Hi guys....have been researching this on the net but a lot of what I'm finding is on commercial company web sites and I'm not sure how much of the information is sales hype....so thought I would try here since I've always had such good luck with the knowledge base of the users.
My A/C was installed when I built the house in 2000, it's split zone with a unit in the attic handling the second floor and a larger unit in the basement servicing the first floor and the basement. The compressor and the A coil for the second floor were both replaced in the last 4 years or so.....the compressor for the first floor was replaced about 3 years ago.
Now the A coil for the first floor has a leak in it some place and for the last couple of years we've had to recharge the R22 about twice a summer. My wife's uncle is sort of a jack of all trades and still has his commercial HVAC license even though he is retired and he's been handling everything for us at cost. He's basically telling us that the taxes on R22 are going to be going higher and higher (I guess a 30 lb tank used to be $200, but is higher now, and set to up again next year) and we should start thinking about a new system for the first floor since it looks like we're going to have to replace the A coil in the basement anyway.
I've done a little research on R22a, which from my understanding is propane based and flammable and give what I've read on the net so far I would rather not convert (and can't mix them). ....and R410a systems are the norm now (or so I gather) but operate under pressure and the installs are harder and not as forgiving. ......plus I'm not up on the efficiency rating yet but keep seeing where more efficient unit cost a lot more but reduce operating cost.
Please help with info over load........Anyone have any advice or experience they can share?
My A/C was installed when I built the house in 2000, it's split zone with a unit in the attic handling the second floor and a larger unit in the basement servicing the first floor and the basement. The compressor and the A coil for the second floor were both replaced in the last 4 years or so.....the compressor for the first floor was replaced about 3 years ago.
Now the A coil for the first floor has a leak in it some place and for the last couple of years we've had to recharge the R22 about twice a summer. My wife's uncle is sort of a jack of all trades and still has his commercial HVAC license even though he is retired and he's been handling everything for us at cost. He's basically telling us that the taxes on R22 are going to be going higher and higher (I guess a 30 lb tank used to be $200, but is higher now, and set to up again next year) and we should start thinking about a new system for the first floor since it looks like we're going to have to replace the A coil in the basement anyway.
I've done a little research on R22a, which from my understanding is propane based and flammable and give what I've read on the net so far I would rather not convert (and can't mix them). ....and R410a systems are the norm now (or so I gather) but operate under pressure and the installs are harder and not as forgiving. ......plus I'm not up on the efficiency rating yet but keep seeing where more efficient unit cost a lot more but reduce operating cost.
Please help with info over load........Anyone have any advice or experience they can share?