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Rotary vs Scroll Compressor Lifespan

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Shaun4BigBlocks

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I am trying to figure out with compressor style is “over-all” better: a rotary style or a scroll style compressor. Information appears to be scarce as most info I find seems to just deal with an explanation of the differences. Upon searching all I could find is these two weak links:

<hvac-talk.com/vbb/threads/311052-Comparision-of-Rotary-Recip-and-Scroll-Compressor>
<hvac-talk.com/vbb/threads/2234084-Lennox-EL-18CXVS060-Rotary-Compressor-vs-EL18-Scroll-Compressor-Reliability>

Granted I said “over-all” better, but I guess the better question is which one do you feel would be more durable over its entire lifetime (seeing as though the rotary is ran frequently enough that it doesn’t sit for too long.) I could care less about noise, I am just wanting to primarily focus on longevity- and I guess we will go with 100% duty cycle because I know there will be someone out there whose going to say “it all depends on blah blah blah.”

I have to make a choice between a Goodman GSX140301 (14 SEER (Rotary Compressor))
or a Goodman GSX140311 (14 SEER (Scroll Compressor)) condenser. A fallen tree due to a bad storm took out my condenser and these are the two overall best choices pertaining to my existing setup, budget, and long-term maintenance costs.
Granted, condensers are generally not built to last 25 years anymore, but I would appreciate any input on which one you would go with if longevity was your primary concern. I am not considering zoning or EPA/regional mandates for this question, just a strait up apples vs orange on rotary vs scroll nor am I looking for a conceptual lesson.

Thanks Guys!
 
#2 ·
I would go with the scroll every time they're just a much more durable compressor. If you baby the rotary it will last but if you beat the heck out of the scroll it'll also last.
 
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#3 ·
IMO go Scroll, the 031 can reach a slight efficiency higher rating when matched to indoor section ( 31 vs 30 ) and is a Copeland compressor, not sure who makes the rotary or where the rotary is manufactured.

Make sure to register the outdoor unit to receive the manufacturer maximum warranty. There is a built in filter drier inside the outdoor unit, so you don’t necessarily need another a field installed one on the existing lineset.

So what indoor section do you have and how old is the indoor section? Does it have a piston or TXV metering device, if it’s a piston your suppose to match that piston to the new outdoor unit. If it’s not matched to the new outdoor unit then doubt either compressor selection will matter to much. Thinking you’re going to have a slightly matched Frankenstein system or a more severe Frankenstein system. Are they going to also clean the blower wheel lobes and indoor coil to near squeaky clean condition also?
 
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Discussion starter · #6 ·
WOW, thank you all for all of the great answers. I was really not expecting such a unanimous win for scroll. That must be why I did not find much vs info because it appears to not even be a competition. Goodman GSX140311 it is.
 
Discussion starter · #8 ·
Bazooka Joe said:
IMO go Scroll, the 031 can reach a slight efficiency higher rating when matched to indoor section ( 31 vs 30 ) and is a Copeland compressor, not sure who makes the rotary or where the rotary is manufactured.

Make sure to register the outdoor unit to receive the manufacturer maximum warranty. There is a built in filter drier inside the outdoor unit, so you don’t necessarily need another a field installed one on the existing lineset.

So what indoor section do you have and how old is the indoor section? Does it have a piston or TXV metering device, if it’s a piston your suppose to match that piston to the new outdoor unit. If it’s not matched to the new outdoor unit then doubt either compressor selection will matter to much. Thinking you’re going to have a slightly matched Frankenstein system or a more severe Frankenstein system. Are they going to also clean the blower wheel lobes and indoor coil to near squeaky clean condition also?
Click to expand...
-So what indoor section do you have and how old is the indoor section?
The evaporator is a Mortex 96-8G4K-0P (1 year old) (980 square feet

Picture would be here but I can't post links yet :(

-Does it have a piston or TXV metering device,
Piston (.068 orifice)

if it’s a piston your suppose to match that piston to the new outdoor unit.
To the best of my knowledge they match, if you feel there is a more ideal orifice diameter I would appreciate your input

-If it’s not matched to the new outdoor unit then doubt either compressor selection will matter to much.
If it was my intention to mismatch units I think going with a scroll style as I fell it would be the better gamble based on durability cited by others in this post… fortunately I have no intentions of mismatching.

-Thinking you’re going to have a slightly matched Frankenstein system or a more severe Frankenstein system.
I do not understand why you would think that. I did initially think about mismatching as I was considering upgrading to a SEER2 condenser to gain some efficiency. After thinking about it, I decided against that idea as I do not think the amount of efficiency I would obtain re-using the current evaporator (13-14ish non SEER2) would be worth the extra money. Add to that a pretty crappy dog run non damper regulated vent system and other 14x70 single wide manufactured home build quality contingencies... If I thought I could save at least 10 bucks a month on my electric bill I would consider mismatching for sure, but my math doesn’t show that happening.

