My compressor stopped working, and it's decision time. I have a 1980-era furnace that still works, and presumably the coil is that old too. The Carrier outdoor condenser is 10-15 years old, I think, I can't find any SEER rating on it.
The house is a 1982, one-story, slab on grade, 3000 foot house with significant southern exposure. Windows and sliding doors have been replaced with dual pane and all the energy saving stuff. Insulation is R19. Ducts are all metallic flex, with some thin insulation on them, in the attic, and they look like they were sloppily installed with fabric "duct" tape, so they probably leak pretty good.
I am in Southern California valley environment, with 90+ summers and about 15 days of 100+, and winters that dip below freezing about 15 nights a year, but mostly in 40-50s at night. We use our HVAC sparingly. In summer, we open the house at night and close it in the morning, and that keeps the AC off until mid afternoon or later. Heat is only used at night in the winter, days are usually warm enough not to need it.
Options are to (a) replace the outdoor unit with an R-22 freon condenser, (b) replace the outdoor unit and indoor coil with an R-410 freon unit, or (c) replace the whole shebang, the outdoor unit, the furnace and coil.
I have not looked into a heat pump, as I really don't know if that is feasible or warranted in my situation. I have not done a Manual J calc or anything like that. But if anyone has suggestions as to what I should do here, I'd appreciate them.
Is a 2-stage unit worthwhile in my situation? (A/C or furnace)
The house is a 1982, one-story, slab on grade, 3000 foot house with significant southern exposure. Windows and sliding doors have been replaced with dual pane and all the energy saving stuff. Insulation is R19. Ducts are all metallic flex, with some thin insulation on them, in the attic, and they look like they were sloppily installed with fabric "duct" tape, so they probably leak pretty good.
I am in Southern California valley environment, with 90+ summers and about 15 days of 100+, and winters that dip below freezing about 15 nights a year, but mostly in 40-50s at night. We use our HVAC sparingly. In summer, we open the house at night and close it in the morning, and that keeps the AC off until mid afternoon or later. Heat is only used at night in the winter, days are usually warm enough not to need it.
Options are to (a) replace the outdoor unit with an R-22 freon condenser, (b) replace the outdoor unit and indoor coil with an R-410 freon unit, or (c) replace the whole shebang, the outdoor unit, the furnace and coil.
I have not looked into a heat pump, as I really don't know if that is feasible or warranted in my situation. I have not done a Manual J calc or anything like that. But if anyone has suggestions as to what I should do here, I'd appreciate them.
Is a 2-stage unit worthwhile in my situation? (A/C or furnace)
