[NewCondoOwner]

I live in a condo. All of the units in the building need to new air conditioners because they are all old and will not survive a scheduled reroofing of the building. The association got a bid for a company that will put in a new condenser unit for anyone who wants one - it is about $1500 installed. The estimate includes a Payne 2 ton, 13 SEER, r-22 air conditioner unit.

The electrician giving the bid is not replacing the inside coil. In fact, he said that the inside coil has a heat strip, and in California, those can't be replaced with a new heat strip. So, according to the electrician guy, to replace the inside coil I would need a condenser/heat pump unit rather than just a condenser. He also said that the building in which my condo is in has a T-bar fan, and that it probably can't be made quiet (it is currently very loud if either the heater or air is on).

Does this all sound right? Should I get a second opinion? I don't think that getting just a condenser makes sense if I can't replace the inside coil unless I have the condenser/heat pump unit? I am concerned about using this electrician if he would recommend that anyone in the building get just a condenser (about 15 people are signed up to right now). Something seems off to me, but I know NOTHING about any of this. Any recommendations? How do I find a good company to replace the condenser unit/heat pump.

Also, the condo is multiple stories and requires a crane, so there is some expense spared in going with the guy giving the bid because those costs are split 15 ways. Should I just upgrade his current bid to get a heater/condenser now or try to find someone else and just eat the extra cost?

[hvac1000]

This is your second post same item. Please continue your posting in your other post areas. You have been answered there.