I have a 4 ton York heat pump that just suddenly started making a screaching sound when the heat pump comes on. It makes the noise almost all the time so I turned of the heat pump and have been heating with the emergency heat for the last few days. A repair man told me that probably my compressor is going out. He also advised me to not replace the compressor as the unit is about 11-12 yrs old. He said I can replace the whole outside unit with a regular air conditioner (4 ton ) and that he could modify the furnace and replace the thermostat so that I didn't have to replace with a new heat pump which woul be less expensive for me to do. My question is what modification needs to take place with my furnace, and is this a good option to take. I have some time to replace since summer is a litlle bit away.

Your cost of heat will go up without a heat pump. Strait electric heat is a killer on the utility bill.

Changing to A/C only is not that much cheaper. But no matter what you do you will have to change the indoor coil to match the new outside unit for energy efficiency purposes and to meet the Federal guide lines.

I advise you to get two more estimates.

How did he diagnose you have a bad compressor? One way to tell is if the compressor has started pulling higher amps during steady state.

If your furnace is electric strips in your air handler, then your electric bills will be going way up. If your furnace is NG, Propane or Oil then you will have to run the numbers to see if the added expense of the new unit will pay for itself over time. If you let us know what your utility costs are, AFUE of your furnace if you have one, I can post some operating cost scenarios.

How did he diagnose you have a bad compressor? One way to tell is if the compressor has started pulling higher amps during steady state.

If your furnace is electric strips in your air handler, then your electric bills will be going way up. If your furnace is NG, Propane or Oil then you will have to run the numbers to see if the added expense of the new unit will pay for itself over time. If you let us know what your utility costs are, AFUE of your furnace if you have one, I can post some operating cost scenarios.


I described the sound it was making, kind of like bearings going out, and how it was doing it. When he came to look at it, it would not make the noise again. So he then stated that my compressor might be going out. A few days later I tried it and the sound came back, so I have just been using the "elec strips"/ emergency air. Fortunately the cold weather has not been very bad here in No. Texas so far. I am still afraid to see what my elec. Bill will be, but even with the heat pump last winter the bill was close to $200 or so per month. My concern was mainly that can a air handler/heater be converted to accept the use of a regular ac unit as opposed to a heat pump. Never heard of that. I thought that the units had to be replaced with like kinds. The service man's thinking is that a heat pump runs all year long as opposed to only in the summer for an AC unit, therefore does not last as long, and costs are the same since you have to replace it sooner. I also don't feel that the heat pumps I have had heated well when the temps dipped below 35. Any info would be greatly appreciated. I like to make educated decisions which is why I am here. Thanks for your time so far.

Whether you are going to just straight A/C or a new heat pump there is a good chance they can reuse your existing air handler and heat strips.

In your neck of the woods I'd definitely want a new heat pump if that is in order. Run the system until you hear the sound, yank the access panel, and see if its coming from the fan motor or compressor. A fan motor is worth replacing.

You will shortly get a taste of just how expensive heat strip only heat will cost you.

Whether you are going to just straight A/C or a new heat pump there is a good chance they can reuse your existing air handler and heat strips.

In your neck of the woods I'd definitely want a new heat pump if that is in order. Run the system until you hear the sound, yank the access panel, and see if its coming from the fan motor or compressor. A fan motor is worth replacing.

You will shortly get a taste of just how expensive heat strip only heat will cost you.

Thank you so much for you input. I was wondering if it might be the fan motor. I'll get it checked.