Matching Equipment

Should I replace both pieces of my equipment at the same time?

If you have a split heat pump, some people will replace an air handler or an outdoor unit and not replace the indoor section or vice versa. I would never recommend doing that. With today’s standard of 14 SEER, the new coil on the outside or inside is not gonna match each other. Therefore you don’t have a matching system and without a matching we are not really sure if it can operate efficiently.

That’s why on every match up we do we make sure it matches with the AHRI efficiency rating so we know that equipment is a 14, 15 seer, or 16 seer to make sure there is a match being and the equipment has been tested by the manufacturer.

If it is a package unit, obviously you don’t have a choice. Package unit is a package unit. You replace the whole thing.

The other situation could be a furnace and an air conditioner. In that situation you only have to replace the furnace or only replace the ac unit. Now when I say AC, I mean outdoor unit and cooling coil inside the home, under the home, or in the attic so that system is matching. When you replace the furnace you do not have to worry about the AC side. That’s really the only situation I recommend only doing one part. If it’s all connected it all needs to be replaced. Sometimes we go out to a home and we have seen a new outdoor unit with a 40 year old coil and furnace. Be careful when you do that. Yes it is cheaper to replace one than both but it needs to be a matching system.

Your friend in comfort and energy savings,

Derek Cole

Derek Cole is the General Manager of One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning®, an independently owned and operated franchise based in Laurinburg, North Carolina since 1953. He has more than 14 years of experience in the HVAC industry and has created two You Tube broadcasts, The Comfort Experts and #AskDerekCole, filled with tips and tricks on saving energy and being comfortable. He was named the Top 40 under 40 in the HVAC industry by the News magazine and featured in Entrepreneur Magazine Franchise Player Spotlight. Derek has also been seen on CBS, FOX, NBC, ABC, and Bloomberg Business sharing about One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning®.