Replies

1. 
   Art_B. | Feb 01, 2002 08:03pm | #1

   *
   Did the old compressor burn up so bad there is burnt insulation, etc. in the lines? Everything else needs to be pulled out/recycled by vacuum anyway per EPA before the lines can be opened. If your old air handler is not noisy or damaged, keep it, but ask the contractor to verify no burnt insulation, etc got into the lines which can happen with a burnout. Go with a scroll type compressor for the replacement, whatever brand.

1. 
   The_Tennis_Court_Builder_...on_t | Feb 01, 2002 09:18pm | #2

   *Replace outside unit. Replace inside unit if you are going to go to a multispeed air unit and take advantage of the slower speeds.near the stream,aj

1. 
   Dave_Richeson | Feb 02, 2002 01:06am | #3

   *Very big caution on compressor burn outs! Any time a compressor burns up electricaly there is a acid that is formed in the refrigerant gas and oil. Simply recovering the refrigerant from a burned out system and replacing it is not good enough. The compressor oil must be changed several time after the new compressor is installed. Each time the oil is changed a special filter/dryer should be changed with it.There are acid test kits available that just press down on the schrader valve of a refrigerant line and burb enough gas/oil into a vial to show a color indicating acid content. The oil in any compressor will migrate throughout the system, so it is not just enough to change the compressor if there is still acid bearing oil laying in the evaporator coils. That small amout of oil will contaminate the new oil and refrigerant. The results is another compressor burn out that the manufacture warrenty will not cover, because there was acid in the system.That in a nut shell is why most residential HVAC companies pitch the new air handler/evaporator with the new compressor. To do a proper install of a new compressor to an old system they need to make several oil/refrigerant/filter changes and test within first hours, and then days of start up. Ask them what the additional labor/material cost will be for a system clean up. Chances are it will be close to 50% of what a new AHU/evaporator will cost, and you still don't have a warrenty on that half of the system.I have seen new compressors fail within a day or days from improper system clean up.Just my two cents worth.Dave

1. 
   kkearney | Feb 02, 2002 02:19am | #4

   *Chris,Go to http://hvac-talk.com/vbb/ for lots of info.KK

1. 
   ed_hardwicke | Feb 02, 2002 11:24pm | #5

   *Consumer Reports in MAy 01 had a big article on A/C units- Amer Std was one of the best.

2. 
   nigel_martin | Feb 03, 2002 06:49am | #6

   *Check with your local power co. you might find you will get a rebate on a new 13+ seer system and a new system will cost less to run.

3. 
   Chris | Feb 04, 2002 12:01am | #7

   *Thanks for the feedback everyone.Glad to hear AS is highly regarded (at least by CR). And thank you for the explanation of compressor burnout. I was leaning that way anyhow. New refrigerant lines too since I will be moving the outsie unit.I will check out the link and do some more homework. And unfortunately, now Power Co rebates.

4. 
   Steve_L. | Feb 06, 2002 02:38am | #8

   *American Standard and Trane are the same company.Carrier, Payne and Bryant (if I remember right)are the same company.Rheem and Ruud are the same company. Also check to see if parts for whatever brand you choose are available locally to you. -10F at night with parts 2 days away via UPS can be a very unhappy situation!

5. 
   Art_B. | Feb 07, 2002 04:26pm | #9

   *Steve: Grainger's "Dayton" brand was also Rheem till last year, do you know who supplies them now?