Must I replace the coil when I replace the outside condenser unit?
 

My 16 year old Bryant condenser has burnt and shorted. I am being told that I must replace the coil (a-coil) above the furnace when i replace the condenser. is this true?

yes on the new coil
 

I am sure many persons on this site can give you a dozen reasons but the long and short of it is YES you do. Thats 25 years experience talking. I really dont think your old coil will take the new 410A ref anyway.

Kevin
Owener operator
lennoxoemparts

Yes and while your at it replace the heater 2.

Old condensor It is an 8 SEER and the new condensor will be 13 SEER or higher and a mis-match with the old coil. Won't work properly.

i have an older condenser (10 SEER) and a newer air handler (13 SEER). everything works perfectly fine, in fact it works better than it ever did before. maybe you are only supposed to mismatch in certain ways.

Its less problematic using a 13 SEER coil with a 10 or 8 SEER condenser.