When replacing the outdoor unit, should the indoor unit also be replaced?
The answer is YES; all outdoor cooling units are specifically designed to work with matched indoor units for optimum efficiency and performance. Air conditioner and heat pumps may “work” with other indoor units, but the result is a definite compromise in overall system performance. At first, replacing only an air conditioner or heat pump outdoor unit may appear to be a bargain. That is, until you consider the lower efficiency, decreased reliability and high cost of ownership associated with single-unit replacement. It may cost more to replace an entire system, but this gives you more efficiency, reliability and comfort.
The systems today are matched to each other. So when replacing the outdoor condenser for the air conditioner you should replace the indoor coil as well. Also matching an air conditioner to the furnace is a good idea to improve overall efficiency. Most manufacturers will not warranty their condensers if it is installed with old or other manufactures indoor coil.
Related Questions
- Replacing Indoor Unit I need a new outdoor unit, but my indoor unit works fine. What are the advantages of replacing my whole system at the same time?
- If an outdoor air conditioning/heat pump unit needs replacing, should the indoor unit be replaced too?
- If the outdoor air conditioner needs replacing, can we re-use the old indoor unit?