-Are they going to also clean the blower wheel lobes and indoor coil to near squeaky clean condition also?
Not the blower, I PM that annually myself. It was replaced about 5 years ago so I am thinking it still has a lot of life in it; though I run it 24/7 for circulation- but as least I replaced it with a non-generic same part number (GE or Generac- I can’t remember right now.) Nordyne Furnace Model is E2EH-015HA which I believe will match up.
I don’t think I am going to bother having the A coil “properly” cleaned. First off, since the line set is only a year old I really do not see the need for a re-sweat as it is already squeaky clean. Not only do I allow it to fully dry and vacuum brush it quarterly, but about 15 years ago I ditched the crappy metal filter screens and small intake vent for a 20x24x1 Electrostatic DustBuster 95 set up. No, I did not take the time to re-calculate airflow (DustBuster’s are obstructive,) I am not going to lie that is kind of a B for me to calculate, but since I doubled the grill size I guess you can say I Frankensteined that aspect and have just kind of been winging it. That DustBuster keeps the blower motor pretty clean also. The only downside is that I have to clean it almost every week. I have four dogs and the kids/fam are always in and out so I guess you can say that I have an extremely dust friendly house.
Now I am sitting here REALLY hoping that you tell me that a GSXH503010 15.2 SEER2 (used with the existing “clean” A coil as I am not spending >500 to replace a 1 year old unit) would reward me with noticeable summer energy improvements, but I just do not see that happening and think the extra 500 bucks would take three lifetimes at least to recoup. I would just be content if my setup passes your “not a Frankenstein” criteria.
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
ehsx said:
[...]Rotary have little to no liquid tollerance.
Click to expand...
Nothing I stumbled across made any mention of this, or I should say of scroll having liquid tolerance that exceeds that of rotary. That seems like a big deal to me. Nothing is ever an issue until it gets old enough that time has managed to disrupt the balance of what was once a perfectly good new system. This seems like an added insurance no brainer to me!
 
#10 ·
Shaun4BigBlocks said:
WOW, thank you all for all of the great answers. I was really not expecting such a unanimous win for scroll. That must be why I did not find much vs info because it appears to not even be a competition. Goodman GSX140311 it is.
Click to expand...
Yep it's not even a comparison I've seen scrolls last years under conditions that would kill a rotary within minutes.
 
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Discussion starter · #12 ·
Bazooka Joe said:
IMO go Scroll, the 031 can reach a slight efficiency higher rating when matched to indoor section ( 31 vs 30 ) and is a Copeland compressor, not sure who makes the rotary or where the rotary is manufactured.

Also, thanks for adding “Copeland” as searching on my side (and product documents) yielded sht for results as to what manufacturer Goodman uses for their compressors. It should seriously be a required disclosure since everything else is regulated so heavily in HVAC- but whose going to back, or should I say benefit from the lobbying for that?

I would consider eating the cost of a new evaporator if you think I could reach an efficiency level that would justify it- I doubt it but PLEASE prove me wrong. Keep in mind also that I need to stick with a mobile home friendly evaporator, meaning non-boxed or at least tear apart and tray/pan able within dimensions and most importantly it needs to have left side line set hookups. I could reposition the vent but would rather not unless if the economy return made it a viable option. As far as the furnace, I have absolutely no intentions of replacing it. It works great, was made back when pride could still compete with bottom line, everything is replaceable and/or fabricable and best of all no microprocessor-based control board that is going to cost me half as much as a new unit every time the unleaded solder decides to throw another whisker.
Click to expand...
 
#13 · (Edited)
“Now I am sitting here REALLY hoping that you tell me that a GSXH503010 15.2 SEER2 (used with the existing “clean” A coil as I am not spending“

The 15.2 SEER2 says the “up to” rating, ( the specifications sheet given you says that on the 1st page ) as you don’t go by the outdoor section alone to get your EER2 and SEER2 rating, it’s matching indoor selection to outdoor section that gives you the rating.


What do you want? a AHRI matched system? If so the model number you mentioned to the Morten coil you mentioned is a AHRI active match #210260772

Gives 14.5 SEER2 and 12 EER2 but it says a TXV needs to be installed. Not real world ratings but closer than the standard SEER and EER ratings.

https://www.ahridirectory.org/

You want a close match, with the ASX14030 then this site says .063 piston size ( matched system ) page four.

https://www.acdirect.com/media/specs/Goodman/goodman-capfa-series-kit-instructions.pdf

Specification sheet says scroll compressor

https://www.theacoutlet.com/documents/Specsheet-Goodman-GSXH5.pdf page three

Decisions, Decisions such is life..
 
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Bazooka Joe
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