The saga with our unit is coming to an end - third guy came to check it out - there is actually a hole in the condensor in the air handler - never was the unit itself. We are having to upgrade the air handler, which now makes our heat pump no longer compatible. My question is -- what does one do with a heat pump one no longer can use -- it is still good - it is only 6 years old -- if it weren't for the fact that the air handler has died, we'd still be using it.
You could either put it on Craigslist and try to sell it, or you could take it apart, make sure to have someone remove the refrigerant, and cut out the aluminum or aluminum copper coil, #2 copper and compressor, then take it to TT&E or Wise Recycling and make about $20.00 - $40.00. Keep your air handler and cut the coil out of it too, that is all the HVAC company is going to do after they take it from your house. They will just make the money off it though! Good luck!
but it will not operate properly without an air handler, we just went thru this as well. So I know your pain, but in essence the unit is no good without the handler, sorry!
WHAT? The air handler doesn't know if the refridgerant is being pumped through a 2-ton heat pump or a '67 Chevy. The thermostat calls for heat or cooling and that turns on the heat pump/condensing unit (outside) and the air handler (inside). If you have a hole in the coil in the air handler (inside) then you replace that. That is wired to the thermostat (not the heat pump) and the freon lines are connected coming from the heat pump. These lines are universal and can be flared or sweat fittings but a half competent HVAC guy can do this job. If your heat pump is only 6 years old, unless someone shot it or a tree/car/airplane fell on it, it should give you several more years of comfort. I know its hot, but you should tread carefully before you spend $$$$. Sometimes, during a very hot spell of weather, the capacitor on the heat pump will die. Ask the guy to show you the capacitor (its inside the heat pump mounted to the side on the unit). Its a small, fat, silver canister that is smooth and rounded. If it appears swollen, like it has a cyst on its side, then its shot. That part is typically $50-75 from the dealer/parts house. Good luck!
Wish it were only the capacitor - all too familar with that. This is getting all too confusing - we've been told by three different AC companies that because our air handler is 19 years old, that the size is being phased out and that when they put in the new one that it will not be compatible with the heat pump series we have. I do know the handler needs to be changed out even if it didn't have the hole in the condensor - the door is rusting out really bad and I think we've been cooling and heating the crawl space for a while. One of the individuals who agreed with the other two is a really good friend who has been in the business for about 15 years and is driving up from Wilmington to do the job for us and not charging any labor - thank goodness for that at least
Yes. By law there has to be some sort of parity between pump and handler. Or so I've been told by all three of the recent HV/AC guys that came out a month ago for estimates.
That actually makes me somewhat better knowing that - I really don't want to have to spend more than necessary but I guess it is what it is. One comfort is knowing my electric bills will potentially be lower (this month for sure with not running it at all and the coming months knowing that I'm not cooling and heating my crawl space)
