Can I Just Replace the Outdoor Unit on an Older Air Conditioning System?

Heating and air conditioning equipment has several components. For instance, an air conditioner has both an indoor and outdoor unit. If one or the other experiences total failure, it’s not as simple as a partial replacement.

The following problems can result from replacing just half of your air conditioner:

• Mismatched units can hurt AC efficiency. Your indoor coil and outdoor compressor should have the same Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratings (SEER). If they don’t, you won’t get the benefits from a higher SEER unit. In fact, you’ll likely be losing a significant amount of energy—and money—by running conflicting systems.

• Mismatched units often require different levels of coolant. Modern AC components often use more refrigerant. Moreover, they may be built to use different types of coolant, making them dangerous to pair together. The best case scenario is an air conditioner you run constantly only to suffer in a home that’s too warm.

• Mismatched units can shorten the life of both your indoor and outdoor AC components. The stress created by using components of differing ages, SEERS, refrigerants and construction quality ultimately leads to early failure.

Homeowners who want to get the most from their home improvements will make sure their air conditioning units are made by trusted manufacturers like Trane, installed by experienced technicians, and maintained properly. Replacing an indoor and outdoor unit at the same time may seem more expensive in the moment, but the energy efficiency and long-lasting service provided will more than pay off.

Click this link or call 843.556.9550 to contact Smoak’s Comfort Control to discuss the latest innovations in heating and air conditioning units.