R22 or 410a for a new Heat Pump

[Blown&Injected]

So what to do?

They say that 22 will be around for a long long time but if they stop selling the machines - I wonder what the replacement parts situation might be like in ten years from now.

Them experts also like to correct us non HAVC types - DO NOT OVERSIZE I tells ya!

I am considering going from a 2 ton to a 2.5 ton unit. I submit that since they come in half ton increments, that it is not possible to perfectly size a unit, therefore EVERY unit is either under or oversized.

The current unit is a 20 year old Carrier that served me OK, but just OK. It would run non stop when it would go over 82+ degrees so it did not seem to be oversized and I have enough room for a 2.5 ton air handler. Not like I an going for a 4 ton - then I could see it being too much.

 

[blackmonte]

Go with R22 , for one the pressures on 410 run quite a bit higer more
Pressures,plus more
$ you will be able to still get 22 for quite some time. As for 2. 1/2 ton what is the square footage? I have a 2. 1/2 ton in my house and is 1800 sguare feet .The reason you don't want to oversize is because on a larger unit it will run shorter to cool your house , and not remove humidity so you will have a cold. Clamy house with a proper sized unit it will run alittle longer to remove humidity. The unit your getting is a 13 seer ? If you match the coil with the condenser you will be fine. 75,000 btu furnace with a 3 ton drive 2 ton 13 seer condenser and coil and your set.

 

[aminga]

Go with R410. Systems manufactured after 2010 will be required to be R-410 and at some point parts will disappear for R-22 systems.

And buy the highest SEER unit you can afford it will pay off in the future. We went from SEER-10 to a SEER-16 and dropped about $100/month in electric bills.

 

[Blown&Injected]

Thanks
I will crank that AC low enough to be sure it will run long enough to remove the humidity!

The 22 systems are 14 seer, the 410a systems are available in 16 seer and better which makes them LESS $ then the 13 seer machines due to the 30% tax credit. They also claim lower electric bills and elecrticity has gone WAY UP in Maryland

The bad about the 410 that I have learned is the pressure levels you mentioned and that it is not as stable or do as good a job keeping the system as the 22.

I would like to find a 15 seer 2.5 ton R22 system with a variable speed air handler - that should be good enough efficiency to get the tax credit and have the known long time reliability of the R22. Possible parts availability still worries me.

I have lots of Southern exposure/windows and I believe the extra half ton will help, not hurt. If the old 2 ton unit cycled then I would believe it might not be a good idea to bump it up a little bit - but it would run almost non-stop.

 

[blackmonte]

buy a 30# drum Of r22 and hold on to it, I bought 10 -30 # drums of r22:biggrin:

 

[Blown&Injected]

Was typing while you posted.

The electric cost is encouraging - thanks! My old unit is 8.8 or 9.45 seer so going from that to a 16...

Gonna look some on eBay.

Glad the weather is mild!!!!!

 

[aminga]

The 22 systems are 14 seer, the 410a systems are available in 16 seer and better which makes them LESS $ then the 13 seer machines due to the 30% tax credit. They also claim lower electric bills and elecrticity has gone WAY UP in Maryland

The bad about the 410 that I have learned is the pressure levels you mentioned and that it is not as stable or do as good a job keeping the system as the 22.

If a system is designed for R-410a you won't be able to tell what it has in it. Much like the modern auto systems.

I kept track of our bills since installing the New unit. We have a split system and only replaced the downstairs unit (compressor was bad in the old one). We put a timed thermostat on the upstairs unit and replaced the lower one. The power used dropped by 33%

 

[turbo nasty]

get 410 less of a worry if you need a recharge later. Otherwise get a 30lb bottle of 22 as stated. Its going the way of 12

 

[Blown&Injected]

Thanks for the ideas but the way the R22 is going to be faded out, I am not worried about the gas as much as the parts for the 22 systems since they will stop making 22 machines.

I also wonder about the life of a 410 machine - that gas has some problems according to those that have tested it, like stability and cleanliness.

 

[blackmonte]

As many homes/comercial buildings Have a r22 system there will always be Market for service parts plus your compressor is under warrenty for a Long time, the only part you will need to match, most of the parts that fail are contactor, condensing fan motor, capasitors,condenser coil, and compressor and a good mechanical shop will still get all of your parts .I have worked on a ton of walk in cooler that use r12 that have converted to 409a and still get parts today.Don't let the EPA scare your purchase.And I can you can count on a direct replacement for r22 when it's gone.

 

[BandAid]

WW Grainger just told me they are selling R22 for like $160 for a 30lb'r...so i bought 20...:biggrin: