Heat Pump or Newer high seer unit

Ed C

Bought a condo for my daughter at college and it has a 3.5 Ton York Heat pump. Had it checked and the tech said it is nearing its 10 year life, yet working.


My question is if I should have to replace, since there is no gas, should I go back with a heat pump or just a high eff. full electric heater and condensor?

Thanks for your thoughts!

hvactech126

obvious answer when it comes time for replacement is Heat pump for the most efficient electric heat.

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Artco

Stick with the heat pump.

Ed C

Thanks did not know that a heat pump was that much more efficient than electric.

yuri

It definitely is. Google : air to air heat pump and heat pump and read up about them. Has a COP co-efficient of performance. Can get more than 1$ worth of heat for every 1$ spent on electricity to run it at certain temps.

http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/publications/...sheatpumps.cfm

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Ed C

Thanks, I assume one caveat with a heat pump is ensuring it is correctly charged.

Is the a different method for checking a heat pump in the dead of winter? or do you just check it in heat mode just like cooling mode during the summmer?

yuri

I don't see many of them here as it goes below zero a LOT. I did work on them years ago in the Summer. Marty or Beenthere or one of the other techs can answer you better. The best way to test them is in the cooling season when it is over 70 deg F outside and inside the house. In the winter the outdoor coil starts freezing and needs defrosting etc or you get wrong pressures etc. Summer is better as that is not a problem and it needs a load to work against to see if it is properly charged and healthy. Modern units have all welded joints (except the TX valve) and you can get one to not leak for 20 yrs. Her unit should be good for at least 15 yrs before the compressor valves wear and it starts losing capacity. York is a good brand and they don't use el cheapo compressors like some others.

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Ed C

Thanks Yuri for your information. We actually have a meeting again today with the servicer. He serviced it prior to our closing: cleaned coil and condensor, replaced contactor and capacitor and added 2lbs of gas. (68 degree day)

But now after being there one day to do work, it appears it may be over charged since it never seems cool in the unit inspite of being set at 73 degrees. We think that it is not removing humidity where as, it did not feel this way prior to servicing when we walked thru with real estate agent.

Thanks

yuri

2 lbs of freon is probably 20% of the charge so that is quite a bit to lose and have to add. Heat pumps are critically charged meaning that it should be all removed and weighed in with a scale to get it right. Some of the highly experienced and skilled techs out there can do it in the summer just with gauges but it should be weighed in to get it right (thats what I was taught, times change though). Be VERY careful how you negotiate with the servicer to get it fixed now or it will turn into a peeing match and everyone gets defensive and nothing gets resolved or done properly. I would talk to the service manager and also ask for the pressures and temps in writing. Charging it on a cool day like that is NOT easy and everyone can make mistakes. See if they will agree to come back on a warmer day and mention to them you read that the charge should be weighed in. That is a LOT more time consuming and expensive. I am sure Beenthere who does York and has done them for many years can do it w/o weighing it in but who knows how skilled your guy is. Hang in there, Marty and Beenthere and others will be here today.

Read this to see how bad things can get when you don't negotiate properly or get defensive and accusatory.
Should I pay for misdiagnosed problem?

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Ed C

There is 10 pounds of gas in that unit?

Thanks, relationship is new but agreeable at this point. Small college town so he has been very agreeable to come back out and check it today at 4PM. Should be in the 80's today in College Station Texas.

I agree, not looking for a fight, just need the unit working without replacing. He was BBB listed so that is why I chose him. I fully understand the "everybody makes mistakes" though and am not wanting to point fingers! Everything should go well, if push turns to shove I will call another company or try and use the home warranty that we got with the unit.

Thanks again.

Artco

The company doing the repairs in the past may know the compressor is losing the ability to cool when he said it is 10 years old is nearing the time to replace it.
When you meet with him ask him to do an effiency test of the system, check both cool and heat operation, check filters, motors, operating controls etc...
check all supply and return registers make sure they are all open and not blosked.

yuri

Be careful with those home warranty deals, I hear a lot of horror stories about them and from what I understand they use the lowest priced companies to do the service and you get what you pay for. They may want to sell you a new unit or replace it to get some $$ from the warranty co and you may be stuck with some expensive upgrades to the air handler etc etc when you really don't need a new unit yet.

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Ed C

By the way he also said they found no leaks in the system after cleaning.

yuri

Read my post above yours. It had to leak somewhere. May have a slow leak in the schraeder valve fittings outside. The only way to know for sure it to remove all the freon and do an expensive pressure test with nitrogen. If it has not been serviced for several years it may lose 1 lb but to lose 2 sounds like a lot and I imagine the previous owner would not have tolerated poor heating or cooling. You can look at the outdoor sticker rating plate and it should tell you how many pounds and ounces it holds. 2 ton unit can hold 4- 6 lbs so I am extrapolating.

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Ed C

Thanks, yes I have heard that about warranty companies.


Read the link you provided and it wont go that way. If he asseses something else other than an overcharge today, that should have been paid for by the sellers, I will ask him to leave. I will have lost all faith in his work. I based the purchase on his assessment of the HVAC. I will say thanks, but no thanks and call someone else.

Thanks