Compressor shot in 14 year old heat pump

5 years ago

Wondered if any experts here would suggest that it’s advisable to replace the compressor in a 14 year old heat pump instead of replacing the whole system. Expected to get more years out of this expensive system that doesn’t really do a good job with balanced heating and cooling our home in Pennsylvania. The air handler is at one end of the house in the attic and the trunk line is about 40 ft to where it comes down through the second floor to the first floor. This ductwork was added a few decades after the house was built and was originally just for air conditioning. There was ductwork installed when the house was built in 1946 for forced air heat but it has not been used in years. Zoned electric baseboard heat was installed when furnace was dismantled, all before we moved in. It’s a mishmash! Thanks for any thoughts!

Featured Answer

Mattrophy W

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

IMHO a lot of times people go crazy with heat pump multi-zone systems. In Japan its one outside unit for one inside unit and they are usually just on the other side of the wall. Multi zone is "all eggs in one basket" - multi single head/indoor unit seems the way to go for redundancy and efficiency. YMMV :). But yeah, to answer the original question: Get a new complete indoor/outdoor unit and locate it as close to the inside inside unit as possible. (disclaimer: I am not a pro, just some random dude on the internet)

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

tigerdunes
5 years ago
If you replace the compressor, guess what , you still have a 14 yr old system, and probably a 1 yr warranty on compressor. Replace complete system and work on other issues as well.

TD
HU-454955419 thanked tigerdunes
PRO
Austin Air Companie
5 years ago
Typically is not a good idea to just replace a bad compressor in such an old unit.

The longer trunk line, the system that doesn't work well it might be a good time to redesign the system and bring it into the current century.

The flip side: How long do you plan to live in / own this house?

Also keep in mind that the current refrigerants being used now are all slated for phase out and eventual ban. (R22 Freon & R410a Puron)

R410a phasedown is to begin in 2023 as things stand now....

I service the Katy, Texas area.
HU-454955419 thanked Austin Air Companie
Related Professionals
Cherry Hill General Contractors · McAlester General Contractors · Elizabethtown Home Remodeling · Myrtle Beach Home Remodeling · Killeen Home Remodeling · New Braunfels Home Remodeling · Winona Home Remodeling · Sheboygan Home Remodeling · Durango Home Remodeling · Atlanta Bathroom Remodelers · Florence Bathroom Remodelers · Baton Rouge Bathroom Remodelers · Marietta Bathroom Remodelers · Amherst Bathroom Remodelers · Manhattan Bathroom Remodelers
HU-454955419
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks for your thoughts. Hoping to live here about 10 more years (we are in our 70s). Do you know how expected phaseout of certain refrigerants will affect any purchase now of a new system? Also, no professional estimates we received for replacement of our system included redesign.

Would a zoned system with another air handler at other end of attic make sense? We were told our crawlspace is too damp for an air handler to be placed there. Sigh....
mike_home
5 years ago
Electric baseboard heating must be very expensive in Pennsylvania. Any idea what it is costing you to heat a 75 year old house each year? Perhaps you should investigate what it would cost to return to the forced air heating system and install a new heat pump. If you have high electric rates, the pay back on the investment could be only a few years.
PRO
Austin Air Companie
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Do you know how expected phaseout of certain refrigerants will affect any purchase now of a new system?

It won't affect anything if there are no refrigerant leaks. But you start springing leaks and all bets are off. (Refrigerants aren't covered by any warranty, when they are phased out and banned then the price goes up. So essentially the cost to repair goes up.)

I've seen new units leak as soon as within 2 to 3 years of use. Not a brand problem, they all suffer from it. Not a question of if it leaks, a matter of when really.
HU-454955419 thanked Austin Air Companie