. The unit is basically brand new its just been sitting in my attic for 3 years. Also this is the second unit for the upstairs of the house. We still have to get another unit for the rest of the house and I don't really want to have different refrigerants for each unit.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what I should do??

[Air Movers]

yeah you can change the evaperator coil inside the air handler and rheem made alot of units that are compatible with both 22 and 410a. I just bought a house and it had a brand new rheem gas furnace and i got a coil that would be able to run with either.I ended up putting in a r22 condenser because when I change the condenser I will cahnge the evap also. I was just old school and wanted to put 22 in my own house because I was more familiar with it. You might end up having to change the air handler but i bet that is the easier way for the new contracter to do it. You might only have to change the TXV like on alot of the first company units.

[drewski11]

The coil may be convertible to R410a by changing the metering device. Is your current guy a Rheem dealer?

[BaldLoonie]

A smart dealer could order a 410 TXV for that AH.

[SKline]

that air handler is convertable by either changing the TXV or the coil.. any Rheem contractor should be able to do it for you and then match it with current R410a outdoor units...

[Airmechanical]

that air handler is convertable by either changing the TXV or the coil.. any Rheem contractor should be able to do it for you and then match it with current R410a outdoor units...

what you want to "try" and concentrate on is;

a matched system: evaporator/blower drive/condensing unit that is gonna be a listed matchup in the ARI directory

not only will you possibly see some tax credit but;

for heat pump owners, your gonna want that gauranteed matched systems

due to the fact that when you mismatch a heat pump

it's gonna usually require seasonal refrigerant adjustments



.

[iamjfox]

Thanks everyone for the responses I have talked to another contractor that is a definite Rheem dealer (he is listed on the Rheem site) I'm not sure if the first one is or not. Anyway he is going to look at it this afternoon.. I don't think that I qualify for any of the tax credits because it is a new construction. If that is wrong information please let me know...Thanks