Air Conditioning - which one?

i have a 1600 sq.ft ranch ,3br, 1&3/4 baths ,kitchen,living room and dining room. i was wondering what is one of the better central air unit out there now? I've always been one who doesn't need the best just want a good ,efficient unit. Due to some basement remodeling, i'm considering having this job done within the next couple of weeks.Is this not a smart move, or should i wait until spring. I used to see all kinds of preseason discounts in the spring and i have no idea what would be a fair price for the job in February? My furnace is 17 years old and the heat pump used for the central air is 20+ . I
one more thing , a guy my Wife talked to on the phone said in the next 2 years we wouldn't be able to get the freon to recharge our old unit. is this true? If so would i be better off biting the bullet and replacing it now? thanks for any info. :-) Randy

The refrigerant they are talking about is R22. You will be able to get it for the next 20 years! It will jump in price $5-$10 a year (MY GUESS) Don't let that effect your decision on equipment. Depending on where you are this might be a bad time to get it done. If its cold the HVAC guys will be busy. Work load effects pricing.

I am with air about the R-22. don't let that stop you.. I have it, and I am not worried about it.. Matter of fact, they now have replacement for R-22 if some reason you are not able to get R-22, this can be used and nothing needs to be changed out.

Are you going with heat pump again or gas?

They should be able to do the job, it may be a bit too cold this up coming weekend.

Im with the rest here .Stay with R22 it will be made till 2030. Even if the cost of it goes up. The cost of R410a is out of this world now. Also if the unit has a leak of more tham 50%. Then it all has to come out and all new freon put back in$$$.
Go check out http://warmair.net You can compare fuel cost for where you are . That will tell you what to use for heat.

I would definagtly replace it ,, you will see a enengy savings of about 25-30% on both ends; gas for heating and electricity for cooling with the newer more efficient units.

R22 will be around for a while it will just get pretty expensive

hello , so what you are all saying is that the freon in my heat pump is the r22?
i thought i read on another website that it wouldn't be available after 2010?
is this just a marketing ploy by them to push the puron units?
my main problem is the unit still worked fine last year but i want the lines coming through the foundation wall raised up to ceiling level. to do this the pipes would need to be cut and then the unit would need to be recharged. 3 years ago i had it recharged and the repairman told me i needed a new unit that i must have a leak. well its been working for over 3 years now so who can you believe?
thanks Randy

if you are just moving the lines they can recover the R22 and move the lines and put the same R22 that they took out back in plus whatever they need to meet the required subcooling superheat,, if they are telling you that you need to have all new reefer they are full of it, get a different contractor