If it’s time to replace your air conditioner, you may be wondering if you can simply replace the outdoor unit instead of getting a completely new system installed. Though it might seem as though the indoor and outdoor units of your HVAC system work separately, they actually have parts that work together in order to heat your home efficiently. Replacing just the outdoor unit without also replacing the indoor unit can result in greater cost.
How Air Conditioners Work
Air conditioners work by removing warm air from inside the home. This process is completed in tandem by both units of the HVAC system. Refrigerant goes through the system via the copper tubing. The refrigerant then absorbs the heat once it reaches the indoor evaporator coil and transfers the heat to the outdoor unit. As it reaches the condenser, the liquid refrigerant is squeezed by the compressor, and the absorbed heat is released outside. The process then continues until the home reaches the preset cooling level.
The Problem with Mismatched Components
The indoor and outdoor units have components that need to match with one another in order for the HVAC system to work properly. Older evaporators and condenser coils meet with the following problems when matched with new ones:
- Undue stress placed on the system from the decreased efficiency of older coils. This often leads to high energy consumption from a diminished cooling capacity and can cause compressor or motor failure.
- Low SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) ratings from an older coil being matched with a new air handler/evaporator unit.
- Incompatibility between older and newer coils due to enhanced tubing, increased surface space, efficiently designed fins and grooved surfaces on newer coils.
- Limited movement of the refrigerant to the compressor due to the new shut-off feature of new units that is detrimental to older compressors.
Results of Industry Testing
Industry standards set forth by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning point to issues caused by mismatched parts in tests performed by manufacturers. The manufacturers found the following problems when they combined SEER 13 and 10 air conditioner components into one unit:
- A significantly lower operational efficiency
- A diminished capacity to adequately cool the home
- An undependable system
In order to keep your HVAC system working for the long term, it’s imperative to replace the entire system instead of just the outdoor unit. Doing so can ensure that your system works properly and efficiently, which ultimately saves you money.
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