Air Conditioning - Using two different brands?

Not sure how many saw my post below about having electrical issues with the outdoor condensor, but I found out that the compressor caught fire last night (shorted out I guess? ). Anyway, I was told that it is almost the same price to replace the entire deal outside vs. just replacing the compressor (unit is 9 years old).

My question is - is it OK to combine let's say an outdoor Trane unit with an indoor Bryant unit?

The insurance company said they may cover it, but I'm not sure if they'd replace the indoor unit...

Thanks for any input.

lonestarlogan

I prefer not mixing an outdoor condenser of one brand with an indoor air handler of another brand unless it is strictly a decision based on budgetary consideration.If you have a gas furnace, then it would be OK to have a Trane outdoor unit as long as you installed a matching evaporator coil. It is doubtful though you will achieve rated operating efficiency with a mismatched system.

:)

lonestarlogan

I prefer not mixing an outdoor condenser of one brand with an indoor air handler of another brand unless it is strictly a decision based on budgetary consideration.If you have a gas furnace, then it would be OK to have a Trane outdoor unit as long as you installed a matching evaporator coil. It is doubtful though you will achieve rated operating efficiency with a mismatched system.

:)

It just seemed as though we had someone out every year working on that old Bryant unit. Would hate to replace it and have to deal with that all over again. Our house is about 3100 sq ft. with 2 car garage included. I'm guessing that would make it about 2600-2700 living. Every time those a/c repair men came out they'd ask why we didn't have 2 a/c units for the house (it's 2 stories). Anyway, the old Bryant system is a 4 ton. If the insurance company would pay to replace both the outdoor and indoor system, what is normally the price difference between the 4 ton and the 5 ton? Our house really has a hard time keeping cool - seems like it'd always be around 82 degrees inside when the thermostat was set at 77-78. It is miserable inside the house right now. About 90 degrees and the humidity is through the roof with no a/c! Hopefully the insurance company will move fast through this whole deal.

lonestarlogan

The difference in price between a 4 ton outside AC condenser unit and a 5 ton AC condenser unit-same model would be relatively inconsequential, probably several hundred dollars. However if you intend to keep old air handler and upgrade to a 5 ton AC condenser unit, this will not work. The blower on the air handler must be rated at least same size as outside AC condenser, ie a 5 ton outside AC condenser with a 5 ton rated blower air handler. Moving cooled conditioned air has its own special hurdles.

Two separate AC systems for a two story home is always preferred method of delivering conditioned air.

Good Luck!
:)

As long as they size up I don't see a problem in mixing it up.

Thanks for the reply guys.

Had 2 places come out today. Both said the indoor unit looks immaculate for it's age (9 years old) so they wouldn't replace it.

Did get estimates as well -

1st- 10 (or 15? SEER) Bryant 4 ton for $1850
2nd- 4 ton 12 SEER Carrier $1425 and 4 ton 12 seer Trane for $1995

My family is really hoping that insurance will cover it. Both places that came out today say it looks like it was caused by a power surge or hit by lightning which in turn caught the compressor on fire. Good thing we were home to shut the power off - could have burned down the whole house!

Anyway, just wondering what you all think of those prices thus far and what brand you prefer.

Did any of the dealer say if the coil is being replaced inside or is it part of the air handler??

If the coil will be replaced then fine... But putting the new high SEER on a 9 to 10 SEER air handler will not get your money's worth on the higher SEER, and you will not getting the SEER rating as the unit says it is. it must have a matching coil for the SEER rating.

Did any of the dealer say if the coil is being replaced inside or is it part of the air handler??

If the coil will be replaced then fine... But putting the new high SEER on a 9 to 10 SEER air handler will not get your money's worth on the higher SEER, and you will not getting the SEER rating as the unit says it is. it must have a matching coil for the SEER rating.

No, I do not believe so. I think I heard them say the current equipment is a 10 SEER. At this point, I'm really not looking to get my "money's worth" as I just want A/C again! I figure if the insurance will cover the outside unit (that caught fire) then the inside unit will be sufficient until I start having problems with it. There's no way I could afford to replace it at the same time as there is no way the insurance company would replace that as well.

I've always kept the filter's changed in the inside unit and it is "inside" the house I guess you could say. It is in the utility room which is also A/C'ed, not out in the garage or anything like that. The 2 guys who came out with estimates seemed pretty surprised how good of condition it was in... I'm guessing they are normally stuck in the garage or something?

I guess what I'm really considering at this point is getting a good outdoor condensor so when the time comes that the indoor unit needs to be replaced I will be in good shape - know what I'm saying? :D

I have a uncle in TN who owns his own construction company - he uses those cheapo Goodman's in the homes he builds. I've heard Trane is a really good company, so I'm leaning towards that unit depending on the amount I receive from the insurance company. I have also noticed that Home Depot sells Trane's - anyone know how their prices compare with the plain jane A/C companies?

What you will save in the cost of electric. If you go for a seer of 14 and new coil. will about pay for the new coil.


ED ;)

Mine was done though Home Depot/Trane.. I got other quotes, and they were pretty close to each other..