When your outdoor or indoor HVAC unit runs out of steam, you may only want to replace the particular unit that has failed. That’s understandable because it’s cheaper to purchase half a system than an entire system. Unfortunately, that isn’t a sound long-term solution. So why should you consider replacing air conditioning units at the same time? Here are the primary reasons why:
Compatibility
Your A/C system has two sets of coils: the evaporator coil and condenser coil. The evaporator coil sits inside the indoor unit and contains the refrigerant that absorbs indoor heat. The refrigerant flows to the condenser coil, where the heat is released to the outdoors. For indoor heat to be transferred outside smoothly, both coils should match in capacity. If the two coils are a mismatch, you’ll end up with several problems such as inefficient operation, reduced comfort, and premature system failure.
Efficiency
Energy efficiency ratings are based on a matching set of units. That implies if you buy a unit with an SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) of 18, you won’t realize the full potential of its cooling efficiency if it’s not paired with a matching unit. You can only be sure of getting the rated efficiency and anticipated savings on monthly bills if you buy a matching set of indoor and outdoor A/C units.
Warranty
When you buy new indoor and outdoor units, the manufacturer’s warranty will cover both pieces. However, if you purchase a new unit and pair it with an older one, you may void the manufacturer’s warranty. Taking the costs of parts and labor for replacing or repairing HVAC equipment into consideration, replacing the entire system rather than just one half is much better.
HVAC technology has advanced by leaps and bounds, so replacing air conditioning units together allows you to enjoy better cooling performance and comfort gains. What’s more, you’ll save money in the long term. If you have more questions about A/C units, Ace Hardware Home Services is here to answer all your burning questions. We’ve been helping Dayton homeowners with their heating and cooling needs for three generations.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
