Hello,

I have a R22 unit with a coil leak. I am exploring a couple of options.

-Replacing the entire system with a R410a unit
Or
Replacing the R22 coil only.
The outside unit is running fine and coil only replacement unit is 1/3 the price. The AC person I spoke to mentioned that the R22 coil unit installed now would be able to be used later with a 410A unit if/when my outdoor unit died with an adapter. Is this correct?

Thanks in advance!
CMH

No,, my opinion

Some coils can be used for both... the orfice would have to be changed. But you would also have to flush the coil completely to be able to go from 22 to 410. Not a wise choice if you ask me. If you get a coil use it for the 22 but a new coil for the 410 would be needed.

So, I guess my question is this, why is the AC person suggesting this when he could easily sell me an entirely new R410a system?

That would be something to discuss with them. Sometimes sales people do not know or understand how a system runs. They have never worked on them. They only know what they are told at salescamp.
That being said, they know the coil and use both. They do not know what it entails to change from one to the other.

If you use it now for 22 then it will need replaced again if you change to 410

Flushing a coil that has used R22 so that it can be use for 410-A is a very minor portion of what would be needed to install a complete 410-A system when you are ever going to need it in the future. They would probably flush your lines anyway, so flushing the coil would be just as easy.

Most if not all of the evaporator coils manufactured today are made for use with both R-22 and R-410A refrigerants. It is a lot cheaper to just replace the inside coil now but if you have the $$$ just change out the entire system do so. The mineral oil that is used with the R-22 can be flushed out at a later date so the new outside R-410A unit you will buy in the future will be able to use this coil also.

If you do decide to just do the coil I would recommend you have a Thermostatic Expansion Valve installed instead of a different flow rate or piston which is probably what you have on your old coil now. You may also need to add a hard start device and a 5 minute time delay to the old outside unit. By using a TXV on the new coil which will be oversized for R-22 usage the old outside unit will really perform well and your system will cool better that it did with the old indoor coil.

If you got the $$$ get all new if not get the coil.